Pennine Bridleway Totally Explained

Everything about The Pennine Bridleway totally explained

The Pennine Bridleway is a new National Trail under designation in Northern England. It runs roughly parallel with the Pennine Way but provides access for horseback riders and cyclists as well as walkers. In its southern part, it follows the High Peak Trail along the track bed of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway. The trail is around 130 miles long; 73 miles through Derbyshire to the South Pennines, the 47-mile Mary Towneley Loop and the 10-mile Settle Loop . The highest points along the trail are South Head Hill in Derbyshire; between Roych Clough and Hayfield, and Top of Leach is the highest point on the Mary Towneley Loop.

History

In 1986 Mary Towneley rode on horseback 250 miles from Corbridge, Northumberland to Ashbourne, Derbyshire to launch the idea of the Pennine Bridleway. This followed on with a feasibility study and route investigation from 1987 to 1990. Finally in 1995 approval for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail from Carsington Water, Derbyshire to Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria was gained.
   In 1999 Sport England awarded and donated £1,841,876 towards the route from Derbyshire to North Yorkshire and 3 feeder routes from Keighley, Bolton and Penistone. The Pennine Bridleway project team was appointed by the Countryside Agency and work began shortly.
   In 2000 there was a proposal for an extension to the Pennine Bridleway from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria to Byrness, Northumberland. This extension was approved in 2002.
   In 2002 the Mary Towneley Loop was opened followed by the opening of the southern section; from Derbyshire up to the Mary Towneley Loop and in 2005 the Settle Loop was also opened which is currently not joined to the Pennine Bridleway

Route

Starting in Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire, the Pennine Bridleway is mainly situated on historic routes and trails following the flanks of the Pennines. The trail starts by following the High Peak Trail along a disused railway passing through a limestone plateau of the White Peak. Following on from the limestone plateau is the milestone grit of the Dark or High Peak area and the trail follows the line of the Packhorse Road from Tideswell, via Peak Forest to Hayfield.
   Leaving Derbyshire the trail follows the edge of a heather moor and picks up an ancient highway along the Tame Valley. From here the trail descends to follow a dismantled railway where the route heads towards Hollingworth Lake. It later joins the Mary Towneley Loop which climbs to the highest point of the loop; Top of Leach at 474m. The trail passes through the town of Waterfoot in the Rossendale Valley and follows new tracks via Lumb before entering the Cliviger Gorge and then climbing up to the Long Causeway. The trail joins the Gorple Road which is of a more remote stretch of the trail which leads to Blackshaw Head. The trail drops down into the valley where the town of Hebden Bridge resides where the route picks up London Road which follows a heading towards Bottomley.
   The Mary Towneley Loop was dedicated to the memory of Lady Mary Towneley who rode in 1986 from Derbyshire to Northumberland and campaigned for the Pennine Bridleway. She died in February 2001 due to illness.
   It isn't to be confused with the Pennine Cycleway which is part of the National Cycle Network.

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