Walk or Cycle the Pennine Bridleway National Trail

The Pennine Bridleway National Trail is 205 miles (330 Km) long, and runs through some fantastically diverse countryside.  The route starts at Middleton Top visitor centre near Wirksworth in the White Peak area of Derbyshire. It then goes north through the Peak District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park to finish on the edge of the Howgill fells in Cumbria.

The Pennine Bridleway National Trail goes through a great variety of landscapes from open moorland to steep-sided wooded river valleys, with many sections following old packhorse, drovers routes or newly created bridleways.  The route has been specially designed for horse riders, but is also great for mountain bikers and walkers.

The Pennine Bridleway National Trail includes 2 large loops.  The first loop is called the Mary Towneley loop in the South Pennines, between Burnley and Rochdale.  It is 47 miles long and makes a great weekend’s walk or ride although for some mountain bikers the ultimate challenge is to complete it in a day!  The second loop is called the Settle Loop in the Yorkshire Dales and is 10 miles long.

The route of the Pennine Bridleway does run through the Pennines, so plenty of hills and changeable weather are to be expected!  The best time of the year to enjoy the Pennine Bridleway is from April to October, when the weather is most favourable.