Breadcrumbs
Pennine Bridleway Southern Section Opens - 27 May 2004
Created by the Countryside Agency, with additional funding from Sport England and other sources, and considerable support from local authorities and landowners along the route, the Pennine Bridleway is designed specifically for horse riders and mountain bikers – but provides a major new route for walkers too.
Pam Warhurst, chair of the Countryside Agency said: "With more and more people realising the personal benefits of getting out into the countryside, our quality National Trails have so much to offer all of us. They are a real asset to their local rural economies, bringing income to people who provide visitor facilities and their well way-marked, well-managed routes can give confidence to everyone to get out and enjoy some of England’s fantastic scenery."
The Pennine Bridleway National Trail begins at the start of the High Peak Trail and runs northwards through the Peak District National Park east of Manchester, through Tameside, Oldham and Rochdale, to join the Mary Towneley Loop at Summit (on the main road to Burnley at Cliviger). This loop, the first section of the Pennine Bridleway which opened two years ago, is already proving a popular destination – with local accommodation providers and businesses reporting a considerable increase in income and business. More than fifteen new businesses have been established in rural areas to cater for National Trail users, providing a range of facilities from stabling or cycle lock-ups, to guided rides and pick up and drop off services.
The Pennine Bridleway has been set up to provide two different starting places for cyclists and horse riders – and a choice for walkers. Cyclists are recommended to start at Middleton Top, where good facilities include a bike hire outlet. Horse riders start ten miles further along the Trail at Hartington Station, where new purpose built facilities have been constructed.
When the Pennine Bridleway is complete it will extend for nearly 350 miles, from Middleton Top in Derbyshire through Lancashire, the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria to Byrness in Northumberland. The Countryside Agency has been awarded more than £1.8 million from the Sport England Lottery Fund to help create part of this Trail, which also includes creating three ‘feeder’ or linking routes from Keighley, Penistone and Bolton. Landowners are also playing a large part in dedicating the many new sections of bridleway required to create the new route.
Well signposted, the Pennine Bridleway National Trail has no stiles or steps – just easy-to-use gates and special road-crossing points. Its high quality design and planning means that it will provide facilities both for experienced and less experienced riders, off-road cyclists and walkers who will be able to choose distances to suit their abilities. To plan a day out or up to a week’s holiday, visitors can find out more from our website at www.nationaltrail.co.uk/penninebridleway or obtain a free accommodation and services guide to the Pennine Bridleway by calling the Countryside Agency on 0161 237 1061. The official National Trail guide Pennine Bridleway – Derbyshire to the South Pennines (including the Mary Towneley Loop) is available from the end of May at bookshops and tourist information centres.
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Further information from the Countryside Agency on 0207 340 2906 (mob) 07973 942892
Official opening photocall/interview
opportunity: Thursday 27th May 2004 at 11
am, Hartington Station, Hartington,
Derbyshire.
More local information on the opening or for photographs of the route contact Olivia Assheton on (mob) 07973 748 451 or for follow-up press facilities (office) 01200 440 492
The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone.
