Pennine Bridleway

The Pennine Bridleway is a new National Trail in Northern England.

It runs roughly parallel with the Pennine Way but provides access for horseback riders and cyclists as well as walkers. The trail is around 205 miles (330 km) long, extending from Derbyshire to Cumbria. It includes the 47-mile (76 km) Mary Towneley Loop and the 10-mile (16 km) Settle Loop. In its southern part, it follows the High Peak Trail along the trackbed of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway.

History

In 1986 Mary Towneley rode on horseback 250 miles (402 km) from Corbridge, Northumberland to Ashbourne, Derbyshire to launch the idea of a Pennine Bridleway. This was followed by a feasibility study and route investigation from 1987 to 1990. Finally in 1995 approval was granted for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail from Carsington Water, Derbyshire to Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

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.