Mary Towneley Loop

The Mary Towneley Loop, a 68 km (47 mile) circular route which forms part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail. The Mary Towneley Loop takes you on a journey through the South Pennines on the Lancashire and Yorkshire borders. Twelve miles north of Manchester, the route passes over open moorland close to Watergrove Reservoir and the town of Rochdale. The Trail follows an old packhorse route from Bottomley to Erringdon with views across the Calder Valley and descends towards the historic town of Hebden Bridge. Between Widdop and Hurstwood Reservoirs, the ancient Gorple Road crosses open countryside providing splendid views towards Burnley. The Trail follows the Rossendale Valley to the small town of Waterfoot, climbing again to meet another historic route, Rooley Moor Road near Rochdale built with stone sets to provide work during the cotton famine in the 1860's.