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A new multi-user route for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders connecting the green fields of Derbyshire through gritstone moors to the remote hills of Cumbria, roughly parallel to the Pennine Way but generally along lower-lying paths to the west of the hilltops. Despite the name it is also a great route for walkers and an alternative to the challenges of the Pennine Way. The first section to open, in May 2002, was the Mary Towneley Loop, a 76km/47-mile shorter circuit through the south Pennines on the borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire, around Todmorden and Bacup. The late Mary Towneley was a campaigner for the Bridleway. This was followed in May 2004 by the southern section of the route from the Peak District to meet the Loop at Summit, northeast of Rochdale, giving a total trail length of 188km/117 miles. There are two alternative starting points for walkers at the southern end, at Hartington or Middleton Top, and there are alternative routes between Cown Edge and Lees Hill, one for walkers only and the other recommended for cyclists. A 16km/10-mile loop via Settle and Malham in the Yorkshire Dales opened in August 2005, though this has not yet been linked to the southern section. The route to Fat Lamb Inn, Cumbria, should be fully open by some time in 2006. A further extension to Byrness has been approved but completion is dependent on funding. In the meantime much of the northern section is already walkable, though unsigned. Please note that the details provided on this page may be applicable only to walkers: other users should consult the guidebook or the National Trail office. In some sections there are alternative routes for walkers which are not accessible to horse riders or cyclists.. Public Transport Middleton Top or Hartington. Cromford station is about 1.5km/1 mile from Middleton Top, with rail services (sparse on Sundays) from Matlock and Derby, or regular daily buses from Matlock. Hartington has regular daily buses (sparse on Sundays) from Buxton, with a good rail service from Manchester. Southern section. The following places on or near the route have rail stations and buses: Chinley (3km/2 miles), New Mills (2km/1 mile via footpath link), Glossop (2.5km/1.5 miles), Hadfield, Broadbottom, Stalybridge (3km/2 miles), Greenfield, Littleborough (2km/1 mile). Buses additionally call either on the route or within 3km/2 miles at Wirksworth, Carsington, Brassington, Longcliffe, Pike Hall/Gotham, Newhaven, Monyash, Pomeroy, Chelmorton, Taddington, Wormhill, Peak Forest, Tideswell, Hayfield, Birch Vale, Little Hayfield, Charlesworth, Simmondley, Hollingworth, Tintwhistle, Stalybridge, Millbrook, Carrbrook, Greenfield, Uppermill, Diggle, Delph, Dobcross and Denshaw. The guide below has a chart indicating whether a quiet road or off-road connection is available from these locations. Mary Towneley Loop: The southeast section of the Loop runs roughly parallel to the railway line connecting Manchester Victoria and Rochdale with Halifax, Bradford and Leeds. There are stations on or near the route at Littleborough, Walsden, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Hebden Bridge also has rail connections to Burnley, Preston (for West Coast Main Line services between London and Scotland) and Blackpool. Buses stop on or near the route at Callis Bridge/Charlestown (connection for Hebden Bridge), Colden/Jack Bridge, Holme Chapel, Water, Lumb, Edgeside, Waterfoot, Catley Lane Head, Broadley, Wardle, Calderbrook, Walsden, Todmorden. The Yorkshire section between Reddyshore Scout and Gorple lies within the West Yorkshire Metro area.
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