The best direction on the Pennine Bridleway Loop - hike & wild camp The Mary Towneley Loop скачать в хорошем качестве

The best direction on the Pennine Bridleway Loop - hike & wild camp The Mary Towneley Loop

On the moors between Leeds and Manchester lies the Mary Towneley Loop a 47 mile Bridleway opened in 2002. This was the first part of the National Pennine Bridleway to be opened with the completion taking place in 2012. (Please help the channel to grow by donating a coffee here } https://ko-fi.com/amblingtrails The Mary Towneley Loop sits roughly in the centre of the whole Pennine Bridleway and it could be envisaged as a giant 47 mile roundabout with a decision required as to which direction to take to continue the journey from North to South or South to North. To answer this question we complete the loop to be better informed us as to the most appropriate direction of travelling being west or east. Equally, we discover the joys the loop has to offer as a stand alone hike or ride. As Walsden railway station is the nearest station to the MT Loop we start here and walk the half mile up hill to North Hollingworth Farm which then acts our official start and finish point. We begin our walk by heading in a southernly direction towards Bottomley and then head out of the valley towards Summit. In this pursuit we cross over Summit tunnel which was the longest tunnel in the world when it was built. At Summit we start heading west in the hope of reaching Waterfoot villager before night fall. Eventually we hit Rooley Moor Road heading uphill to the highest point on the loop at Top of Leach at 474Mtrs/1,555 ft. Here we view the trig points but are unable to appreciate the views due to the low cloud cover. On reaching Waterfoot we taken on supplies and then head away from this urban area to find a wild camping spot for the night. Overnight we reflect on the fact we have completed 19.5 miles on day one. Next morning we arise early to maximise the minimum daylight we have in the winter month of January. Now we are travelling in a broadly north eastern direction to get to the top of the loop where the Pennine Bridleway leaves the loop and heads north to its finish in Ravenstonedale in Cumbria. On this day we pass many reservoirs before eventually turning south passing Gorple reservoir and eventually finding our second wild camp on the Heptonstall Moors. This completes our second day with a total of 18.5 miles in the bag. An early morning start sees mist in the distance as we head out of the moors and onto the road that eventually enters Hebden Bridge. We initially pass the New Delight Inn, which outside of winter provides camping spaces for those that are walking the Pennine Way National Trail. A little further down the road we identify that both the MT loop and the Pennine Way are broadly following the same route for a few miles. A little further along the route we identify where hikers from both routes can leave the path ways to venture into Hebden Bridge for resupply. Further progress see us on the lower part of Stoodley Pike, unfortunately we can not see the monument due to the mist clouding the area. However, as we begin to move away a brief break in the clouds allow us to have a brief glimpse of the monument of Stoodley Pike. We now walk through the village of Mankinholes and admire the 500 year old cottages and farm houses, one of which has been converted to a YHA. As we walk the remaining miles to Walden the sun eventually begins to shine and we now have clear views of the Pike and the surrounding hills, a fitting end to winters adventure.