Mary Towneley Loop via Pennine Bridleway

The Mary Towneley Loop via Pennine Bridleway is 71.54 km long with 2,075 m of climbing, so it is usually treated as a multi-day route rather than a single-day walk. Many hikers split the loop over 2 to 4 days depending on pace, weather, and how much time is spent on the longer moorland sections around Calderdale, Rochdale, and Rossendale.

The route is graded easy overall, but the full loop is still a substantial outing because it covers 71.54 km and gains 2,075 m of elevation. It is better suited to beginners with some endurance and navigation experience, especially on exposed Pennine moorland where the distance matters more than technical difficulty.

The Mary Towneley Loop can be walked. It forms part of the Pennine Bridleway National Trail, which is designed for walkers, horse riders, and cyclists rather than being limited to one user group. That shared-use status is one of the defining features of the Pennine Bridleway in the South Pennines.

The loop crosses the South Pennines and is closely associated with places including Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Littleborough, and Waterfoot. Well-known features linked with the route include Stoodley Pike, the Rochdale Canal corridor, Cliviger Gorge, Long Causeway, and the packhorse water trough at Mankinholes.

Yes. The Mary Towneley Loop via Pennine Bridleway is a circular route, so it returns to the starting area rather than finishing point-to-point. That makes it practical for multi-day planning, especially for hikers arranging one car drop, a rail arrival into Calderdale, or a short transfer to the trailhead.

The Mary Towneley Loop via Pennine Bridleway is in the South Pennines, centered on West Yorkshire and extending across neighboring parts of Lancashire and Greater Manchester. The route is commonly associated with Calderdale, Rochdale, and Rossendale, with access from towns such as Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, and Littleborough.