Description
The Mary Towneley Loop is one of those MTB trail epics to tick off the list. Set on the Pennine bridleway along the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire the trail is a whopping 75km (47 miles) long.
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It's not renowned for being overly technical (although it does have many steep climbs) but its distance makes it quite harsh. 7 - 10 hours to complete in a day would be very respectable and doing it over two or even three days is not uncommon. If you are thinking of doing it in one day then apart from being very prepared with clothing and nutrition we recommend you choose a long summer day to do it in and start early.
Mary Townley Loop Trail
- Given the distance the terrain is unsurprisingly mixed. You get stone causeway, gravel, grass, and tarmac. You will find yourself in open moorland, valleys, and reservoirs, etc. Part of the appeal of the route is the mix of open countryside set in the backdrop of a post-industrial urban setting. There is a lived-in feel to the industrial fells here that appeal to many and gives it something quite unique.
- The trail is waymarked (follow the National Trail Acorn).
- Mountain bikers more often ride the Loop anti-clockwise.
- Being a Loop there are many start points though and so best to review the map and decide from a transport perspective what works best.
Closest Bike Shops
- Rawtenstall/Waterfoot, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Broadley.
Maps and Guides
- National Trail Map
- A blog of the journey by I Donohoe
Other Stuff
- Lady Mary Towneley was a horse rider who campaigned for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail.
Share
- If you have ridden the Mary Towneley Loop then please share your experiences and post a review, pictures or videos to the listing.
📍 UK MTB Trail Index
