Get on your feet, or bike, around the Pennines

People from Rochdale are being encouraged to enjoy the great outdoors next month and take part in some of the walking and cycling activities as part of a 16-day celebration of the South Pennines countryside.

The South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival runs from 13 to 28 September and among the highlights are a stroll around Milnrow to trace the history of local dialect writer Tim Bobbin, and a heritage walk around Littleborough. Fifteen events are taking place in and around Rochdale, many led by local groups and societies.

The South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival includes everything from gentle one or two mile nature trails to a marathon 47-mile mountain bike ride on the Mary Towneley Loop of the Pennine Bridleway, which will pass through Wardle.

Rochdale Council’s Tourism Officer, Tim Nuttall, said: “The borough has a great selection in this year’s festival, ranging from wheelchair accessible walks and cycling for beginners to longer walks and rides. Most events are around the Pennines, but one explores the valleys near Birtle.

"With easy access by train and bus from the rest of the area we hope to bring visitors to Rochdale from across the South Pennines as well as encourage local people to explore the countryside on their own doorstep.”

A free Festival brochure is available from Rochdale’s Tourist Information Centre, libraries, Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre, and other outlets or through the website www.pennineprospects.co.uk

Graham Joyce, Development Manager of Pennine Prospects, who co-ordinate the festival, said: “This year’s festival promises to be better than ever, and with rising fuel costs, we’ve made it easy for people to use our superb public transport network, or to get out on their bikes."

In last year’s festival well over half the people taking part used public transport to get there, confirming the emphasis of the sustainability message of leaving the car behind. Around 1,500 people attended the 75 events in last year’s “Tracks ‘n Trails” Heritage Festival.

For full details of the events that are part of South Pennines Walk and Ride Festival, visit the Rochdale Online events pages:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events