Pennine Trail Centre Classic
Distance: 40 miles
Time: 6 hours
Start: Lee Quarry trail centre parking (near Futures Park, Bacup)
Summary: A true epic featuring plenty of open moors and climbs. Best in dry spells. From Futures Park, take the A681 to Bacup. Carry on to Todmorden before bearing left onto Todmorden Old Road and climbing to Sharneyford. At the summit, bear left onto the Flower Scar Road track. Follow it over the top of Todmorden Moor, descending steeply and turning left onto a minor road to go down to the valley floor. Turn right onto the A646. In Lydgate, turn left to loop under the railway viaduct and begin the ascent up Jumps Road. Follow the walled bridleway through several gates, bearing left as the path climbs steadily to Shore. Veer right onto a steep road climb. At the junction with Long Causeway, take the bridleway on your left and cross the valley towards the wind farm. Rejoin Long Causeway for just over 1km and then hit the well-signed Pennine Bridleway (PBW) to pass reservoirs and loop around Heptonstall Moor to Widdop and the town of Egypt. At Rodmer Clough, descend into the valley and leave the PBW, bearing right and climbing steeply to Dukeâ€™s Cut. At the end of the rough track, turn right onto the Tarmac, going left and then right towards the aerial. Descend Whirlaw and drop into Todmorden. After the roundabout, bear left off Littleborough road to climb steeply up the cobbled Honey Hole Lane, rejoining the PBW before descending into Walsden. Cross the A6033 and ascend Inchfield Road. Cross the cattle grid. At the ruins, take the left fork and head up the grassy track to Hades Hill. Pass through the gate at the top. Continue on the doubletrack through the open quarry and pick up the bridleway to Whitworth, skirting the northwest flank of Brown Wardle Hill before picking up the PBW. At Healey Dell, cross the A671 and continue on to Rooley Moor Road. Just beyond the summit, bear right onto the link route and descend the remainder of Lee Quarryâ€™s red route to finish.
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