In 1986, Mary Towneley rode on horseback 250 miles (402 km) from Corbridge, Northumberland, to Ashbourne, Derbyshire, to launch the idea of a Pennine Bridleway.

Finally in 1995 approval was granted for the Pennine Bridleway National Trail from Carsington Water, Derbyshire, to Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

[2] At the end of the High Peak Trail, 7 kilometres (4 mi) south east of Buxton, the route heads north following the line of a packhorse road from Tideswell, via Peak Forest to Hayfield, where it briefly follows the line of another converted railway, the Sett Valley Trail.

The trail passes the villages of Bottomley and Mankinholes, then drops down to cross the Calder Valley just west of the town of Hebden Bridge.

The longer clockwise route of the Mary Towneley Loop heads west from Summit and climbs to Top of Leach at 474 metres (1,555 ft).

The trail passes through the town of Waterfoot in the Rossendale Valley and follows new tracks via Lumb before entering the Cliviger Gorge and then climbing up to the Long Causeway.

From the top of the Mary Towneley Loop the trail heads north to the village of Wycoller, then turns west to pass south of Earby and Barnoldswick.

For several miles it follows an old track named Coal Pit Lane to reach Gisburne Park on the River Ribble.

The route briefly enters Cumbria over Dent Fell, then reenters North Yorkshire at Garsdale Head.