| Saddling up on the Pennines |
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Page 2 of 2 Acquisition challengesUnlike a standard walking trail, developing a long distance horse riding route involves a whole different set of challenges. Around 70 per cent of the Pennine Bridleway is on existing bridleways, byways or minor roads, including some former packhorse routes, but that leaves another 30 per cent of the route where new rights have had to be negotiated.The acquisition process is inevitably slow, especially because negotiations have involved as many as nine different highway authorities, including two national parks (the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales), and separate agreements will be needed with over 2,000 landowners! Matters were also not helped by the foot-and-mouth outbreak, which effectively halted work on the route for a whole year, and some terrible weather that delayed contractors for many months. But establishing a route for horse riders throws up its own problems. Safety has been at the forefront of everyone's minds, from the width of minor roads to the safe crossing points of major ones, including the erection of so-called Pegasus crossings. This alone, as the project team is finding out, takes an incredible amount of work and time. Then there are obvious practicalities such as the requirement for suitable stabling points and the need to eliminate all steps and stiles. New bridges, fords, water troughs, bike racks, hitching rails and disabled mounting ramps are being installed at various points. Fragile surfaces that could be easily damaged, such as peat bogs, have mostly been avoided, and on other moorland stretches drainage channels are being dug and special surfaces laid. But according to Anna Righton, this won't make the Pennine Bridleway a doddle. "It's not going to be a hard surface all the way, and although there won't be much in the way of bogs and puddles it will be challenging because of the slopes, which are certainly steep in places. In fact, initial gradient profiles on the Mary Towneley Loop show that there's hardly a flat section on it." There have been inevitable diversions and route amendments to improve safety concerns and overcome local objections, but the Pennine Bridleway team say that reaction from local communities has been mostly favourable (the potential custom for pubs, cafes and accommodation providers is enormous). However, there is some worry that with more tracks cleared and waymarked, and footpaths upgraded to bridleways, it could be an open invitation for trail bikes or off-road four-wheel drives. And since bridleways are open to walkers and cyclists as well as horse riders, will there be a potential conflict between different users? Anna Righton admits that it's a difficult issue. "I think this notion of conflict is exaggerated. In some areas the route will be busier than others, such as the High Peak Trail in Derbyshire which is well-used already. Other places where we go, such as the Rossendale, Burnley and Pendle areas, are quieter and perhaps under-used at the moment, so I wouldn't think we're going to attract such massive numbers that would create the sort of conflict you might get on a well-used trail." She talks of promoting user awareness through signs and other trail literature, and feels that people will search out the quieter spots, just as they do on existing paths and trails. With much of the section around Greater Manchester now in place, and the southern end in Derbyshire due to fully open in 2004, the Pennine Bridleway team hopes that the rest of the route to Kirkby Stephen will be completed by 2005. Attention will then focus on the northern extension via Hexham to Byrness in Northumberland, where it will finally meet up with the Pennine Way. With a bit of luck, what started out 20 years ago as a gentle canter through Lancashire will finish with an exciting gallop towards the Scottish border. Andrew McCloy was formerly Information Officer for the Ramblers' Association and now works as a freelance writer and journalist based in the Peak District. His latest book, Walking Coastal Britain, is published by New Holland in spring 2005. Further informationFor a free leaflet contact the Pennine Bridleway National Trail Officer, Countryside Agency, 7th Floor, Bridgewater House, Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6LT. For a map and services guide to the Mary Towneley Loop, tel: 0870 120 6466 and quote ref. no. CA29, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view itFor more details about this and the rest of the National Trail network visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk |
