Walk and Ride Festival to go outward-bound in Rochdale

Outdoor fans are invited to get to know the South Pennines this September at EXPLORE! The South Pennines Park Walk and Ride Festival 2019.

Walkers are invited to explore the stunning South Pennines landscape from 7 to 22 September 2019, as well as take part in exciting outdoor events such as a twilight bat hunt or ladies cycling session to name a few.

The festival is co-ordinated by rural regeneration agency Pennine Prospects with over 100 walks, bike and horse rides planned, many free of charge.

Adele Adams, Business and Development Manager with Pennine Prospects, explained: “The event is one of the biggest of its kind in northern England.

“It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the market towns, moors, valleys and canals, plus extraordinary wildlife and industrial heritage.”

Local highlights of the festival include:

• a chance to earn a Bronze National Navigation award with a two-day course at Hollingworth Lake (7 and 8 September)
• a twilight bat walk with countryside rangers (Hollingworth Lake, 10 September, 7.30pm)
• a trek through the valleys, fields and woodlands of Norden (12 September, 11am to 3pm)
• a bracing 14-mile journey across the fells with the Rochdale Ramblers (14 September, 10am to 4pm)
• ladies are also invited to cycling taster sessions at Hollingworth Lake with all equipment provided (11 and 18 September, 10.30am to 12noon).  

Pam Warhurst, Chair of Pennine Prospects, added: “The Walk and Ride Festival is a brilliant chance to get to know the area a bit better.

“The South Pennines has always had it its admirers, but now we have noisier champions, who want to share their love of its culture, heritage and landscape.” 

The South Pennines spans 460 square miles of spectacular upland country, bounded by the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale and the Forest of Bowland. Embracing parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester, plans are afoot to create a South Pennine Park to protect and promote it in the future.

Organisations involved in the festival include the National Trust, Ramblers, Rough Stuff Fellowship, SPLAT! Training and an amazing team of volunteers and guides. The National Lottery has provided £10,000 of funding, with further backing from Sport England, Tesco Bags of Help and local parish and ward councils.

Visit Rochdale Online Events section for all the Park Walk and Ride Festival events being hosted in the Rochdale borough:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchtype=text&searchvalue=South+Pennines+Park+Walk+and+Ride+Festival

A pocket festival guide with online event listings can be found at:

• https://simplebooklet.com/explorewrf2019

Full details of booking procedures and charges (where applicable) are included.