Between the urban conurbations of Leeds and Manchester lies the unspoilt beauty of the South Pennines, rich in the heritage of the industrial revolution. Heather shrouded moors, craggy outcrops and shimmering reservoirs inhabit the uplands while canals and gritstone villages wind with the rivers through the narrow valleys below.

The hills are always close at hand, waiting to be explored and ready to offer the perfect location for a family adventure holiday or adrenalin filled weekend with friends.

This site has South Pennine walking, cycling, mountain biking and horse riding routes for all ages and abilities, that will amaze and delight you with the sheer beauty and variety of the landscapes.

Our beautiful countryside offers something for all who enjoy spending their leisure time walking, whether it's a stroll along one of our canalside paths or an ambitious day hike across the heather moors. You can walk the moors where once the Brontes roamed or explore the wooded valleys where poet laureate Ted Hughes grew up.

Cyclists are spoiled for choice too: two national cycle routes come our way, winding their way along quiet country lanes and by-ways, whilst there's ample opportunity for off-road adventure on the Pennine moorland bridleways. Try the 47 mile Mary Towneley Loop, where accommodation is available for you and your bike along the way. Can you do it in a day? A weekend? A week? The South Pennines is the perfect place to come for your next cycling holiday.

If you're a horse-rider, you'll be able to follow the routes once trodden by packhorse trains, carrying cloth across the Pennine moors. The Pennine Bridleway and the Mary Towneley Loop give the opportunity for long distance rides for the fitter horse and rider. Again, accommodation is available for horse and rider, on or near the routes.

This is a land built upon the millstone grit which lies beneath the soil. Come here to appreciate our heritage and our natural history. In the land where once waterwheels and steam engines powered textile mills, a new story is being woven. An astonishing transformation is taking place in the South Pennines. Come to relish the pleasure of walking or riding in this very special part of northern England.

If you know a route that is not on the website but you think should be, let us know and we will check it out and add it on, so you can share your discovery with others!

And don't forget our very own South Pennine Walk and Ride Festival between 10th and 25th September 2011. Visit www.walkandridefestival.co.uk for full listings and download details of events from June 2011.