Pathways are a film production company based in Calderdale, West Yorkshire featuring journeys highlighting the historical background and ‘Pretty Gritty’ landscapes found in the South Pennines, which is the home of the ‘Grand Depart’ of the Tour de France in July 2014.

Produced in 2007 “Looping the Loop” follows the Mary Towneley Loop a 48 mile spur walk off the Pennine Bridleway which is a long distance trail. It is circular, dipping in and out of Lancashire and Yorkshire on the outskirts of Rochdale, Calderdale, Rossendale and Burnley. The film takes the viewer through spectacular scenery from wild moorland to green wooded valleys.

The Mary Towneley Loop was designed for horse riders, walkers and cyclists and the film should certainly appeal to all three groups as well as those who simply like to watch and be taken on a relaxing journey through some stunning scenery.

The Pathways format has been described as a “cross between Michael Palin and your local ramblers group” thus various aspects of local culture met along the way are featured including the mysteries of black pudding making in Waterfoot, the sunken village of Watergrove and the story behind the magical alpine garden at Land Farm at Colden. The beautiful, rugged scenery of the North of England from Stoodley Pike near Todmorden to the moors and cobbled surface of Rooley Road above Rochdale, this film takes the viewer on a journey amongst the valleys.

The “Loop” is dedicated to Mary Lady Towneley who campaigned tirelessly for the preservation of bridleways and packhorse trails for which she was awarded the MBE. A monument to her on the trail invites people to enjoy the wilderness and we hope the film allows them to get a taste of this whilst appreciating some of the area’s unique landscape. There are interviews with people who continue Mary’s battle to maintain access for horse riders to these beautiful areas of the South Pennines.

The “Loop” introduces the viewer to an area of outstanding beauty in the South Pennines, another lovely valley is covered in our next DVD entitled “Hardcastle Crags Past & Present”