Section 3 of 4, Mary Towneley Loop
Southward Bottom to Blackshaw Head
13.1 miles (21.1 km). About 5 hours, moderate.
Start: SD 866 287. Finish: SD 959 280. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 615 m of climbing and 517 m of descent; highest point 431 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Southward Bottom.
- Bus stop
- Bus stop, 660 m from the start. Directions SD 870 293
- Car parks
- Ram's Head Car Park, 960 m from the start. Directions SD 875 285Car park, 980 m from the start. Directions SD 857 292
Getting back
The section finishes at Blackshaw Head. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- New Shaw Lane, 250 m from the finish. Directions SD 961 280Smithy Lane, 330 m from the finish. Directions SD 962 282
Planning the Mary Towneley Loop
- Planning the whole trail: nationaltrail.co.uk.
What to expect
Underfoot: gravel and tracks 27%, paved or flagged 22%; the rest (51%) isn't recorded.
About 20% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 3 gates, 1 stream crossing.
Steepest climb: about 86 m in a kilometre (1 in 12), starting 5.2 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pub
- Ram's Head Inn, Holme Chapel: 0.9 miles in.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.