Step out for walk and ride festival

NORDIC walking and photo-orienteering are some of the highlights of the second and final week of the South Pennines Walk and Ride festival.

Starting tomorrow, there will be a Nordic walk from Alexandra Park going over Hartshead Pike before returning to the park.

Also tomorrow is a mountain bike tour starting at 1pm from Alexandra Park cafe, heading towards Lees and returning to the park via the old Medlock Valley railway line.

On Saturday, another mountain bike trek will follow the Pennine Bridleway from Diggle to Greenfield, then on to the Delph Donkey before climbing up to Stanedge and heading back to Diggle.

Walkers can enjoy a Sunday stroll from Stalybridge to Greenfield along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Dr Bob Gough, administrator from Huddersfield Canal Society, will lead the walk along the 200-year-old canal.

The five-mile walk is very accessible and suitable for walkers of most abilities, but travellers are advised to wear suitable clothing and footwear and take with them a drink and refreshments. Meet 11am at Stalybridge Station. Numbers are strictly limited and booking is essential. Call the society on 01457-871800 by tomorrow.

On Monday, there will be a walk around Chew Valley Horseshoe, setting off from Dovestone reservoir at 10am. On September 24 there will be a station-to-station walk starting at Greenfield at 10.55am to Newhey, and finally on Friday, September 25, there will be an orienteering challenge on Saddleworth Moor starting 9am at the Clarence Hotel, Greenfield.

Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration said: “It’s been a wet and dismal summer, but the weather is brightening up and this is a chance to enjoy the final days of late sunshine with some fantastic walks, bike rides and treks across the stunning wild heather moorlands of the South Pennines.”

For more information and a full programme visit www.oldham.gov.uk/south-pennine-walk-and-ride-festival-2009.htm or contact Imogen Fuller on 0161-770 4165.

“People don’t often realise that more than half of Oldham is countryside and almost a third lies in the Peak District National Park.”