The Pennine 500 is a circular bikepacking route through the Pennines, a range of hills and passes along the backbone of the north of England.

The 500km route features 9,600 metres of climbing across three loops within the folds of the Pennines. The southern loop crosses rugged moorland terrain and steep valley slopes from the Calder Valley onto Swaledale and over Rombalds Moor, the central loop takes riders into the dramatic upland landscape of High Cup Nick and Mickle Fell, whilst the northern loop passes Nenthead where we see the scars of 300 years of mining alongside wooded glades and cross the Tees Gap to pass the Vindolanda Roman Fort.

highlights of the Pennine 500

Cobbled lanes in the Upper Calder Valley above Hebden Bridge

Packhorse tracks going north from Todmorden

The Old Salt Road in the Bowland Fells above Slaidburn

Green lanes towards the foot of Cautley Spout on the slopes of the Howgill Fells above Sedbergh

Unique singletrack across the limestone pavement at Great Asby Scar above Orton

The long descent from the Tan Hill Inn

Flowing gravel track along the white waters of the River Swale

Lung bursting climbs onto Rombalds Moor above Ilkley

Test your navigation skills on a faint moorland track in the shadow of Mickle Fell, the highest peak in Yorkshire

Along the rocky ridge line of High Cup Nick, England’s finest U-shaped glaciated valley

Past Vindolanda Roman fort on Stansgate near Hadrian’s Wall occupied from 85AD to 370AD

Across the slopes of Cross Fell, the highest moorland in England with the welcome sight of Greg’s Hut

Fast flowing greenway on a former railway that runs south from Lambley to Alston along the South Tyne

Event: Pennine 500

Date: 29th May - 1st June 2027

format: self-supported bikepacking

Event Hub: Mytholmroyd community centre

Stats: 500km / 9,600m