SADDLEWORTH North councillor George Hulme has thrown his support behind the Pennine Prospects-led, Walk and Ride Festival which is encouraging people to get outdoors and explore the fascinating history and stunning landscapes of the South Pennines Park.

From Saturday (September 7) to Sunday, September 22, more than 100 events will be taking place across the South Pennines Park with six taking place in Saddleworth. They range from walks and picnics to cycling and horse riding.

Organisers say the festival is a perfect way to explore the wild and wonderful South Pennines Park landscape, its heather-covered moors, steep-sided valleys, canals, reservoirs and packhorse trails.

Cllr Hulme said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and visitors to explore Saddleworth with family and friends, whilst also learning about its history.

“I am pleased to see that many of the events across the Park are accessible by public transport, something that can often be a struggle in Saddleworth. Events like these can help highlight how important good public transport links are for connecting people to the outdoors.”

Cllr Martin Judd, a director of Pennine Prospects, the company organising the festival, said: “It’s great to have local people coming out in support of the Festival. This is one of many projects that the team in Hebden Bridge work hard on all year round. The Festival wouldn’t happen without them or wonderful volunteers like the Friends of Castleshaw Roman Forts who have organised several of the events in Saddleworth this year.”

Events in Saddleworth start with a walk titled “The Ancient Routeways Across the Great Pennine Divide". This will take place on Saturday (September 7), starting at 10am from the Standedge Cutting Car Park, Brun Clough, Huddersfield Road.

Brochures with full details of all events can be found at both the Brownhill Visitor Centre and Saddleworth Museum & Gallery. Alternatively, further information about the festival can be found online at pennineprospects.co.uk.