Pennine Way
Description
- Name Pennine Way
- Length of trail 412 km, 256 miles
- Length in days 21 days
- Start of trail Edale
- End of trail Kirk Yetholm
- Traildino grading SW, Strenuous walk, mountain trail
- Hut tour grading T2, Mountain walk
Pennine Way, Edale to Kirk Yetholm, 256 miles, 412 km, 21 days
National Trail
"A long green trail from the Peak to the Cheviots.", Tom Stephenson envisioned in 1935. The Pennine Way became the first National Trail to be opened, some fifty years ago, and it's still a major landmark on Britain's hiking map. Many people have enjoyed the hike, and the many reports on the web do bear witness of the beauty of the trail.
After the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way is the longest path in the UK. It is part of the European E2. This is not an easy walk. The route runs through the highest and most desolate parts of the Pennines. In order to walk this trail, you must have a good physical condition, a healthy amount of perseverance, good rain gear and waterproof shoes.
The path picks the wildest and most beautiful parts of northern England, to the border with Scotland: the Pennines including the Peak District, the colourful Yorkshire Dales, the cheery Cheviots. Despite its popularity, hikers marvel the solitude encountered in this upland part of northern England. At night, in the pub, you will be sharing your pains and pleasures with other hikers and forget about your despair during daytime crossing another fell in rain and storm.
Do not underestimate this trail. The legs are long and often exposed. Be prepared for strong winds, rain and cold. Many people start, few finish. The bogs are reputed for by some and cursed by most, but the worst parts have now been slabbed to stop erosion. Older guidebooks point to the Peak District as a very greasy walk but that is no more. Accommodation options are diminishing. In Kirk Yetholm your Pennine Way Certificate and Free Half Pint is waiting for you in the Border Hotel.
Opinions
- benandlara
- Rate 6
- Positive Add a point or two if you love English countryside. Some great bits but it fails the "would I do it again" test for me (and every through walker I met) maybe this feeling fades with time but even with good weather and minimal mud but the long stretches of very pleasant moors and farm lands began to really tire me......fine for a couple of hundred km but boring by the end
- Negative gates....much is managed land...you are "obliged to navigate 287 gates, 249 timber stiles, 183 stone stiles"....about one every 600m. It is a fine walk but you may benefit from two contrasting walks rather than one long one
- Blee August 2016
- Rate 9
- Positive Beaitful moors, then pastures, and the occasional peak
- Negative Some bad paths near and north of Hadrian's wall
- John P April 2013
- Rate 7
- Positive There are some high points such as Hadrian's wall and Malham cove, and it is the classic long distance walk in the UK through some outstanding moors that inspired the Brontes.
- Negative Rather a lot of bleak, windswept moors, Thankfaully now improved by laying slabs of rock, could do with a bit more variety
- Henk Nouws May 2015
- Rate 9
- Positive Natural England and the National Parks Authorities put lots of effort in the maintenance of the path, and this yields good results. Lots of birds. Very pretty scenery, like the Yorkshire Dales, Teesdale, Hadrian's Wall, the Cheviots. The trail is a true mental test.
- Negative Up to you to decide upon this: the path is hard. Accommodation is sparse.
- pc22 April 2008
- Rate 9
- Positive a very tough walk.....few sign posts..... and often boggy and muddy in bad weather....but its meant t be this way. The elder statesmen of the British long trails. This walk is meant to test you. And its reward is some beautiful scenery across the North of England, some very remote places indeed and a real sense of achievement on arriving at the end. A highlight for me is the tees river.
- Negative I didn't dislike these things but one should be aware that sign posting is very limited and on some of the remote areas not only is the no signage but in some cases no path to follow either. The weather can often be very poor and visibility low. On Cross fell the winds can be treacherous as a particular wind phenomena called the helm wind exists that can pick up a dog and dump it 100mtrs away.
- Oranginas, long distance hiking trails Europe May 2007
- Rate 8
- Positive a great variety in moods of the landscape: wild, spacious, rough, green farmer land, the stone walls, the meadows, endless moors, a lot of water, the creeks, centuries of history, the wildlife and the cultural heritage….
- Negative The (chance of) rain
Map
Links
Facts
- Home - Pennine Way - National Trails
National Trails home page
- The Pennine Way Site
David Gibbins created a very useful web page with a lot of information and ofcourse his own adventures on the trail.
- Hikeview Pennine Way
Guide to planning a walk along the Pennine Way, including a standard breakdown of the walk with distance and walking time estimates. With detailed map of trail delineated in 2 mile segments
- Hiking trails walking routes England Pennine way
Five stages of this famous trail
- Pennine Way long distance footpath along the Pennines.
Trail description and photo gallery on the Peak District Information Site.
- Pennine Way Long Distance Path Directory
Introduction by the Walking Englishman.
- Pennine Way on AboutBritain.com
Sectionwise description by AboutBritain.com
- The Pennine Way Association
The PENNINE WAY ASSOCIATION is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. It was founded in 1971 as "a focus of public interest" in Britain's first and finest long distance footpath.
Reports
- 3 Pennine Way
This is Andrew Stephenson excellent diary, on his walk on the UK E2.
- A blog of my travels » Heading towards the Pennines
Blog-style day to day report with good photo gallery.
- End to End - The Pennine Way
John Butler, on his way North, choosed the Pennine Way and this is his story. As always lots of reading and enough photographs to fancy the whole picture.
- Heather Gant's Homepage on Walking Places
To the point journal with self explanatory pictures. They hiked the Pennine Way in 2006. "The walk itself was not as hard as I expected and navigation was very easy – we did not get lost at all even on the notoriously difficult parts. A lot of the boggy areas have now been tamed with flagstones a necessary evil to protect the countryside".
- John's Pennine Way Walk Page
John finished the trail in 2000, in 16 days, and his narration is very enjoyable.
- Long Distance Walking: Pennine Way
Long Distance Walking Blog by Sergio
- Stottie Walks on Walking Places
Pete Stott revives his 1963 walk of the Pennine Way, unforgettible. He dug his diary for us and he went back. This is the story of all of us.
- The Pennine Way - August/September 2004
Pee Wiglet has a golden pen and so you won't miss her walk in 2004.
- The Pennine Way - By Ian Steel
"This website is all about the experiences I had when, at 13 years of age I walked the Pennine Way in the Summer of 1995". Ian Steele.
- The Pennine Way: Introduction
A report from a trek in 1991.
- This is George Tod's tale of the trail.
- Deborah & Gwen's Coast to Coast Diary
Mother and daughter walked the C2C in 2006 and choose the Pennine Way for 2008. Here is the complete trail journal including many pictures.
- Gregg Neilson's Pennine Way Diary
Gregg starts his 11 day diary with a map and a comment on his broken camera. He hiked two thirds of the Pennine Way, and concluded "it was a great walk".
- Krispykritter's 2006 Pennine Way Trail Journal
His motto was "Make everyday your day in Paradise".
- Mo & Dave's Home Page
In 2006 Mo and Dave walked the Pennine Way for Cancer Research UK. This is their account.
- MY PENNINE WAY WALK
Not only she's young and healthy, but she's put it all on the web as well. This is 10 years old Mandy James narrative.
- Pennine Walker on Walking Places
The motto of the Pennine Way is a “Once in a Lifetime” journey and that pretty well sums it up, says James, after finishing the Pennine Way in 18 days.
- Pennine Way -- March 2008 - Peewiglet's Photos
Fine picture gallery of the Pennine Way, in March with snow and rain.
- Pennine Way » Collected Musings of a Hill Wanderer
Blog by John Hennessy
- Pennine Way helpfull guide for walkers, and campers
Catherine and Andy walked the trail in 2003 as a personal challenge and a fundraising event. You can read here that finishing the trail is not an easy thing.
- Pennine Way Walk by Dil & Kim
Bikes Moron & Wild One tell their tale of the walk in 2000.
- The Pennine Way
This is David Cotton's detailed account of the trail.
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
- Northumberland National Park Home Page
Northumberland National Park Home Page.
- Peak District National Park Authority - Peak District National Park Authority
Peak District National Park Home Page
- Welcome to the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Yorkshire Dales National Park Home Page.
Books
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Peak District North Harvey Ultramap XT40
- The northern part of the Peak District at 1:40,000 on a waterproof and tear-resistant, pocket-size Ultramap from Harvey Map Services with the same cartography as their Superwalker map of this area. Coverage extends from Marsden and Holmbridge in the north to beyond Glossop in the south, and includes the Bottoms / Valehouse / Rhodeswood /... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Peak District Central Harvey Ultramap XT40
- The central part of the Peak District at 1:40,000 on a waterproof and tear-resistant, pocket-size Ultramap from Harvey Map Services with the same cartography as their Superwalker map of this area. Coverage extends from west of New Mills and Whaley Bridge in the west to Sheffield, and from the Derwent Reservoir in the north to Buxton, and... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
2019
- Walking The End to End Trail
- Land's End to John o' Groats on foot Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
2019
- Wandelgids Walking The End to End Trail | Cicerone
- A practical guidebook for walking from Land's End to John o' Groats. The 1956km (1215 mile) long-distance route, known as the End to End Trail, follows paths and tracks rather than road, and takes to the hills whenever it can. The route is presented in 61 daily stages averaging just less than 32km (20 miles). Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales: 40 Favourite Walks
- The Yorkshire Dales combine a wild limestone landscape of high rolling moorland gouged by dramatic caves and cascading waterfalls with peaceful farmland carpeted in wildflowers and dotted with ruined abbeys, ancient stone walls and barns, and timeless villages waiting to be discovered.The 40 moderate walks in this collection from award winning... Read more
United Kingdom
- Peak District National Park Pocket Map
- Handy little full colour map of Peak District National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:120 000 (1cm to 1.20km, 1.9 miles to 1 inch). This small map gives a great overview of the Peak District National Park, and is the perfect... Read more
United Kingdom
2019
- Pennine Way 2019
- Edale to Kirk Yetholm: Route Guide with Planning, Places to Stay, Places to Eat, 138 large-scale maps & guides to 57 towns and villages Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
2019
- Pennine Way: Edale to Kirk Yetholm
- Britain`s best-known National Trail winds for 256 miles through three National Parks - the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. This is the 5th edition. This superb footpath showcases Britain`s finest upland scenery, while touching the literary landscape of the Bronte family and Roman history along Hadrian`s Wall. *138 large-scale... Read more
Netherlands
2019
- Wandelgids Pennine Way | Trailblazer
- Britain`s best-known National Trail winds for 256 miles through three National Parks - the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. This is the 5th edition. This superb footpath showcases Britain`s finest upland scenery, while touching the literary landscape of the Bronte family and Roman history along Hadrian`s Wall. *138 large-scale... Read more
United Kingdom
2016
- The Pennine Way - the Path, the People, the Journey
- A portrait of the The Pennine Way, Britain's oldest and best known long-distance footpath, stretching for 268 miles from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish Borders. It charts the path's remarkable history, and walkers past and present relate their experiences of this commanding, exhilarating and complex path. Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
2016
- The Pennine Way: The Path, the People, the Journey
- This book presents a portrait of the Pennine Way, Britain`s oldest and best known long-distance footpath, tracing its remarkable history through the experiences of walkers past and present. As Andrew McCloy walks the 268-mile route from the Derbyshire Peak District to the Scottish borders, he discovers how the Pennine Way set a benchmark for... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- North Pennines: Teesdale & Weardale OS Explorer Active Map OL31 (waterproof)
- The northern part of the Pennines including Teesdale and Weardale on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL31, waterproof version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage include Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Stanhope, Blagill, Gilderdale Forest, Milburn Forest, Hamsterley Forest, Middleton Common, the... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
- Cheviot Hills - Jedburgh & Wooler OS Explorer Map OL16 (paper)
- The Cheviot Hills on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL16, paper version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage includes Jedburgh, Woolmer, part of the Northumberland National Park, the peaks of The Cheviot, Corby Pike, Cold Law, Scrathy Holes and Windy Gyle, Catcleugh Reservoir, sections of the Pennine Way... Read more
Netherlands
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Kielder Water & Forest - Bellingham & Simonside Hills OS Explorer Active Map OL42 (waterproof)
- Kielder Water and Kielder Forest on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL42, waterproof version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage includes Simonside Hills, Kershope Forest, Liddesdale, Sweethope Loughs, the peaks of The Dodd, Muckle Knowe, Mid Fell, the lakeside circuit around the Kielder Water, a section... Read more
United Kingdom
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
United Kingdom
- South Pennines: Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Keighley & Todmorden OS Explorer Map OL21 (paper)
- The southern part of the Pennines on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL21, paper version, from the Ordnance Survey’s 1:25,000 Explorer series. The map covers an area between Burney and Halifax, extending north to Skipton and Horton. Coverage includes Littleborough, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Haworth, Nelson, Bernoldswick, the peak... Read more
Netherlands
Maps
United Kingdom
- Peak District North XT25
- The northern part of the Peak District at 1:25,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant, GPS compatible, double-sided map from Harvey Map Services in their Superwalker series. Coverage extends from Marsden and Holmbridge in the north to beyond Glossop in the south, and includes the Bottoms / Valehouse / Rhodeswood / Torside / Woodhead... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Peak District North Harvey Superwalker XT25
- The northern part of the Peak District at 1:25,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services in their Superwalker series. Coverage extends from Marsden and Holmbridge in the north to beyond Glossop in the south, and includes the Bottoms / Valehouse / Rhodeswood / Torside / Woodhead Reservoirs, Howden / Derwent... Read more
United Kingdom
- Peak District Central XT25
- The central part of the Peak District at 1:25,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant, GPS compatible, double-sided map from Harvey Map Services in their Superwalker series. Coverage extends from west of New Mills and Whaley Bridge in the west to Sheffield and from the Derwent Reservoir in the north to Buxton, and includes... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Peak District Central Harvey Superwalker XT25
- The central part of the Peak District at 1:25,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Harvey Map Services in their Superwalker series. Coverage extends from west of New Mills and Whaley Bridge in the west to Sheffield, and from the Derwent Reservoir in the north to Buxton, and includes Chapel-en-le-Firth, Castleton, Kinder Scout,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales South & Western
- Southern and western area of the Yorkshire Dales on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL2, waterproof version, from the Ordnance Survey`s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage includes Wharfedale with Grassington and Hebden, the upper part of the Ribblesdale with Settle and Horton, Yorkshire’s Three Peaks area of Whernside,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales Southern & Western - Whernside, Ingleborough & Pen-y-ghent OS Explorer OL2 ACTIVE
- Southern and western area of the Yorkshire Dales on a detailed topographic and GPS compatible map OL2, waterproof version, from the Ordnance Survey`s 1:25,000 Explorer series. Coverage includes Wharfedale with Grassington and Hebden, the upper part of the Ribblesdale with Settle and Horton, Yorkshire’s Three Peaks area of Whernside,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Wensleydale and Upper Wharfedale 1852-1865
- Map No. 98, Wensleydale and Upper Wharfedale 1852-1865, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that... Read more
United Kingdom
- Hexham and Haltwhistle 1901-1904
- Map No. 87, Hexham and Haltwhistle 1901-1904, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more
United Kingdom
- Appleby-in-Westmorland 1925
- Map No. 91, Appleby-in-Westmorland 1925, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet lines... Read more
United Kingdom
- Pennine Way North A-Z Adventure Atlas
- The Pennine Way North Adventure Atlas, presenting the northern section of the route between Kirk Yetholm in the Cheviot Hills and Bowes near Barnard Castle on mapping at 1:25,000 in a series of handy A5 size Adventure Atlases from Geographers` A-Z Map Company with cartography from the Ordnance Survey’s Explorer series. Coverage includes a large... Read more
United Kingdom
- Haltwhistle and Brampton 1866-1869
- Map No. 86, Haltwhistle and Brampton 1866-1869, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more
United Kingdom
- Barnard Castle and Richmond 1925
- Map No. 92, Barnard Castle and Richmond 1925, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more
United Kingdom
- Hexham and Haltwhistle 1863-1869
- Map No. 87, Hexham and Haltwhistle 1863-1869, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales West
- The western part of the Yorkshire Dales on a waterproof and tear-resistant, contoured and GPS compatible map at 1:40,000 from Harvey Map Services showing local right of way paths, long-distance hiking routes, off road cycling routes, etc.Topography is shown by contours at 15m intervals, with spot heights plus colouring and graphics to show... Read more
United Kingdom
- Appleby-in-Westmorland 1903-1904
- Map No. 91, Appleby-in-Westmorland 1903-1904, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more
United Kingdom
- Berwick-upon-Tweed 1926
- Map No. 75, Berwick-upon-Tweed 1926, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet lines... Read more
United Kingdom
- Yorkshire Dales Harvey Touring & Planning Map
- Yorkshire Dales on a road map at 1:100,000 from Harvey Map Services with several enlargements showing main roads across local towns, plus descriptions of interesting locations, advice on public transport, etc. The map shows the Dales region with altitude colouring to indicate the region’s topography. Long-distance trails such as the Dales Way,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Haltwhistle and Brampton 1925
- Map No. 86, Haltwhistle and Brampton 1925, in the Cassini Historical Series of old Ordnance Survey mapping of England and Wales at 1:50,000 in a format designed to offer a convenient comparison with the present day coverage from the OS, and most locations in three different editions. Old historical maps have been combined so that the sheet... Read more