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Pennine Way Overview

The Pennine Way is a long established long distance footpath. It is 267 miles/431 km long and runs from Edale Village in the northern Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.

In its early days, it could be very boggy in places but it is now much improved although some very boggy sections remain.

Where possible each route starts and finishes on a road to allow for easy support access.

There are many books available and the route was made more famous by Wainwright who published a detailed guide.

Over the years, the route has been modified and there is now also a Pennine Bridleway.

Generally, the route gets rougher and tougher the further north you go.

Much of what follows is subjective and there will be many varying opinions so do ask around for other opinions!

Highlights

(1) Edale village to top of Snake Pass – includes Jacob's Ladder and Kinder Downfall.

(2) Standedge car park to the White House – if only for the crossing of the M62.

(3) White House to Hebden Bridge – reservoirs and Stoodley Pike.

(4) Gargrave to Malham – if only for the views approaching Malham.

(5) Malham to Tennant Gill – Malham Cove and limestone pavements.

(6) Tennant Gill to Halton Gill/Stainforth road – Fountains Fell and views of Pen-y-Ghent.

(7) Halton Gill/Stainforth road to Horton–in–Ribblesdale – up rocky side of Pen-y-Ghent.

(8) Hawes to Thwaite via Great Shunner Fell – full traverse of high moorland hill.

(9) Thwaite to Tan Hill Inn – stunning from above Muker to Keld

(10) Middleton–in–Teesdale to Cauldron Snout – Low Force, High Force & Cauldron Snout

(11) Cauldron Snout to Dufton – High Cup Nick

(12) Dufton to Garrigill – “Golf balls” & Cross Fell, the highest peak in the Pennines

(13) Greenhead to Housesteads – arguably the best part of Hadrian's Wall but many ascents.

(14) Windy Gyle, The Cheviot & Auchope Cairn – great views on the border section

(15) Auchope Refuge Hut to Kirk Yetholm – The Schil plus great views

Lowlights

(1) Top of Snake Pass to Crowden – many will not appreciate the rough descent off Bleaklow.

(2) Crowden to Standedge car park – rough and rocky on way to Black Hill, many ascents.

(3) Hebden Bridge to the Pack Horse – poor signage especially out of Hebden Bridge.

(4) Cowling to Thornton-in-Craven – lots of tedious up and down.

(5) Horton–in–Ribblesdale to Hawes – surprisingly dull despite the surrounding scenery.

(6) Thwaite to Tan Hill – fairly dull and tedious after Keld.

(7) Tan Hill to A66 Pasture End – featureless boggy moorland.

(8) Middleton–in–Teesdale to Cauldron Snout – hard going at Falcon Clints before Snout.

(9) Alston to Glendue Burn – route meanders all over the place for no good reason.

(10) Hadrian's Wall to Ladyhill Farm Falconry – boggy moorland and very boggy forest.

(11) Bellingham to Highgreen Manor road – boggiest section plus super slippery paving slabs.

(12) Byrness to Chew Green – boggy in Forest, rough & awkward ascent up onto Byrness Hill.

(13) Chew Green to Windy Gyle – can be very wet and boggy.

Boggiest sections

(1) Hadrian's Wall to Ladyhill Farm Falconry – boggy moorland and very boggy forest.

(2) Ladyhill Farm Falconry to Bellingham – boggy moorland.

(3) Bellingham to Highgreen Manor road – boggiest section plus very slippery paving slabs.

(4) Highgreen Manor Road to Byrness – after Padon Hill, boggy in hollow and on next ascent.

(5) Byrness to Chew Green – can be very boggy in forest and wet on ridge.

(6) Auchope Refuge Hut to Kirk Yetholm – short, very boggy section below The Schil.

Most physically and technically demanding sections

(1) Top of Snake Pass to Crowden – many will not appreciate the rough descent off Bleaklow.

(2) Crowden to Standedge car park – rough and rocky on way to Black Hill, many ascents.

(3) Hebden Bridge to the Pack Horse – poor signage especially out of Hebden Bridge.

(4) Malham to Tennant Gill – many steps up side of Malham Cove then limestone pavements.

(5) Tennant Gill to Halton Gill/Stainforth road – a “scramble” up on to Pen-y-Ghent.

(6) Hawes to Thwaite via Great Shunner Fell – a long ascent and descent.

(7) Middleton–in–Teesdale to Cauldron Snout – rough tedious boulder fields in Falcon Clints.

(8) Greenhead to Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall – continual up and down.

(9) Byrness to Kirk Yetholm – over 40 km if tackled in a single day.

Least physically and technically demanding sections

(1) Thornton– in–Craven to Gargrave – almost flat the entire way.

(2) Gargrave to Malham – very little ascent.

(3) Garrigill to Alston – relatively easy path by the River South Tyne but lots of stiles.

Accommodation

There are many YHA and independent hostels along the way. In the larger villages, there are hotels and B & B accommodation. The worst section for accommodation is between Byrness and Kirk Yetholm where there is nothing on the route apart from the Auchope Mountain Refuge Hut which is like a large shed. No roads are crossed either. Many walk from Byrness to Windy Gyle then drop off south to the Coquet Valley to be collected then returned the next morning to reascend Windy Gyle. Look around for companies/guest houses which help out here. Once you know your rough itinery, then look around the area for suitable accommodation. Crowden is another problem; it has a good campsite but no B and B close by although one isn't that far away from Reap's Farm after coming off Bleaklow. Another awkward one is between Tan Hill and Middleton–in–Teesdale where there is very little obvious accommodation.

Always try to book accommodation direct and well in advance. Booking companies are likely to charge more as they may add on their own commission – typically 10 to 20%. This is especially important when booking places in hostels – always go direct. The YHA has hostels (including independent affiliated ones) at Edale, Mankinholes (slight detour near Hebden Bridge), Malham, Hawes (often booked up), Alston (Pennine Way goes past the door), Langdon Beck (slight detour), Dufton, The Sill (below Hadrian's Wall), Bellingham and Byrness (slight detour). There are independent hostels, not affiliated to the YHA at some of the other sensible stopping off places but these can come and go so best to check for yourself. Keld is a small village where the Pennine Way and the Coast to Coast cross so accommodation can soon book up however there are some yurts (round, static tents) available on the edge of the village. If you wish to build in rest days then Hebden Bridge, Malham, Hawes, Middleton–in–Teesdale, Alston and Bellingham are probably the best places to have such stopovers.

Maps

There doesn't seem to be a single map for the Pennine Way (unlike the Coast to Coast). Consequently, many separate maps are needed. If backpacking the whole route in one expedition, this will be a major inconvenience unless you either download your own maps and only take the parts you need or cut up paper maps with all the expense which that involves. For much of the way, the larger scale 1:50 000 OS landranger maps will suffice as most of the Pennine Way is fairly well signed but the Outdoor Leisure maps will be needed for the more remote parts of the walk especially between Alston and Greenhead where many get lost on the featureless moorland of Hartleyburn Common about 3 km south of the A69.