Pennine Way National Trail
404 km / 251 miles
This first National Trail was formally opened after a 30-year campaign led by Tom Stephenson of the Ramblers. It follows the central upland spine of England from Derbyshire to the Scottish Borders, crossing a wide variety of terrain.
The Way crosses the expanse of the gritstone moorlands of the Kinder Plateau, the Bronte country and the predominantly limestone areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park which is traversed via Malham, Pen-y-ghent, Great Shunner Fell and Keld. The Way descends from the high fells to reach the River Tees which is followed past High Force and Cauldron Snout waterfalls then crossing the fells to High Cup, Great Dunfell and Cross Fell then descending to Alston to reach the Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall. The Wall is followed to Housesteads Fort before turning north across the Kielder Forest to Redesdale and the uplands of the Cheviot Hills. Here the English-Scottish border fence is then followed before gradually descending to Kirk Yetholm, where it links with the St Cuthbert's Way.
A register is maintained at the Pen-y-ghent Café, Horton-in-Ribblesdale for signature/comments from those involved in walking the Way. Practical advice on attempting the Pennine Way is available from the Pennine Way Association (9 x 4 SAE required).
At Alston the Way links with the South Tyne Trail (10 miles), providing a low level alternative up the valley towards Hadrian's Wall.
The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.
See also E-Routes (E2).
Strider News - August 2013 (Publication Update)
In summer 2010 poet Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way. Travelling as a 'modern troubadour' without a penny in his pocket, he stopped along the way to give poetry readings in village halls, churches, pubs and living rooms. His readable account: Walking Home - Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way, is now available in paperback, with ISBN: 978-0571249893, at £0.99 from Faber & Faber, see link below..
Details:
| Path Type: | National Trails (England & Wales) | |
| Waymark: | National Trail Acorn | |
| Attributes: | Challenging; Moorland | |
| Start: | SK122859 - Edale, Derbys  |
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| Finish: | NT827281 - Kirk Yetholm, Borders |
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| Open Date: | 1965 | |
| User Group: | Pennine Way Association | |
| c/o Chris Sainty, 29 Springfield Park Avenue, CHELMSFORD, Essex, CM2 6EL | ||
| 01245 256772 | ||
| Email: chrisdjsainty@hotmail.com | ||
| Web Sites: | http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/PennineWay/ |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Certificate: | Certificate for National Trails (Long Distance Walkers Association - 2009) |
| Hardback: | Walkers Britain (AA Publishing - 2011) |
| Illustrated Map: | Map of England and Wales Walking Routes (Arty2 Ltd - 2010) |
| Paperback: | National Trails: The National Trials of England, Scotland & Wales (Cicerone Press - 2007) |
| Paperback: | Pennine Way National Trail From Edale to Kirk Yetholm (Cicerone Press - 2010) |
| Guidebook: | Cycling the Pennine Bridleway - The Dales Stages (Cicerone Press - 2012) |
| Paperback: | Circular Walks Along the Pennine Way (Frances Lincoln - 2006) |
| Hardback - Pictorial: | Pennine Way (Frances Lincoln - 2011) |
| Paperback: | Pennine Way (Trailblazer Publications - 2004) |
| Paperback: | Pennine Way North (National Trail Guides) (Aurum Press - 2010) |
| Softback: | Pennine Way South (National Trail Guide) (Aurum Press - 2011) |
| CD ROM: | Running the Pennine Way (Mind Technology Limited) |
| Softback: | Guide to the Pennine Way (Constable and Robinson Ltd - 1991) |
| Leaflet: | Pennine Way: Accommodation & Service (Pennine Way Project Officer) |
| Leaflet: | Pennine Way (Natural England) |
| Badge & Certificate: | Badge & Certificate for Pennine Way National Trail (John Merrill Foundation) |
| Badge & Certificate: | Badge & Certificate for Pennine Way National Trail (Pennine Way Association) |
| Completion Memento: | Selection of sketches on A3 Poster (John Needham) |
| Certificate: | Certificate for Pennine Way National Trail (Peak National Park Information Centre) |
| Looseleaf: | Places of Worship on or along the Pennine Way (S. E. Chandler) |
| Paperback: | Big Walks Of Great Britain (Summersdale Publications - 2007) |
| Paperback: | Walking Home - Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way (Faber & Faber - 2013) |
Maps: |
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| Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 74, 80, 86, 87, 91, 92, 98, 103, 109, 110 |
| OS Landranger Active: | 98, 110 |
| OS Explorer: | 1, 2, 16, 19, 21, 30, 31, 41, 42, 43, 288 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 1, 2, 16, 19, 21, 30, 31, 41, 42, 43, 288 |
| Other Paper Maps: | |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | Pennine Way South:Edale to Horton (Harvey Maps - 2005) |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | Pennine Way Central: Horton to Greenhead (Harvey Maps - 2005) |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | Pennine Way North:Greenhead to Kirk Yetholm (Harvey Maps - 2005) |
| Harvey Map (Stripmap): | Pennine Way 3-map set and DVD (Harvey Maps - 2009) |
| Stripmap: | Pennine Way, Part One: South - Edale to Teesdale, Map & Guide (Footprint - 2005) |
| Stripmap: | Pennine Way, Part Two: North - Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm, Map & Guide (Footprint - 2005) |
| Digital Maps: | |
| Downloadable Digital Mapping: | Pennine Way National Trail (Anquet Maps - 2009) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | Memory-Map Pennine Way 1:25,000 (Memory-Map Europe - 2004) |
| Digital Mapping (25k Scale): | Pennine Way 1:25k & 1:50k (Satmap - 2009) |
Walking Support Providers:
| Support Providers: | Baggage Carrying Service (Trekvan) |
| Support Providers: | Baggage Handling Service (Sherpa Van Project) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (Footpath Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Guided Walking Holidays (HF Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self Guided Walking Holidays (Beks Treks UK) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (UK Exploratory) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Contours Walking Holidays) |
| Support Providers: | Self-Guided Walking Holidays (Macs Adventure) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Brigantes Accommodation & Baggage Courier Service) |
| Support Providers: | Walking, Hiking and Cycling Holidays (Discovery Travel) |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Kirk Yetholm YHA, Kelso, Roxburghshire | < 1 Km |
| Bunk House: | Kirk Yetholm Friends Of Nature | < 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Singing Donkeys Hostel | < 1 Km |
Additional Images: |
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Connected Paths:
Downloads:
| GPS Exchange Format Route File: | Pennine Way National Trail GPX Exchange Format Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| MemoryMap Route file: | Pennine Way National Trail Memory Map Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| Tracklogs Route file: | Pennine Way National Trail Tracklogs Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
Route Profile:
| 410.6 Km (255.1 miles) 11,343 m (37,215 ft) ascent 890 m (2,920 ft) maximum height |
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