I know someone who is aiming to walk a nine day PW for charity. She wants to complete in a time at the top end of the walking times for the purpose of sponsorship. Nine days sounds good to me, but are there any stats to prove it?

I did a 9 day PW first week of September. I relied on streams mostly for drinking water as I always have done, for over 50 years now. I have never had any problems, apart from on this latest trip, the first clear water after Kinder was just before Stanage (1st nights camp)all other streams were really dark Peaty.

Thanks Sue, that's very helpful.

I've done it both ways and prefer the north/south. Most people walk s/n, which means you only usually meet other walkers once if going the other way, (which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your point of view). Wild camping isn't always an option except in obvious upland stretches, but there are some paying campsites too, and it's always worth asking farmers if they'll let you camp in a field. Buying food isn't a problem if you're carrying for the initial 2/3 days (going either way). Reliable supplies available at Bellingham, Alston, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Hawes, Horton in Ribblesdale, Malham, Gargrave & Hebden Bridge. However there are also various cafes/pubs in between some of these. Hope you get some good weather.

I’m planning on doing the Pennine Way soon, camping so as not to be tied to a B&B schedule. Any tips, recommendations, advice? I would like to do it north to south, but the National Trails website recommends south to north (“to keep the weather at your back”). Does it make much difference? I’m planning on taking 3 days food and buy as I go thereafter. Are there shops in the villages the Way goes through? I plan to take water from mountain streams and use chlorine purification tablets.