Pennine Way Trail

A classic long-distance upland trail across the backbone of England and the Pennines.

Time to Hike:

Typically 16-19 days to cover the full 429 km, with most walkers averaging 20-30 km per day depending on conditions and load.

Best Time to Go:

Late spring to early autumn - generally May to September gives the most stable weather and longest daylight for the full route.

Getting there:

The route conventionally starts at Edale and finishes at Kirk Yetholm; reach Edale by regular trains from Manchester and Sheffield and return from Kirk Yetholm via local buses or taxis to regional rail and airports such as Newcastle or Edinburgh.

Costs:

Expect a modest UK long-distance budget - around 40 to 80 GBP per day for mixed stay options depending on B and B or camping choices. No permits are required; there is no alpine hut system, so plan for pubs, guesthouses, campsites and occasional bothies.

Difficulty:

Long, often rough days over peat bog, tussock and stony ridges with exposed moorland sections; highest summits are below 1000 m but weather and navigation in mist are the main hazards.

The Pennine Way threads 429 km from Edale in the Dark Peak through the gritstone plateaux of Kinder Scout and onto the limestone and dry valleys of the Yorkshire Dales. Further north it crosses the isolated moorland of Cross Fell, the rolling uplands of Northumberland National Park and the rounded Cheviot Hills before finishing at Kirk Yetholm.

Highlights are the raw, open plateaux and gritstone edges, vast peat bogs, long stone walls and the sense of continuous upland country. Accommodation is a patchwork of village pubs, small B and Bs, campsites and occasional hostels or bothies; the trail is notable as Britain’s first long-distance national trail and for its uncompromising, elemental terrain.

Most walkers start northbound at Edale - the village has a station on the Hope Valley line with direct trains from Manchester and Sheffield, making arrival straightforward. The standard linear logistics are to walk north to Kirk Yetholm and use local buses or taxis to link with larger rail and airport hubs.

For international arrivals use airports at Manchester, Newcastle or Edinburgh then rail or coach connections to the start or finish towns; arranging a return transfer or using public transport from Kirk Yetholm into the regional network is common practice.

The walkable season is typically May to September when paths are least waterlogged and daylight is long. Busy summer weekends require advance booking of B and Bs and hostels; there are no permits but popular stages can fill, so reserve key nights if you rely on accommodation.

Outside high summer expect boggy sections, strong wind and rapid weather change; moorland navigation can be demanding in low visibility despite waymarks, so carry a map, compass and shelter. Midges can be an annoyance in warm, still weather in northern and low-lying sections.