Pennines

The Pennines are a range of uplands running roughly north-south through northern England and form a broad spine separating eastern and western England. The range is an extensive upland area of moorland, dales and fells with significant natural and cultural value.

Walking, hillwalking and cycling are primary reasons people visit, with long-distance routes including the Pennine Way traversing much of the range. Notable landscapes include gritstone edges, limestone dales, peat bogs and upland pasture; many valleys contain reservoirs and historic settlements serving outdoor visitors.

Human use has long combined pastoral agriculture, notably sheep farming, with historic mineral extraction such as lead mining and later the development of transport corridors in the 18th and 19th centuries. Designations for conservation and recreation now cover large parts of the range.

The Pennines run from the Peak District in the south through the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines toward the border with Scotland. They lie inland from cities such as Manchester and Leeds and are accessible by roads and rail to a network of towns that serve as bases for outdoor activities.

• Highest point: Cross Fell at 893 metres is the highest point in the range and a landmark for upland walkers.
• Walking and water supply: The Pennines contain long-distance routes such as the Pennine Way and supply many reservoirs that serve major cities in England.

What to See #

• Peak District: The Peak District marks the southern end and was designated as Britain's first national park in 1951; it includes high moorland, gritstone edges and the plateau of Kinder Scout.
• Yorkshire Dales: The Yorkshire Dales feature limestone valleys, dry stone walls and long-distance footpaths including sections of the Pennine Way.
• North Pennines: The North Pennines are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known for moorland, peat bogs, upland pastures and historic lead-mining landscapes.