Pennine Way – 20 nights / 19 days walking

About this trail

Your Pennine Way route starts in the Peak District village of Edale, heading north across the peatland of the Kinder plateau and encountering challenging climbs at Jacob’s Ladder and Bleaklow. From there you head towards the Calder Valley and the quirky town of Hebden Bridge, before crossing Heptonstall Moor, the lowland Aire Gap and into the Yorkshire Dales. The next few days are quintessential Yorkshire dales and fells and include Malham Cove and Tarn. North of Keld the landscape becomes more remote and exposed, save for the section of Teesdale where you’ll pass High and Low Force waterfalls.

The stunning U-shaped valley of High Cup Nick is next, followed by the highest point on the route as you hike up and over the near-900m high Cross Fell. At Alston you enter the valley of the South Tyne River, before joining Hadrian’s Wall Path for 10 miles or so –  a great opportunity to see some of the finest sections of this path. There is no letting up during the final stretches of the hike, where the sparse population means lengthy walking days between villages. The last big push is up and over the remote Cheviot Hills, before the reward of a hearty meal at the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm, journey’s end.

Terrain and navigation

The Pennine Way is a challenging walk, especially if done in one go. Even for those choosing an itinerary with shorter daily mileages, a number of sections necessitate hikes of 16 miles or so up and over remote moorland which can be prone to bad weather and low visibility. Being able to map read and navigate using a compass is essential. In places the trail follows prepared pathways and distinct tracks, while on some of the higher ground the path is not that discernible. Be prepared, too, for wet and boggy ground underfoot in places. Signage is generally good but may occasionally be absent.

Route elevation

Highest point: 891 metres
Total ascent / descent: 1862 metres / 1862 metres

Included as standard in the price

The price quoted is per person and is based on two people sharing a room. It includes:

• Carefully selected, en-suite bed and breakfast accommodation*
• Daily luggage transfers to your accommodation**
• All the necessary maps and guidebooks for your walk
• Route notes and maps detailing how to find your B&B at the end of each day
• The cost of any transfers that are required from the route to your accommodation if we are unable to book you into a B&B within easy walking distance of the trail
• Information about any special facilities offered by your hosts (eg hot tub or licensed bar)
• Suggestions and contact details for places for an evening meal each day
• Telephone support if required
• Advice from our team on travel to and from the start and end of the trail.

*En-suite is always chosen unless all options are booked out, in which case private bathrooms are sought. Customers are always consulted about non-en-suite options before details are finalised.

**Standard package includes one piece of baggage per walker, up to a maximum weight of 20kg. Additional bags can be transferred but incur an additional cost. Please enquire if you need this service.

Packed lunches and evening meals

The cost of these is not included in our standard package. All the accommodation providers we use offer packed lunches to keep you well fed during your walk. Payment is made directly to your hosts. Similarly, if you have an evening meal either at your accommodation or another local establishment, you pay them directly for it.

Optional extras that can be provided by Discovery Travel

Discovery Travel specialises in providing completely tailor-made services to our clients. This means that if our standard published itineraries do not suit our customers’ needs, we are always happy to discuss ways in which we can adjust accommodation, shorten or lengthen itineraries and distances to make for the perfect trip.

We also offer the following services to make for a seamless holiday:

• Transport to and from the start and finish of a trail
• Airport transfers
• Minibus and driver service, in particular for large groups where multiple accommodations are required each night and transfers are frequently required at the end of the day’s walk

If you are interested in any of the above or have any particular requirements, please do contact us to discuss your needs.

Make more of your break

If you would like to pause during your walk and explore one of the overnight locations for longer, you are free to select and add extra days to your holiday at any of your overnight stops. Prices for extra days are quoted above and will be added to the total cost of the holiday. If the itineraries on our website do not quite meet your requirements please do get in touch to arrange a bespoke trip.

Below are some suggestions for good places to spend an extra day or so.

Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge has a bohemian feel to it inspired by the influence of the writers and artists who flocked to the town around the 1970s and 1980s. You will find local artisan shops, galleries and cafés in this happening town, while pretty wooded valleys and picturesque heather moorland are just a few minutes away.

Horton in Ribblesdale

Horton in Ribblesdale is an ideal place for an extra day if you fancy relaxing and letting the local train do the travelling for you. It is the first station stop on the route of the iconic scenic Settle to Carlisle railway line. Or, if you are keen to keep walking this is the ideal location from which to tackle one of the three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent.

Once Brewed

Once Brewed is just a hamlet of a few houses and a pub, but it is ideal as a location from which to explore the finest archaeological sites on Hadrian’s Wall and soak up the beautiful scenery of the area. The magnificent remains of the Roman frontier fort at Housesteads are nearby, as is the Vindolanda garrison fort and museum.  The Roman Army Museum is also a couple of miles west at Cawfields. Between April and October all of these sites are served by a regular bus service that stops at Once Brewed.

When to go

The weather in the UK can vary hugely so be prepared for all weathers whatever time of the year. April, May and June are when everything comes to life so it is very green, wild flowers are abundant and blossom abounds. July and August tend to be the warmest months, but it is rarely so warm as to be uncomfortable for walking and the heather on the moors will be at its best. September is one of the most pleasant times in the countryside and is quieter as most people with children have finished their holidays. By October the days are getting shorter and the weather can be much more changeable.

Getting to and from the trail

By Air: Manchester has a range of inter-continental flights. Larger airports, including for inter-continental flights, are located at Glasgow and Edinburgh.

By Rail: Edale has a train station which connects with Sheffield and Manchester (Piccadilly) which then serve all parts of the UK. For train times and fares visit National Rail Enquiries. At the end end of walk your nearest mainline rail station is Berwick-upon-Tweed. There is a closer branch line station at Tweedbank.

By Bus: Buses stop at Kirk Yetholm – find details via Google Maps and click on Directions.

Got a question about travel? If you need any advice about travel to and from your walk please get in touch with Discovery Travel and we will be happy to help.