The Pennine Way Hike

The Pennine Way runs 268 miles along the rocky spine of England, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the Scottish border. It opened in 1965 as Britain's first long-distance National Trail and it still sets the bar — physically demanding, weather-exposed, and routed through some of the wildest landscape England has.

What to expect

Roughly 16-19 days at a steady pace, with around 11,000m of total ascent — more than the height of Everest from sea level. The terrain shifts from gritstone edges in the Peak, through the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, over the bleak high moors of the North Pennines, along Hadrian's Wall, and finally into the rolling Cheviots. Most days have at least one section of saturated peat bog. Conditions can flip from sun to driving rain inside an hour.

Practical notes

Best walked May through September; serious winter undertaking outside that window. Accommodation runs from bunkhouses and B&Bs to the official Pennine Way camping barns. Bring proper waterproofs, gaiters, and a map and compass — the high moor sections will be in cloud often enough that you'll need them. Most walkers go south to north; a few do it in two-week chunks across multiple seasons.