The Pennine Way Hike

The Pennine Way Hike is an exceptional walk that follows the rocky spine from the Derbyshire Peak Districts, over Hadrian’s Wall to Cheviot Hills, and finishes on the Scottish Borders.

The route is 268 miles long and will take you past remarkable history and stunning views that leave you in awe.

The Pennine Way Hike was the first National Trail to open in England (1965), making it one of the most famous routes in the UK.  Because of this, it helped introduce the start of public access to the UK’s most beautiful locations.

The route is very hilly with lots of accents, which exceeds the height of Mount Everest. For many people, this makes it one of the most challenging hikes in the country. And when you add this to the remoteness of the hike, you have a genuinely amazing walk.

For this reason, Pennine Way is only recommended for experienced hikers that want a truly unique adventure.

The terrain throughout the hike is very varied; one minute, you’ll be walking on smooth, hard ground, and the next moment the trail will be uneven, wet, and boggy.

To truly enjoy this walk, you’ll need to make sure you have your waterproofs and plenty of spare socks.

So, what makes this walk unique?

For many people, it’s not just the hike that makes this route so spectacular; it’s the history you get access to along the way.

While walking, you’ll pass some spectacular natural landscapes and historical sites, including:

• Kinder Scout
• Hadrian’s Wall
• The Cheviot
• And much more

The trail also passes through three National Parks and National Nature Reserves, which is home to some of the best wildlife in Europe.

Buy The Pennine Way Hike Guide

What does it look like?

How Long Does It Take?

As for how long the hike takes, you can take as long or as little as you want.

As we mentioned earlier, the hike is 268 miles long, and for most hikers, it will take them between 16 and 19 days to complete the entire hike. Let’s break that down for you:

• 16 Days: 16.75 miles per day
• 17 Days: 15.7 miles per day
• 18 Days: 14.8 miles per day
• 19 Days: 14.1 miles per day

Some days you make the walk more or less than this, but it gives you a rough idea of what to expect on your journey.

If you’re looking to really challenge yourself, you could try and beat the fastest time, which was completed by John Kelly in 2020. His time was 64 hours 40 minutes; he walked 4.1 miles per hour, over 89 miles per day.

How To Get There And Back?

Most people like to start the hike from the south and work their way north. This means starting your walk from Edale and finding Kirk Yetholm.

So how do you get there and back?

You can get to Edele via the Hope Valley Line, which is between Manchester and Sheffield. The trains run regularly between these locations so you shouldn’t have any problems.

Leaving Kirk Yetholm is tricky; it’s pretty remote and doesn’t have a train station, so what do you do?

Your only option is to get a bus to Kelso, which you can catch from just outside the Border Inn. From Kelso, you can catch a train to various points of the UK.

The Best Time To Go

You can walk the route all year round, so it’s really up to you when you go. That being said, the best time of year to go is between May to September. During these months you’ll experience better weather conditions.

That being said, you should still check the weather forecasts daily. You can experience anything from blistering hot sun to freezing cold temperatures along the summits. You really need to be prepared for any weather conditions.

Where To Stay On Your Journey

When it comes to places to stay, you have quite a few options to choose from. Most of the hike is quite remote, but do you pass a few towns and villages.

In the towns and villages, you’ll find hostels, hotels, and B&Bs, which give you plenty of options for places to stay.

The hike is super popular in the summer months, so make sure you book well in advance to guarantee you get the places you want.

If you’re looking to do things cheaply, you have plenty of camping options along the way for reasonable prices.

As for wild camping, some local farms will let you stay in the fields, but you should double-check with the landowners. And when you cross the border into Scotland, you can wild camp as long as you stick to the guidelines.

Where To Get Food And Drink Along The Way

When you take on such a long hike, one of your key concerns is probably where you can get food, but you shouldn’t worry too much.

As we said, you pass through plenty of villages that have local restaurants, cafes, and pubs, so there’s no shortage of food.

If you’re looking to do the cooking yourself, you shouldn’t have any problems. There’s plenty of mini shops and a few grocery stores where you can find anything you need to cook your meal.

Final Thoughts

The Pennine Way is a beautiful hike with stunning landscapes and astonishing historical sites for you to visit.

Just remember, this hike isn’t for the faint-hearted; it very features harsh accents and unfavourable terrain.

Looking for more Hiking locations in the UK?

Check out our full guides to other hikes in the UK    Hiking In The UK