Pennine Way

One of the UK's great routes, a LONG trail along following northern England's “backbone” central Pennine hills, through some of England's finest landscape. The Way is 463km long in total, taking average walker takes 23 days or so, although most people tackle sections of it.

Much of the route is on bleak, grand, wide-viewed moorland tops separated by deep, meltingly pretty valleys (dales). Delightful towns and villages; pretty farmsteads and barns.

A lot of history, diverse wildlife, intriguing geology.

Classic stretches include:

The Peak District

The Yorkshire Dales : Quite simply, some of the world’s most charming and atmospheric walking. The remarkable and beautiful Yorkshire Dales are in many ways classic limestone landscape – crags, appearing and disappearing streams, dry valleys, sink holes, caves – yet are very different from, and softer than, other famous limestone areas such as the Dolomites. They are characterized by water everywhere, green, green pastures in the valley bottoms and up their sides, divided by drystone walls and peppered with trees, copses, farms and (in some) free-standing stone barns, with crags and cliffs (sills) higher up, and peaty moorland on the flat plateau tops. Glaciation has had a profound effect, leaving the bare pavements and the delightful hummocks and dells that are one of the area’s greatest visual delights.

The Hadrian's Wall area, and

The Northumberland National Park.

The Way mainly follows existing footpaths or bridleways,  between villages/.towns so there are usually good options for accommodation, eating and drinking . Accommodation ranges from youth hostels/  bunk-houses to B&Bs, pubs and hotels.  The trail usually passes through remote landscape, so come prepared and bring enough provisions.

The Way has two drawbacks:

• popularity: you will have to accept that the famous stretches will be overpopulated in high season. To achieve solitude, take lesser-known routes or go out of the high seasons.
• weather, of which there is lots. While there are periods of glorious sunshine, come prepared for cloud, mist, rain and wind, any time of year. Some of the most beautiful light is on showery, broken cloudy days.

See the thoughts (and lovely photos) of walking the whole Way of  our friend Hans Plas here:  https://www.wandelmagazine.nu/de-pennine-way-wandelen-door-de-mooiste-landschappen-van-engeland/

ANYONE GOT ANY GOOD PHOTOS? WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO POST THEM!