Pennine Way National Trail

Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, Gtr Manchester, N Yorkshire, Northumberland, Borders, W Yorkshire

This first National Trail was formally opened in 1965 after a 30-year campaign led by Tom Stephenson of the Ramblers, and celebrated its 50th birthday in 2015 (24 April). It follows the central upland spine of England from Derbyshire to the Scottish Borders, crossing a wide variety of terrain.

The Way crosses the expanse of the gritstone moorlands of the Kinder Plateau, the Bronte country and the predominantly limestone areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park which is traversed via Malham, Pen-y-ghent, Great Shunner Fell and Keld. The Way descends from the high fells to reach the River Tees which is followed past High Force and Cauldron Snout waterfalls then crossing the fells to High Cup, Great Dunfell and Cross Fell then descending to Alston to reach the Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall. The Wall is followed to Housesteads Fort before turning north across the Kielder Forest to Redesdale and the uplands of the Cheviot Hills. Here the English-Scottish border fence is then followed before gradually descending to Kirk Yetholm, where it links with the St Cuthbert's Way.

At Alston the Way links with the South Tyne Trail (10 miles), providing a low level alternative up the valley towards Hadrian's Wall.


For National Trails website alerts see 'Pennine Way Interactive Map (National Trails UK)' below.

UPDATE ON PENNINE WAY DIVERSION October 2025
Dryburn Bridge, between Alston and Garrigill, is currently closed due to flood damage. The alternative route will add very little time or distance to your route. Signs will be in place at either end of the diversion. Details of diversion route at: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/dryburn-bridge-closed-follow-diversion/

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.

See also E-Routes (E2).

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Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Challenging Moorland
Start:	SK123860 - Edale, Derbyshire
Finish:	NT828282 - Kirk Yetholm, Borders
Open Date:	1965
Web Sites:	National Trails - Pennine Way Independent Hostels UK - Pennine Way Accommodation Yorkshire Dales National Park - Pennine Way Moorland Challenge - Pennine Way Visit Cumbria - Pennine Way Wild Walking UK - Pennine Way [blog] British Walks - Pennine Way [blog] Rambling Man - Planning your Pennine Way Walk Pennine Way [YouTube video] Brian's Walks - Pennine Way [blog] Trailplanner - Pennine Way [blog] Backpack Artist - Pennine Way [blog] Outdoor Scott - Ultimate Guide to the Pennine Way [blog] A walker's journal - The Pennine Way [blog] Chris Stuart's Walks - Pennine Way [blog] Pennine Way Interactive Map (National Trails UK) Waypoint51 - Pennine Way

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Pennine Way: Edale to Kirk Yetholm  (Trailblazer  - 2023 )
Guidebook	Pennine Way National Trail from Edale to Kirk Yetholm  (Cicerone Press  - 2025 )
General Interest Book	The Pennine Way : the path, the people, the journey  (Cicerone Press  - 2016 )
Guidebook	Pennine Way: A Walker's Guide  (Chris Sainty  - 2014 )
Guidebook	Heart of the Pennine Way  (Skyware  - 2015 )
General Interest Book	Where shall we walk today? : walking the Pennine Way  (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform  - 2014 )
Guidebook	Circular walks along the Pennine Way  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2006 )
General Interest Book	The Pennine Way  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2011 )
Guidebook	Guide to the Pennine Way  (Constable and Robinson (an imprint of Little, Brown)  - 1991 )
Leaflet	Pennine Way: Accommodation & Service  (Pennine Way Project Officer )
General Interest Book	Cape to Cape : a 1,250-mile backpacking walk from Cornwall to Cape Wrath in Scotland  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2018 )
General Interest Book	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
General Interest Book	Walking home : travels with a troubadour on the Pennine Way  (Faber & Faber  - 2013 )
Guidebook	Pennine Way companion  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2004 )
Guidebook	Pennine Way  (Dalesman  - 1997 )
Guidebook	Wainwright on the Pennine Way  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2014 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Guidebook	Pennine Way : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Other	Features of the Pennine Way  (Field Studies Council  - 2006 )
Other	National Trail mug  (Trails Shop )
General Interest Book	Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )
General Interest Book	Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2020 )

Click to showhide 20 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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