Take on England’s ultimate long-distance hike – Pennine Way

The Pennine Way starts exactly as it means to go on: challenging but always rewarding.



From Edale, you begin with a steep climb up Jacob’s Ladder. This iconic stone staircase is a wonderful ascent and your efforts are rewarded with breathtaking views once you reach the summit of Kinder Low.



Following… read more

After a challenging start, this stage is shorter with a little less climbing. However, the second day does include the bête noire of legendary fellwalker Alfred Wainwright, Black Hill.



From Crowden, you make a sharp ascent to Laddow Rocks, an exposed rocky outcrop that affords splendid views over the… read more

Stage 3 follows high moorland paths and gritstone edges, affording atmospheric walking with wonderful views every step of the way.



According to Alfred Wainwright, the worst of the Pennine Way is over by this point. However, this stage is not particularly awe-inspiring due to the ever-present sounds of… read more

If you enjoy classic literature and poetry as much as moorland hiking, you are in for a treat as this stage ventures into Brontë country.



To start, cross the River Calder and rise through farmland. You then descend into woodland and cross the River Colden via a pretty bridge in an idyllic setting. A short… read more

Wainwright described this stage as “mostly muck and manure… undulating farmlands… and contented cows on low green hills”.



Whilst this description still holds true, you will find this hike to be a pleasant one. Taking you through a surprising amount of villages, there is ample opportunity for refreshment… read more

Stage 6 is a real highlight and showcases limestone country at its finest. So good, in fact, Wainwright described this as “the best walking territory so far encountered along the Pennine way”.



Whilst the joys are abundant, this stage is rather challenging – it’s solid uphill for the first 8 miles (13… read more

If you're in search of solitude then this stage will be a real treat as the landscape is wild, beautiful and utterly endless.



The paths are easy to follow for the entire day, apart from a tricky section coming off the moors down Rottenstone Hill into Hawes, where the path is undefined.



This route begins… read more

This stage of the Pennine Way is hiking heaven. Wild moorland, epic views and idyllic waterfalls all combine on a Tour that finishes at England’s highest pub.



From Hawes, you head north to Hardraw and then begin a long yet delightful climb across the moors and over Great Shunner Fell, the highest point… read more

Stage 9 marks the halfway point along the Pennine Way and the milestone is honoured with the hiking this trail does best: vast moorland, rolling hills and utter solitude.



Whether reaching the 134-mile (216 km) halfway point fills you with relief or despair is likely to split opinion as much as the walking… read more

This stage of the Pennine Way is one of the most memorable along the entire trail. So good, in fact, that Wainwright described it as “a walk of near perfection”.



On this hike, you see the most iconic landmark on the Way, High Cup Nick; hailed as the best example of a glaciated u-shaped valley in Northern… read more

Get ready for wind, weather and footpaths that disappear in the heather on this stage, which is one of the most challenging on the Way. Taking you to the highest point in the Pennines, Cross Fell, this is an epic Tour that affords a true sense of adventure.



Before you attempt this stage, check the weather… read more

Today is a slog, unfortunately. Navigation is tricky, the bogs are relentless and the scenery might appear bland compared to previous days. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel: Hadrian’s Wall.



Wainwright described this stage as dull and complicated. “If the remainder of the Pennine Way was… read more

Stage 13 is a real gem on the Pennine Way; the highlights are abundant and the landscape is picturesque.



The Tour begins with a short but sharp ascent to the tall crags of Walltown Quarry, which was excavated by the Romans for stone to build Hadrian's Wall.



A couple of miles later, you arrive at Aesica… read more

This stage is a walk of two halves; moorland with great views but demanding bogs, and woodland paths that are easy to hike but are a tad monotonous.



From Bellingham, it's a gentle ascent through fields into rugged upland once again. The next section, which crosses farmland and moorland, can get boggy… read more

This final stage crosses some of the wildest and most remote hills in England. Plus, at 27.6 miles (44.4 km) long and with 3,725 feet (1,135 m) of climbing to contend with, this Tour is a testing climax to a tough long-distance route.



There is no obvious way to split this final stage as it crosses one… read more