A high moorland crossing through England’s wild interior
The Pennine Way follows the backbone of northern England, tracing a long northbound line from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm near the Scottish Borders. It was Britain’s first National Trail, but it still feels less like a designed route and more like a continuous passage through open country — a journey shaped by upland ground, weather, and distance rather than landmarks or attractions.
Walking here is defined by exposure and endurance. Much of the trail stays high, crossing peat moors, gritstone plateaus, limestone scars, and long ridgelines where the sky feels larger than the land beneath it. Progress can be slow underfoot, particularly across bog and stone, and the rhythm of each day is set by climbs, crossings, and the space between settlements.
The character of the landscape shifts gradually rather than dramatically. The Dark Peak gives way to the limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, where rivers cut through green valleys and villages cluster around bridges and fields. Further north, the land opens again into the wide, quiet horizons of the North Pennines and Northumberland, where long stretches of walking pass with little sign of habitation beyond a distant farm or dry-stone wall.
Unlike many trails that move from sight to sight, the Pennine Way rewards continuity. It is a route that encourages immersion — days spent following the same line of hills, the same wind, the same changing light — until the final descent into Kirk Yetholm feels less like an arrival and more like the natural end of a long, steady crossing.
For many walkers, the appeal lies in that sense of commitment. The Pennine Way is not about highlights or easy stages. It is about sustained movement through upland England, experienced slowly and on foot.
Trail Overview
Distance
268 miles / 431 km
Typical time on foot
14–20 days
Start
Edale, Derbyshire
Finish
Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders
Terrain
High moorland paths, upland ridges, limestone valleys, river crossings, and small villages
