Pennine Way

Opened in 1965 after decades of campaigning by Tom Stephenson, the Pennine Way was the first long-distance footpath in England and Wales and remains the benchmark for anyone who wants to traverse the north of England on foot. It crosses three national parks — the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland — and takes in some of the highest, bleakest and most rewarding moorland in the country.

For trail runners the Pennine Way is a serious multi-day undertaking. The route is 431 km long with around 12,000 m of ascent, and the terrain is far harder than the distance alone suggests. Endless bog-hopping on the Dark Peak moors, stiff climbs over Cross Fell (the highest point in England outside the Lake District), a crossing of the Cheviots, and a finish in Scotland make it a route that tests navigation, resilience and logistics as much as raw fitness.

Elite runners have covered it in under three days. Most trail runners take four to six days. A comfortable walking pace means two to three weeks.

The path is waymarked throughout with the acorn symbol, though many sections cross rough, pathless ground where the waymarks are widely spaced. Navigation skills matter, especially in poor weather on the high moors north of Edale and on the Cheviots.

Southern section (Edale to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, ~120 km): The toughest navigation. Kinder Scout's peat plateau is featureless in mist. Bleaklow and Black Hill are relentlessly boggy. Standedge, the South Pennines and Malham Cove offer more variety. The limestone country around Malham is the most visually dramatic section of the south.

Central section (Horton to Middleton-in-Teesdale, ~130 km): The Three Peaks come first, then Hawes and Great Shunner Fell. Tan Hill — the highest pub in England — is a morale boost. The Teesdale section follows the River Tees to High Force waterfall and then climbs back onto moorland.

Northern section (Middleton to Kirk Yetholm, ~180 km): Cross Fell (893 m) and the high Pennine watershed. Hadrian's Wall is the most historically significant stretch. The Cheviots are vast, wild and boggy — some of the most remote terrain on the route. Kirk Yetholm in Scotland is the finish.

The whole route is waymarked with the National Trail acorn, but some sections need map and compass work in low visibility.

Start: Edale village, Peak District. Rail station on the Sheffield–Manchester Hope Valley line — easy access from both cities. Car parking in the village.

Finish: Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders. No railway. The nearest station is Berwick-upon-Tweed (33 km). Bus services run from Kelso (12 km). Many runners and walkers arrange a lift or leave a car.

Accommodation along the route ranges from Pennine Way guesthouses (specifically set up for through-hikers) to bothies, YHA hostels and wild camping. Sections through the Cheviots are remote — book ahead or be self-sufficient.

Key resupply points: Hebden Bridge, Hawes, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Alston, Bellingham. All small towns with shops and food.

Best time for runners: April to October. The high moorland can be serious in winter. The bog sections (Kinder, Bleaklow, Black Hill) are drier from June to August.