Guidance

Pennine Way: National Trail

Published 24 June 2026

Applies to England

The Pennine Way is a 268-mile (431km) National Trail through England’s northern uplands from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. The trail goes through the Peak District National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Northumberland National Park and also the North Pennines National Landscape.

It follows a different route to the Pennine Bridleway National Trail, which is designed for horse riders, cyclists, mountain bikers and walkers and also the Pennine hills from Derbyshire to Cumbria.

About the trail  

The trail goes between: 

• Edale, Derbyshire 
• Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders 

You can choose to walk the entire trail, a specific section or two, or find local circular walks that follow some of the trail. 

You can find some circular and linear walks on the National Trails website.

When to visit  

The trail is open all year.  You should be prepared for changeable weather all year round, including snow in winter.

Signposts on the trail 

All National Trails are marked with an acorn symbol or the trail name. You’ll see these along the trail, for example on gates and signposts. 

Walking the whole trail  

• Length: 268 miles (431 km) 
• Time to complete: around 16 to 19 days 

You can walk or ride the trail in either direction. Signposts show the route in both directions so you can choose.    

Most people walk south to north as you’ll have the wind at your back. The official guidebook is also written from south to north.

Accessibility on the trail 

The trail follows the Pennines with lots of ascents that can be challenging. It’s a hilly route and in places very remote.   

The terrain on the Pennine Way is varied.  In some places the paths are smooth and firm, but in others the path may be narrow and uneven or wet and boggy.    

You can find more information about access for all in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, including: 

• miles without stiles walking routes  
• hiring a Tramper (an all-terrain mobility scooter)

What you can experience on the trail  

There are many things you can experience on the Pennine Way, including: 

• wildlife – such as waterfalls in Upper Teesdale, upland hay meadows, golden plover and curlew on the moorlands and birds of prey in the Peak District and Northumberland
• historic and heritage sites – such as a Bronze Age burial site and Hadrian’s Wall 
• nature reserves – such as Kinder Scout and Moor House – Upper Teesdale
• local culture, food and entertainment 

On the trail you can also visit cities, towns and small villages, including: 

• Dufton  
• Garrigill 
• Alston 
• Bellingham

Sections of the trail

You can break the trail into sections that you can walk in a day, or that give you time to visit specific things on or near the trail.    

There’s an example below, but you can find more information online and in guidebooks to help plan your route.

Edale to Crowden – 16 miles (26km)

This section of the Pennine Way is challenging. The trail starts in Edale and goes up Kinder Scout and Bleaklow Head, which is the second-longest ascent of the trail. The trail crosses the Peak District’s gritstone moors and descends into Crowden.

Crowden to Standedge – 11 miles (18km)

This section includes a climb of Black Hill, walking mostly on moorland and often stone flagstones across Wessenden Moor. There are not many places for food and drink or accommodation in Standage, but some can be found in and around Diggle or Marsden.

Standedge to Calder Valley – 11 miles (18km)

There’s lots of flat walking on this section, which is mostly on the high moors and gritstone edges. Navigation can be challenging along Blackstone Edge in bad weather. Hebden Bridge is 1 mile (1.6km) off the trail and has places for food and drink and accommodation.

Calder Valley to Ickornshaw – 16 miles (26km)

This section starts with a climb out of the Calder Valley along Heptonstall Moor and Ickornshaw Moor. You may find navigation challenging in bad weather. Off the trail, Haworth has places for food and drink and accommodation.

Ickornshaw to Malham – 17 miles (27 km)

This section goes through the Aire Gap, between the South Pennines and Yorkshire Dales. The trail goes through fields along the Leeds to Liverpool Canal and includes flat riverside walking. There are many villages along this section with places for food and drink.

Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale – 14.5 miles (23km)

This is one of the most popular sections of the Pennine Way, which goes through Malham Cove and Malham Tarn. It can be a challenging route, with 2 sustained climbs of Pen-y-Ghent and Fountains Fell before the descent into Horton in Ribblesdale, which is popular with walkers.

Horton in Ribblesdale to Hawes – 14 miles (23 km)

This section of the trail follows old packhorse routes and Roman roads. The trail goes over Cam Fell and Dodd fell in the Dales and down into Hawes. It’s remote with few amenities until Hawes.

Hawes to Tan Hill – 16.5 miles (27km)

The trail has a gradual climb onto the moors and over Great Shunner Fell, which can be exposed in bad weather. It goes down to Thwaite and meets the Coast to Coast Path National Trail at Keld. There’s a steep but short ascent back onto the moor. This section be challenging in bad weather.

Off the trail there are places for food and drink in Thwaite and Keld, making it possible to shorten this section.

Tan Hill to Middleton-in-Teesdale – 17 miles (27km)

This section marks the halfway point of the Pennine Way and includes a lot of moorland walking. The trail goes through Stainmore Gap, around and down Harter Fell.

There are no amenities on this section of the trail until Middleton in Teesdale. There’s an alternative route known as ‘the Bowes Loop’ that splits this section to Middleton in Teesdale over two days with a stop in Bowes.

Middleton-in-Teesdale to Dufton – 21 miles (34km)

This section includes High Cup and High Force, and is one of the most popular sections of the trail.

The trail starts beside the River Tees before a challenging scramble by Cauldron Snout. This section can be rocky and slippy in parts.

Dufton to Alston – 20 miles (32km)

This is considered to be the most challenging section of the Pennine Way. It’s the longest stretch and includes the highest point of ascent at more than 3,000 feet (1,000m). Some sections are exposed.

The trail climbs 3 summits, including Great Dun Fell and Cross Fell. It goes down the Corpse Road miners’ track to Garrigill.  There are no amenities between Dufton and Garrigill except Greg’s Hut bothy.

Alston to Greenhead – 16.5 miles (26km)

The trail leaves the Pennines and follows a former railway line (now the South Tyne Trail) before joining the Maiden Way. It goes over Hartley Burn Floodplain and Blenkinsopp Common. This section ends at Hadrian’s Wall.

Greenhead to Bellingham – 22 miles (35 km)

This is a hilly section of the trail. It follows Hadrian’s Wall for 8 miles (12.8km) and joins Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail briefly.

At Rapishaw Gap the trail goes towards Wark Forest and across farmland and some moorland. The trail then goes along the road to Bellingham. There are no amenities on this section of the trail until you reach Bellingham.

Bellingham to Byrness – 15 miles (24 km)

This is a relatively shorter section with moorland and then forest walking, with some track roads in the forest. The trail goes across Whitley Pike and Brownrigg Head. The moorland has sections that can be boggy. There are no amenities along this section of the trail.

Byrness to Windy Gyle – 14 miles (22 km)

The trail is remote and often follows the fence that marks the border between England and Scotland. There are sections of bog and this is also a military training area.

Windy Gyle to Kirk Yetholm – 13 miles (21 km)

The last section of the Pennine Way goes past the Cheviot and over The Schill. The trail can be boggy and there can be strong winds. There are no amenities along this section of the trail.

There’s an option to choose a higher or lower route for the final descent to the border town of Kirk Yetholm.

Maps for the trail 

You can find:  

• a map on the National Trails website - you can also download GPX data  
• other maps and guidebooks online and in print 
• circular and linear walks online and from the local council

The Ordnance Survey (OS) Explorer maps that cover the Pennine Way are:   

• OL1 The Peak District – Dark Peak Area 
• OL16 The Cheviot Hills 
• OL19 Howgill Fells and Upper Eden Valley 
• OL2 Yorkshire Dales – Southern and Western Area 
• OL21 South Pennines 
• OL30 Yorkshire Dales – Northern and Central Area 
• OL31 North Pennines 
• OL42 Kielder Water and Forest 
• OL43 Hadrian’s Wall 

Diversions or closures on the trail  

If there are any diversions or closures of sections of the trail, these will be clearly signposted. You should always follow the signposts on the trail.

Prepare for your trip 

Read guidance on how to prepare for your visit for information on: 

• checking the route – including for diversions or closures 
• planning your trip 
• what to prepare before you set off 
• what to do on the trail

Contact 

Use the relevant National Trails online form to:  

• report a problem
• ask a question about accessibility on the trail
• find out about volunteering opportunities

Contact the local council to report a problem on a public right of way, for example obstructions, poor maintenance or a misleading sign.