18-day Pennine Way itinerary

1. Day 1

   Edale to Crowden

   8–9 h 17.0 mi (27.4 km) ↑ 890 m (2,900 ft) ↓ 880 m (2,900 ft)

   The hardest first day of the walk: Jacob's Ladder onto Kinder, the plateau's peat groughs, then Bleaklow Head, where walkers lose the path in mist. There is no food on the way and next to none at Crowden, so buy two days of lunches in Edale. Our only bed at Crowden is the campsite; if you are not camping, operators bed walkers in Glossop or Padfield and drive them back.

   Example stay Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site (opens in a new tab)

2. Day 2

   Crowden to Standedge

   6–7 h 12.5 mi (20.2 km) ↑ 770 m (2,550 ft) ↓ 580 m (1,900 ft)

   A short day after Kinder and Bleaklow. Black Hill, the bog Wainwright dreaded, is mostly flagstones now; then Wessenden Moor and its reservoirs to the A62. Standedge Foot Farm is the one bed on the line, and operators send walkers to Diggle, Delph or Marsden. Carry lunch: there is almost nowhere to buy food today.

   Example stay Standedge Foot Farm

3. Day 3

   Standedge to Blackshaw Head

   7–8 h 15.3 mi (24.6 km) ↑ 540 m (1,750 ft) ↓ 680 m (2,250 ft)

   Wainwright said the worst was behind you here. Blackstone Edge's gritstone, a pub at the A58, flat reservoir drains, then Stoodley Pike's monument above the Calder Valley. Only Blackstone Edge is tricky in cloud, with cairns and poles to guide. Blackshaw Head is up the far side of the valley, so the steep climb out of the Calder is behind you tonight.

   Example stay Badger Fields

4. Day 4

   Blackshaw Head to Ickornshaw

   7–8 h 14.7 mi (23.6 km) ↑ 700 m (2,300 ft) ↓ 780 m (2,550 ft)

   Heptonstall Moor and the Brontë moors past Top Withins, the ruin thought to have inspired Wuthering Heights, then Ponden and Ickornshaw Moor. Both moors can test your route-finding in cloud. Haworth is a little off route for a café. Ickornshaw's stays are self-catering, so carry supper in and check your bag can be left. Tomorrow is shorter on this plan.

   Example stay Little Grans Self Catering Holiday Cottage (opens in a new tab)

5. Day 5

   Ickornshaw to Gargrave

   5–6 h 11.1 mi (17.9 km) ↑ 510 m (1,650 ft) ↓ 610 m (2,000 ft)

   The first of two easy days. Over Pinhaw Beacon for the views, through Thornton-in-Craven, then the Leeds and Liverpool Canal into Gargrave. Fields and vague paths, so watch the route, but villages and cafés all the way. Gargrave is the night this plan adds: a canal village with pubs and cafés, and the last before the Aire leads into the limestone.

   Example stay The Masons Arms (opens in a new tab)

6. Day 6

   Gargrave to Malham

   2–3 h 6.4 mi (10.3 km) ↑ 240 m (800 ft) ↓ 150 m (500 ft)

   A short, flat walk up the River Aire to Malham, where the limestone country begins. You arrive early, which is the point of this plan: walk up to Malham Cove and the limestone pavement on top in the evening light, or keep it fresh for the morning. Malham is busy on summer weekends, so book ahead.

   Example stay The Buck Inn (opens in a new tab)

7. Day 7

   Malham to Horton-in-Ribblesdale

   7–8 h 14.6 mi (23.5 km) ↑ 870 m (2,850 ft) ↓ 830 m (2,700 ft)

   Malham Cove and Tarn, then two sustained climbs: Fountains Fell, tougher than it looks, and Pen-y-ghent, the highest point so far. Nothing to buy on the way. Horton fills with Three Peaks walkers on Saturdays, so book it first. After yesterday's short day, the legs should be ready.

   Example stay The Crown Hotel (opens in a new tab)

8. Day 8

   Horton-in-Ribblesdale to Hawes

   6–7 h 13.8 mi (22.2 km) ↑ 510 m (1,650 ft) ↓ 510 m (1,650 ft)

   Packhorse tracks and the Cam High Road over Cam Fell and Dodd Fell, a long, gentle climb with wide views and few people. The only vague bit is the path down into Hawes. Hawes is a market town with shops, pubs and everything else; restock here for the moors to Teesdale.

   Example stay The White Hart Inn, Hawes (opens in a new tab)

9. Day 9

   Hawes to Keld

   6–7 h 12.6 mi (20.3 km) ↑ 780 m (2,550 ft) ↓ 680 m (2,250 ft)

   Hardraw's waterfall, then the long, gradual climb over Great Shunner Fell, exposed in rough weather, and down to Thwaite and Swaledale's waterfalls into Keld. Watch for the wrong turn between Thwaite and Keld. Keld is a hamlet where the Coast to Coast crosses, with a handful of beds; book them early.

   Example stay Keld Lodge

10. Day 10

    Keld to Baldersdale

    7–8 h 16.2 mi (26.1 km) ↑ 560 m (1,850 ft) ↓ 590 m (1,950 ft)

    Tan Hill Inn for a morning stop, then Sleightholme Moor and the Stainmore Gap, over God's Bridge, a natural limestone arch on the River Greta, to Baldersdale near halfway. Wet underfoot most of the year. Hunter House Farm is the only bed, a few yards from the path; it is the first bed to book on this plan.

    Example stay Hunter House Farm (opens in a new tab)

11. Day 11

    Baldersdale to Langdon Beck

    5–6 h 11.7 mi (18.8 km) ↑ 430 m (1,400 ft) ↓ 380 m (1,250 ft)

    Over Lunedale and down into Middleton for lunch and the last proper shops before Dufton. Then the Tees through hay meadows, past Low Force and High Force, among the highest waterfalls in England, to Langdon Beck. Wainwright called the riverside "a walk of near perfection". Langdon Beck has very few beds; book the YHA early.

    Example stay YHA Langdon Beck (opens in a new tab)

12. Day 12

    Langdon Beck to Dufton

    5–6 h 13.0 mi (20.9 km) ↑ 460 m (1,500 ft) ↓ 650 m (2,150 ft)

    Rocky, slippery riverside, then a scramble beside Cauldron Snout, England's longest waterfall, and the moor to the rim of High Cup, the best sight on the Way. That moor is the only tricky navigation. A short day, so take your time at High Cup before dropping to Dufton, the last village before Cross Fell. Carry the day's food.

    Example stay Brow Farm (opens in a new tab)

13. Day 13

    Dufton to Garrigill

    7–8 h 14.8 mi (23.9 km) ↑ 970 m (3,200 ft) ↓ 800 m (2,600 ft)

    Knock Fell, Great Dun Fell and Cross Fell, the highest point, where England's coldest temperature and strongest gust were recorded, then the long Corpse Road down to Garrigill. Greg's Hut is the only shelter and there is nothing before Garrigill. In foul weather wait a day in Dufton: this plan has the days to spare.

    Example stay The George & Dragon Inn

14. Day 14

    Garrigill to Greenhead

    9–10 h 20.7 mi (33.4 km) ↑ 650 m (2,150 ft) ↓ 850 m (2,800 ft)

    Low ground after the fell, and the longest day before the Cheviots. The South Tyne to Alston for lunch and shops, then an old railway, the Maiden Way and the bog of Blenkinsopp Common, where the Pennines end. The South Tyne footbridge between Garrigill and Alston is flood-damaged and the Way diverted (National Trails, October 2026): check the notice first.

    Example stay Holmhead Guest House (opens in a new tab)

15. Day 15

    Greenhead to Once Brewed

    3–4 h 6.9 mi (11.1 km) ↑ 380 m (1,250 ft) ↓ 220 m (700 ft)

    A short day on the best of Hadrian's Wall, crag after crag, slow enough to take in the Roman stones. Once Brewed is a pub and a youth hostel. With the afternoon free, walk on to the Cuddy's Crags view and Housesteads fort, about 1 mi (1.6 km) beyond where the Way leaves the Wall.

    Example stay YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall (opens in a new tab)

16. Day 16

    Once Brewed to Bellingham

    7–8 h 15.3 mi (24.6 km) ↑ 540 m (1,750 ft) ↓ 720 m (2,350 ft)

    A last stretch of the Wall to Rapishaw Gap, then the silent Wark Forest, fields and a little moor. The fields are fiddly and the road into Bellingham drags. From 16 November 2026 to 26 March 2027 the Way is diverted on the road through Bellingham. Stock up there: Byrness has beds and little else.

    Example stay Lyndale Guest House (opens in a new tab)

17. Day 17

    Bellingham to Byrness

    7–8 h 15.2 mi (24.5 km) ↑ 640 m (2,100 ft) ↓ 530 m (1,750 ft)

    Heather moor over Whitley Pike and Brownrigg Head, boggy all year and purple in September, then stony forest tracks into Byrness. Nowhere to buy lunch. Byrness is barely a village and Forest View has seven rooms, so book it early, and ask for supper, an early breakfast and a packed lunch for the ridge.

    Example stay Forest View Walkers Inn (opens in a new tab)

18. Day 18 Longest

    Byrness to Kirk Yetholm

    12–13 h 24.9 mi (40.1 km) ↑ 1,320 m (4,350 ft) ↓ 1,440 m (4,700 ft)

    The one long day, saved for the end: the Cheviot ridge along the border fence, with no bed, shop or road. Leave Byrness at dawn. Expect deep bog, exposed tops and a military range (blank firing only); the huts at Yearning Saddle and Auchope are shelters, not beds. Skip the Cheviot summit detour if the day is slow. The Border Hotel is the finish.

    Finish Pennine Way Finish

Cross-check: National Trails' Pennine Way trail information . The trail body says most walkers allow 16 to 19 days. This plan sits in that range and walks the Cheviot ridge in one day. Distances on this page are from our line.

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