19-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 longest day before the Cheviots, and a hard start: Jacob's Ladder onto Kinder, the plateau's peat groughs, then Bleaklow Head, where walkers lose the path in mist. 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; otherwise 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)

   Short by design. 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)

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

   Example stay Badger Fields

4. Day 4

   Blackshaw Head to Ponden

   4–5 h 10.2 mi (16.4 km) ↑ 520 m (1,700 ft) ↓ 500 m (1,650 ft)

   The Brontë day, at the pace this plan allows. Heptonstall Moor, then the moor to Top Withins, the ruin thought to have inspired Wuthering Heights, and down to Ponden Reservoir. Ponden Hall is the night, about a mile from Haworth, so there is time to walk into Haworth, the Brontës' village, in the evening. Route-finding on the moor needs care in cloud.

   Example stay Peat House @ Ponden Hall (opens in a new tab)

5. Day 5

   Ponden to Thornton-in-Craven

   5–6 h 11.2 mi (18.1 km) ↑ 570 m (1,850 ft) ↓ 730 m (2,400 ft)

   Over Ickornshaw Moor and past Cowling, then Lothersdale and the fine views from Pinhaw Beacon. Thornton-in-Craven is small and our stay is self-catering, so carry supper in and check that your bag can be left. The field paths are vague; watch the route rather than the view.

   Example stay Fernside Holiday Cottage luxury Gold Award self catering (opens in a new tab)

6. Day 6

   Thornton-in-Craven to Malham

   4–5 h 10.7 mi (17.3 km) ↑ 360 m (1,200 ft) ↓ 310 m (1,000 ft)

   Down to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through the Aire Gap, then Gargrave's cafés for lunch and the River Aire to Malham. Flat and easy, with villages all the way. Malham is where the limestone starts and is busy on summer weekends, so book ahead. You arrive with time for the Cove.

   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 and worth it for the view. Nothing to buy on the way. Horton fills with Three Peaks walkers on Saturdays, so book it first.

   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)

   Old 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 everything; on this plan it is the place to restock before Keld and Baldersdale, where there is little to buy.

   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, where the Coast to Coast crosses. Watch for the wrong turn between Thwaite and Keld. Keld has 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; book it before anything else.

    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, a scramble beside Cauldron Snout, England's longest waterfall, then 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 stop at High Cup before the drop 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 days to spare.

    Example stay The George & Dragon Inn

14. Day 14

    Garrigill to Slaggyford

    4–5 h 11.0 mi (17.6 km) ↑ 310 m (1,000 ft) ↓ 440 m (1,450 ft)

    The easy day after Cross Fell. The South Tyne to Alston, a proper town for lunch and shops, then an old railway line north to Slaggyford. The South Tyne footbridge between Garrigill and Alston is flood-damaged and the Way diverted (National Trails, October 2026): check the notice. Slaggyford is tiny; check your bed serves supper.

    Example stay The Shed

15. Day 15

    Slaggyford to Greenhead

    4–5 h 9.8 mi (15.7 km) ↑ 350 m (1,150 ft) ↓ 410 m (1,350 ft)

    The Roman Maiden Way past Knarsdale, then Hartley Burn and the bog of Blenkinsopp Common, where the Pennines end at Round Hill and Wain Rigg. Wet feet are normal and the field paths are fiddly, but the day is short. It ends at Hadrian's Wall, with Greenhead below it.

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

16. Day 16

    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)

17. Day 17

    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)

18. Day 18

    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)

19. Day 19 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, and the plan's only real change from the official itinerary: the Cheviot ridge in one push, along the border fence, with no bed, shop or road. Leave Byrness at dawn. Deep bog, exposed tops and a military range (blank firing only); the huts at Yearning Saddle and Auchope are shelters only. Skip the Cheviot summit detour if the day is slow.

    Finish Pennine Way Finish

Cross-check: National Trails' official Pennine Way itinerary . Their 22-day itinerary is 20 walking days with a night off the Cheviot ridge; ours walks the ridge in one day. Distances on this page are from our line.

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