21-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 start and, before the Cheviots, the longest day: Jacob's Ladder onto Kinder, the peat groughs of the plateau, 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)

   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.

   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 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)

   Heptonstall Moor, then the Brontë moor past 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, the Brontës' village. Route-finding on the moor needs care in cloud. Tomorrow is a half day, so the evening in Haworth costs nothing.

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

5. Day 5

   Ponden to Ickornshaw

   2–3 h 4.5 mi (7.2 km) ↑ 180 m (600 ft) ↓ 280 m (900 ft)

   The half day this plan adds: over Ickornshaw Moor and down to Ickornshaw and Cowling. Bleak and wet on top, but short. Use the morning in Haworth or at Ponden. Ickornshaw's stays are self-catering, so buy supper in Haworth before you set off and check that your bag can be left.

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

6. Day 6

   Ickornshaw to Gargrave

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

   Lothersdale, the views from Pinhaw Beacon and Thornton-in-Craven, then the Leeds and Liverpool Canal into Gargrave. Fields and vague paths, so watch the route, but villages and cafés along the way. Gargrave is a canal village with pubs and cafés, and the night is at the Masons Arms.

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

7. Day 7

   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: walk up to Malham Cove and the limestone pavement on top in the evening light, or keep it for the morning. Malham is busy on summer weekends, so book ahead.

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

8. Day 8

   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)

9. Day 9

   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; restock here, because the next town is Middleton.

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

10. Day 10

    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

11. Day 11

    Keld to Bowes

    4–5 h 9.5 mi (15.4 km) ↑ 280 m (900 ft) ↓ 280 m (900 ft)

    Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub, for a morning stop, then the long, wet crossing of Sleightholme Moor towards the River Greta. A short day. Mellwaters Barn, about 0.6 mi (1 km) off the main line, is self-catering cottages, so carry supper in and check who will take in your bag.

    Example stay Mellwaters Barn (opens in a new tab)

12. Day 12

    Bowes to Middleton-in-Teesdale

    5–6 h 10.8 mi (17.5 km) ↑ 450 m (1,500 ft) ↓ 570 m (1,850 ft)

    Back to the main line, over God's Bridge, a natural limestone arch on the River Greta, under the A66 and north over the moor to Baldersdale's reservoirs, near halfway. The climb over Lunedale comes late, and the way down to Middleton is not always clear in mist. Middleton is a proper town for supplies.

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

13. Day 13

    Middleton-in-Teesdale to Langdon Beck

    3–4 h 7.5 mi (12.1 km) ↑ 260 m (850 ft) ↓ 120 m (400 ft)

    A short, gentle day up the Tees through hay meadows, past Low Force and High Force, among the highest waterfalls in England. Wainwright called this riverside "a walk of near perfection"; with the afternoon free, take it slowly. Langdon Beck has very few beds: book the YHA early.

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

14. Day 14

    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. Take your time 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)

15. Day 15

    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; on this plan that is easy to absorb.

    Example stay The George & Dragon Inn

16. Day 16

    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 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

17. Day 17

    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 and ends at Hadrian's Wall. Arrive early and rest: tomorrow is the best of the Wall, and on this plan you can take it slowly.

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

18. Day 18

    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)

19. Day 19

    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)

20. Day 20

    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)

21. Day 21 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)

    Twenty short days, then one long one: the Cheviot ridge 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, 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 is slower, and walks the Cheviot ridge in one day. Distances on this page are from our line.

21-day itinerary FAQ