The trail leaves Edale heading west over farm fields towards the River Noe before climbing steeply up Jacob's Ladder, a stone-pitched path onto the high moorland. The route passes Edale Rocks and Kinder Low (633m) then follows the edge of the Kinder Scout plateau — a vast expanse of dark peat with rough, boggy terrain and weathered gritstone formations. Navigation continues along the exposed edge to Kinder Downfall, a dramatic waterfall that often blows back upwards in strong winds, before turning westward across relatively flat but rough ground and climbing Mill Hill (544m). After descending to cross the Snake Pass road (A57), the trail climbs to Bleaklow Head at 633 metres. The path has been improved with stone slabs but still has boggy sections. The route then descends gradually through rough pasture towards Torside Reservoir and Crowden, with the reservoir and surrounding Longdendale valley providing a welcome change of scenery after the demanding moorland crossing. The path climbs north from Crowden through rough pasture and moorland, ascending Black Hill at 582 metres. This summit, with its trig point, is notorious for its vast peat desert, though restoration work has improved the surface with flagstone paving across the worst sections. The terrain remains exposed and featureless, with expansive views across the Pennine moorlands when visibility allows. The route descends from Black Hill across boggy moorland before reaching the A635 at Wessenden Head. From here the trail drops to Wessenden Head Reservoir then follows Wessenden Valley, a quieter stretch with reservoirs below and moorland slopes rising on either side. The path is generally firm underfoot as it passes Wessenden Reservoir and reaches Blakeley Reservoir.
The trail continues across moorland, climbing towards Black Moss Reservoir. The terrain consists of rough grass and peat, with flagstone paving across wetter sections. The path passes the reservoir and continues over open moorland before descending to the A62 road near Brunclough Reservoir. The route climbs from Brunclough Reservoir onto Millstone Edge, following a gritstone escarpment with extensive views across the surrounding valleys. After crossing the A640, the path continues over White Hill (467m) across rough grassland and peat moorland, then crosses the A672 before reaching the M62 motorway, crossed via a long footbridge. Beyond the motorway, the path climbs onto Blackstone Edge at 472 metres with its trig point. The exposed gritstone edge offers expansive views across Lancashire and Yorkshire, and a section of Roman road with large flagstones runs near the summit. The route descends to the A58, passing the White House pub — a former coaching inn dating from 1671. The path continues across Blackstone Edge Reservoir dam, past Light Hazzles and along the shore of Warland Reservoir before climbing to Stoodley Pike at 400 metres, crowned by a tall monument erected in 1856 to commemorate the end of the Crimean War. The tower offers commanding views across Calderdale. The route descends steeply from Stoodley Pike, skirting around Lodge Hill before entering woodland. A path junction offers access down into Hebden Bridge, where shops, cafés, pubs, and accommodation provide full facilities for walkers. From the path junction the trail continues to descend to Rochdale Canal at Charlestown, then climbs steeply through enclosed fields and walled lanes. After crossing a road, a descent leads to Colden Water, crossed by a historic clapper bridge dating from the seventeenth century. The path climbs to cross Smithy Lane and continues to Edge Lane, where a small shop at Highgate Farm provides refreshments. More steep climbing follows before the route eases over Heptonstall Moor, descending past Gorple Lower Reservoir. The trail climbs onto higher ground and joins a service road leading to Walshaw Dean Reservoirs, crossing the Lower Reservoir dam. At the Middle Reservoir the path climbs onto Withins Height at 450 metres, crossing exposed moorland before reaching the farmhouse ruins of Top Withens — reputedly the inspiration for Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, with a plaque embedded in the wall explaining its literary connection. The trail descends across Stanbury Moor with panoramic views of Ponden Reservoir ahead, before dropping down past farms to reach the reservoir.
From Ponden Reservoir the route climbs steeply onto Old Bess Hill, gaining height quickly with panoramic views back across the reservoir and surrounding moorland. The path continues across Ickornshaw Moor, traversing exposed heather with flagstone paving across wetter sections. Several small shooting lodges — known locally as 'Cowlings' — dot the moorland, distinctive dark huts used during the grouse shooting season. The path drops through moorland before entering enclosed farmland, threading through a series of farms along tracks and field paths with stone walls on either side. The trail descends to cross the A6068 at Ickornshaw, just west of Cowling, a small village with shops, a pub, and basic facilities. From Cowling the trail continues through rolling countryside, crossing enclosed fields with numerous stiles and stone walls. The landscape shifts from harsh moorland to gentler, greener hills as the path descends into Lothersdale, a small village with a charming mill and stream where the Hare and Hounds pub provides refreshment. Beyond Lothersdale the route climbs steadily alongside Stansfield Beck, passing farms before entering Elslack Moor. The path ascends through heather moorland onto Pinhaw Beacon at 388 metres, marked by a trig point. The beacon was erected in the early 1800s as a warning system against potential Napoleonic invasion, and a memorial stone to Robert Wilson, the chief beacon keeper who died in a snowstorm in 1805, lies nearby. From the summit, extensive views stretch across the Yorkshire Dales with Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and other peaks visible on clear days. The route continues across Elslack Moor, descending gradually through moorland before dropping into Thornton-in-Craven. The path crosses fields and follows farm tracks through a landscape of drumlins — small rounded hills formed during the Ice Age. From Thornton-in-Craven the path crosses undulating farmland to reach the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near East Marton, adopting the towpath for a short distance. The path passes beneath the distinctive double-arched bridge at East Marton, a local landmark where one arch was constructed above another when the A59 road was built over the original packhorse bridge. The route leaves the canal at Williamson Bridge and continues across fields, crossing Scaleber Hill with improving views ahead before descending through pastures and crossing the bridge over the Skipton to Settle railway line. The trail enters Gargrave, a village on the busy A65 with shops, pubs, and cafés including the renowned Dalesman Café. From Gargrave the route crosses the canal and heads through fields into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The trail crosses Eshton Moor and descends to the River Aire, which is followed to Airton, a pretty village on the riverbank. Four kilometres further along the river the route enters Malham, a popular village renowned for its dramatic limestone scenery. The village offers shops, pubs including the Buck Inn, and cafés. Nearby attractions include the spectacular Malham Cove, Janet's Foss waterfall, and Gordale Scar — a striking ravine with 100-metre limestone cliffs and waterfalls.
Leaving Malham the route climbs steeply up the western side of Malham Cove via stone steps, reaching the top of the spectacular 80-metre limestone cliff. The path traverses the distinctive limestone pavement at the summit — exposed, weathered rock formations with deep fissures known as grikes. The trail continues across the plateau to Malham Tarn, a natural upland lake surrounded by moorland and designated as a National Nature Reserve. Beyond the tarn the path heads north to Tennant Gill Farm before climbing to cross a shoulder of Fountains Fell, then descending into Silverdale. The route then faces the steep ascent of Pen-y-ghent at 694 metres, one of Yorkshire's Three Peaks. The climb up the mountain's distinctive nose is very steep with rocky sections. From the summit, marked by a trig point and shelter cairn, expansive views extend across the Yorkshire Dales. The trail descends steeply from Pen-y-ghent through rough pasture and enclosed fields, dropping down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale on the Settle to Carlisle Railway. From Horton-in-Ribblesdale the path follows a walled track heading northwards, climbing steadily towards Birkwith Moor. The route crosses the watershed and continues along Harber Scar Lane, an old packhorse route, passing Old Ing farm before reaching the head of Ling Gill — a steep-sided wooded cleft that preserves remnants of the area's original vegetation. Ling Gill Bridge spans the narrow ravine. Beyond Ling Gill the route climbs onto Cam Fell, following Cam High Road, a Roman road shared with the Dales Way. This long, straight track traverses broad, flat moorland ridges with extensive views across the empty landscape. The path continues along West Cam Road, hugging the western slopes of Dodd Fell at 648 metres, with the picturesque Snaizeholme Valley below. At Ten End the route leaves West Cam Road and follows a grassy path descending the northern ridge of Rottenstone Hill. The trail reaches the stone-built village of Gayle, notable for its attractive waterfall on Gayle Beck, before a short flagged path along the river leads into the market town of Hawes.
From Hawes the route crosses the flood plain of the River Ure through lush pastures, much of it on flagstones. The trail reaches Hardraw, where access through the Green Dragon pub leads to Hardraw Force — England's highest single-drop waterfall at 30 metres, set in a natural amphitheatre that featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Beyond Hardraw the path begins the long, steady climb onto Great Shunner Fell at 716 metres, the highest point on the Pennine Way so far. The ascent follows a farm track that once served coal mines on the fell's slopes before striking across open moorland — approximately 8 kilometres with around 460 metres of ascent. The summit, marked by a large cairn, offers expansive views, though the broad dome is exposed to weather. Much of the path is paved with flagstones across the boggy terrain. The descent leads into upper Swaledale, dropping to the small village of Thwaite before crossing the side of Kisdon Hill with spectacular views down Swaledale. The route passes close to Kisdon Force before reaching Keld, where the Pennine Way crosses the Coast to Coast Walk. From Keld the route ascends Stonesdale, climbing steadily onto open moorland. The path crosses exposed, rough pasture and peat characterised by heather and scattered traditional stone field barns dotting the landscape. The terrain is often wet and boggy in places. The trail reaches the Tan Hill Inn at 528 metres — the highest pub in the British Isles, standing in splendid isolation on the moor. This 17th-century inn marks the northern boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is a welcome sight in what can feel like a very lonely landscape. From Tan Hill Inn the path enters the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, following moorland tracks across exposed, undulating terrain. The route traverses rough grassland and heather moorland, crossing streams and passing through remote, empty landscape with expansive views across the fells. The trail reaches Sleightholme, an isolated settlement of scattered farms in a sheltered valley. Beyond Sleightholme the route continues to Trough Heads farm, where a detour offers access to the village of Bowes — a historic village built around a Roman fort.
From Trough Heads the route descends and crosses God's Bridge, a natural limestone bridge spanning the River Greta. The path continues over rough moorland before passing beneath the A66 through a tunnel. After crossing Cotherstone Moor the trail descends to Blackton Reservoir, which marks the approximate halfway point of the entire Pennine Way. The trail then continues past Grassholme and Selset Reservoirs, the landscape characterised by moorland valleys with reservoirs set amongst heather-covered hills. Beyond the reservoirs the route crosses moorland near Harter Fell before descending gradually through farmland with numerous stone walls and field boundaries, dropping into the valley of the River Tees and the small market town of Middleton-in-Teesdale. From Middleton-in-Teesdale the path heads along Teesdale on the south bank of the River Tees, following the river upstream through increasingly dramatic scenery. The path reaches Low Force, an impressive waterfall where the Tees cascades over dark Whin Sill rock in a series of falls. Continuing upstream the route arrives at High Force, one of England's most spectacular waterfalls, where the river plunges 21 metres in a single drop over the vertical Whin Sill escarpment. Beyond High Force the trail passes the scattered settlement of Forest-in-Teesdale before continuing up the increasingly remote valley towards Langdon Beck. The path continues along the River Tees to Cauldron Snout, a dramatic 180-metre cascade where the river tumbles down a rocky channel below the dam of Cow Green Reservoir — careful scrambling is required alongside its length. From the reservoir the trail ascends the gently rising side valley of Maize Beck across exposed, wild moorland. The terrain is bleak and featureless, with rough grass, peat, and scattered rocky outcrops. The ground can be wet and boggy, and navigation requires care across this open landscape, particularly in poor visibility. The route continues across this high, remote plateau before reaching High Cup Gill — one of the most spectacular features on the entire Pennine Way, a vast U-shaped glaciated valley incised into the Whin Sill. The views from High Cup Nick are stunning, extending across the Eden Valley to the Lake District fells beyond. From High Cup the path follows the northern edge before descending steeply down to pastures and into the village of Dufton.
Leaving Dufton the route passes along farm tracks before climbing steeply back onto the fells. The path passes the summits of Knock Fell at 794 metres, Great Dun Fell at 848 metres (topped by a large radar station — a stark feature on the otherwise empty moorland), and Little Dun Fell at 842 metres. The trail reaches Cross Fell at 893 metres — the highest point on the entire Pennine Way and the highest peak in the Pennines. The summit plateau is exposed and featureless, marked by a shelter cairn and trig point. Walkers can face the Helm Wind here, a powerful local wind unique to the western slopes of Cross Fell and Britain's only named wind. From Cross Fell a long descent follows across moorland towards the valley of the South Tyne, passing Greg's Hut — a mountain bothy providing basic emergency shelter. The route continues down through rough pasture before reaching the small village of Garrigill. From Garrigill the path follows the valley of the South Tyne, keeping close to the river as it flows through pastoral farmland. The walking is relatively easy after the demanding high-level crossing, with the route following riverside paths and tracks through enclosed fields and pastures. The trail enters Alston, the highest market town in England at approximately 300 metres above sea level.
Leaving Alston the trail continues down the valley of the South Tyne, passing Epiacum Roman Fort with its distinctive earthwork ramparts still visible on the hillside. The path keeps close to the river through pastoral farmland. At Slaggyford the South Tynedale Railway station features the Little Buffet Car café housed in a converted railway carriage. Two kilometres further on is the village of Knarsdale, home to the Kirkstyle Inn. The trail continues across Lambley Common. After crossing the A689 the route leaves the South Tyne valley and climbs again onto open moorland — rough pasture and peat — continuing over Hartley Burn and crossing the road near the hamlet of Kellah. From Kellah the route continues across open moorland, traversing Hartleyburn Common and Blenkinsopp Common. The terrain consists of rough pasture, peat, and heather, with exposed conditions and stone walls marking the way across the uplands. Navigation requires care across these featureless moors, particularly in poor visibility. The path descends from the moorland into the village of Greenhead, where the Pennine Way joins the Hadrian's Wall Path. Leaving Greenhead the trail follows the line of Hadrian's Wall eastwards, passing Thirlwall Castle — a ruined medieval fortification built using stone robbed from the Wall — and close to the Magnis Roman Fort and the Roman Army Museum. The route follows the Wall closely, passing numerous Roman turrets that once served as observation posts along the frontier. The trail reaches Aesica Roman Fort before continuing over dramatic terrain at Cawfield Crags, where the Wall runs along high cliffs offering commanding views across Northumberland. The path descends through Caw Gap and continues past Hole Gap, traversing spectacular sections where the Wall follows the natural contours of the landscape. The route continues along Winshields Crags — the highest point on Hadrian's Wall — before descending towards Once Brewed.
The trail continues eastwards along Hadrian's Wall to reach Sycamore Gap, where a solitary tree once stood in a dramatic dip in the Wall, creating one of the most photographed locations on Hadrian's Wall. New shoots have been spotted growing from the stump, offering hope for regrowth. The route continues to Highshield Crags, following the dramatic ridge with steep drops to the north. Crag Lough, a natural lake, lies nestled below the crags. The trail continues over Hotbank Crags with spectacular views. At Rapishaw Gap the Pennine Way leaves Hadrian's Wall Path and turns northwards, striking out across the moorland farmland of Ridley Common towards the fringes of the coniferous Wark Forest. The route continues through patches of Wark Forest and open moorland, then crosses farmland with numerous field boundaries and stone walls. The terrain is undulating, with the trail passing through a mixture of pasture and rougher ground. The route crosses streams and follows field paths, navigating through a landscape of scattered farms and small settlements. The path gradually descends towards the North Tyne valley and enters the market town of Bellingham — an important resupply point and the last major settlement before the final, remote sections of the Pennine Way across the Cheviot Hills. Leaving Bellingham the route heads northwards through farmland then moorland. The landscape becomes progressively more remote and wild as the trail leaves the North Tyne valley behind. The route climbs onto open moorland, crossing exposed uplands with rough grass, heather, and peat — often wet and boggy underfoot. The trail descends through forestry plantations before reaching the small settlement of Byrness beside the A68. This is the final settlement before the challenging crossing of the Cheviot Hills.
From Byrness the route begins the longest and most remote section of the Pennine Way, climbing steeply onto the Cheviot Hills. The path ascends to Byrness Hill then continues over Houx Hill and Ravens Knowe, following the undulating ridgeline northwards. The route passes the site of Kemylpethe, a medieval village now marked only by earthworks. The path continues towards Lamb Hill, crossing exposed moorland of rough grass, heather, and peat. On the approach to Lamb Hill is the Yearning Saddle Refuge Hut, providing essential shelter in this remote area. The next tops are Beefstand Hill then Mozie Law before reaching Windy Gyle (619m), marked by a large ancient burial cairn on the summit. From Windy Gyle the route continues along the exposed Border Ridge, maintaining high ground with relentless undulating terrain. The path reaches King's Seat (531m) then climbs to a path junction at 743m, where a detour offers an out-and-back up Cheviot Hill. The landscape remains bleak and featureless, with rough grass, heather, and peat underfoot — often wet and boggy. Navigation continues to require careful attention, particularly in poor weather or mist. The trail continues past Auchope Cairn then descends towards the Auchope Mountain Refuge Hut, a small shelter offering basic protection. The route continues along the Border Ridge maintaining its exposed character. The path reaches The Schil (601m) and Black Hag (549m) before following grassy Steer Rig to White Law. From here the final descent crosses moorland before joining a 2km section of road into Kirk Yetholm — the northern terminus of the Pennine Way. This small Scottish Borders village offers the Border Hotel, which traditionally offers completing walkers a free half-pint. Having walked 268 miles from Edale through some of Britain's wildest and most remote landscapes, you've earned it.
