Edale in Derbyshire is the start of the Pennine Way. This Derbyshire Peak District village nestles in it's green valley, not far from the industial cities of Manchester and Sheffield. Walkers often start with a drink in the Nag's Head before tackling the first of the many hills that form the backbone of England, Kinder Scout. The large, flat summit of Kinder Scout is the highest point in Derbyshire and the Pennine Way descends at Kinder Downfall on it's way to Snake Pass.
The path winds it's way through lonely north Derbyshire before leaving the Peak District at Standedge in West Yorkshire, above Holmfirth in Last of the Summer Wine Country. At Standedge, a railway and a canal cuts through the hills through several tunnels over three miles (5km) long - a testimony to the architects of the Industrial Revolution.
After Standedge the next town is Hebden Bridge, a delightful mill town from where the Pennine Way ascends Heptonstall Moor on the Lancashire/West Yorkshire border passing the remote Packhorse Inn (highly recommended!) on it's way through Brontė Country. The Pennine Way passes into North Yorkshire between Settle and Skipton and follows the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for a short way before entering the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Passing over Pen-y-ghent, the Pennine Way descends into Horton in Ribblesdale before striking north again towards Hawes in Wensleydale. North-west from Hawes, the path reaches it's highest point so far, Great Shunner Fell before descending into Swaledale and Keld. Here the Pennine Way crosses the Coast to Coast Walk in it's way from St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay on the Yorkshire Coast. The climb from Hawes takes the walker to the Pennine Way's halfway point at Tan Hill and the highest inn in the country. Here it is worth while taking a good break at this highly recommended pub before tackling the second half of the journey to Scotland.
The Pennine Way leaves the Yorkshire Dales National Park at Tan Hill, passing over Bowes Moor and the A66 before entering Teesdale. In Teesdale the path passes Cauldron Snout, the highest above ground waterfall in Britain and Cow Green Reservoir before ascending Cross Fell, at 2930 feet (893 metres) the highest point on the Pennine Way before reaching Alston on the border with Northumbria.
A couple of days walking sees the Pennine Way enter it's third national park, the Northumberland where it joins up with Hadrian's Wall before striking north through the Cheviot Hills. Here are the Pennine Way's lonliest stretches as it passes over the remote hills before entering Scotland for the first time at Chew Green Roman Camps. After Chew Green the Pennine Way follows the Border Fence for some way, usually on the English side before turning into Scotland for it's final descent into Kirk Yetholm and a welcoming pint at the Border Hotel.
