Walking the Pennine way 3rd-18th June 2003

1. Edale to Crowden (16miles) I got the train into Edale Station and walked up to the village and the official start of the Pennine Way – “The Nags Head” pub. A tiring start to the walk, as i discovered i was carrying way too much gear in my rucsac and my boots (borrowed from my Dad) were killing me! Stopped the night at Crowden youth hostel.
2. Crowden to Standedge (12 miles) Walked most of the day with three guys who i had got talking with at Edale, stopped the night at Globe Farm.
3. Standedge to Mankinholes (14 miles) Walking as a group of four today. The soles of my feet were now very sore and bad sun burn on neck too.
   

   Kirk Yetholm 121 miles and Edale 149 miles – bridge in Teesdale

4. Mankinholes to Haworth (18miles) swapped my painful boots for trainers today and they were much more comfortable. Walked with Frank most of the day and stayed in Haworth youth hostel on night.
5. Howarth rest day today and got the bus into Keigthley and posted lots of excess gear from my rucsac including those horrible boots back home.
6. Haworth to Earby (17 miles) Quite an easy walking day but very hot, walking with Frank again who never shut up talking!
7. Earby to Malham (17 miles) Fairly easy going again with very sunny weather again, thunder and lightning later on.
8. Malham to Hawes (28 miles) A long walk today so got a 6.00am start, walking with Frank again who is really suffering with his knees and feet. Thunder, lightening and heavy rain on top of Fountains Fell for 20 minutes, we called in to Horton-in-Ribbledale for a much needed pint. Frank decided here he couldn`t continue so sadly we had to say goodbye, he was good company. It was a hard slog to Hawes and made it to the youth hostel at 6.30pm.
9. Hawes to Keld (12 miles) Rain/drizzle and mist all day. Hard going up to Great Shunner Fell and got very boggy, stopped for a tea break at Thwaite before pressing on to Keld which was full to the rafters with dripping wet Coast-to-Coast and Pennine Way walkers.
10. Keld to Middleton (20 miles) A dull, misty, damp start on the climb up to the Tan Hill Pub and a hard slog to Middleton, took me ages to find somewhere to stay the night, eventually got in at the Hudeway Center.
    

    Dad on Middleton to Dufton stage

11. Middleton to Dufton (20 miles) Was met early on as arranged by my Dad who walked all the way to Dufton with me.
12. Dufton to Alston (20 miles) Rain, wind and mist for the long climb up to Cross Fell, had a rest and changed wet clothes in Gregs Hut. Weather improved on the way down and called into Garrigill for a pot of tea before making it to Alston and the youth hostel.
13. Alston to Greenhead (17 miles) Took it easy today as ankle was playing up, found this stage a bit of a slog, stayed at Greenhead youth hostel.
14. Greenhead to Bellingham (21 miles) Woken at 2.30am by a guy climbing into the dormitary bedroom window! walked most of the day with a guy from the hostel and made it to Bellingham youth hostel by 4.30pm.
15. Bellingham Byrness (15 miles) Took it easy today, stayed at Byrness youth hostel.
16. Byrness to Kirk Yetholm (27 miles) Off walking at 6.45am for the final section, teamed up with a guy who was at the hostel last night and had a good rest at the mountain hut in the Cheviots up on the England/Scotland border. Made it into Kirk Yetholm at 4.15pm, the pub and youth hostel were both shut so sat in church doorway for a while.
17. The Chevy Chase (20 miles) This event was on the day after i finished the Pennine Way. I had done it before with my sister and is an enjoyable walk from Wooler taking in Hedgehope Hill and The Cheviot itself, with several hundred people taking part. I got a lift from the warden at Kirk Yetholm hostel 20 minutes away to Wooler and met my Dad here just in time for the start at 9.00am and we done the event together (6 hrs 20 mins) and despite the heavy rain and hailstones on top of The Cheviot it was a great day out