The Pennine Way Southern Route: 9 days

Spend your first night in this small town in the Peak District, located at the southern end of the Pennines.

It is surrounded by extensive fields where you can tour the Kinder Scout Plateau in the north or the peak in the east of town. You can also take an excursion along the River Noe.

Overnight in Edale

Today's route will take you to the Peak District National Park via the Kinder Scout moorland plateau and National Nature Reserve. To ascend, you must do so along the rocky path known as Jacob's Ladder.

If the day allows, from the top you will have beautiful views of the city of Manchester, Winter Hill or the Snowdonia Mountains in north Wales. 

Later, taking Snake Pass, you will reach Bleaklow Moor. From there you can see the town of Glossop, where, after a short transfer, you will spend the night.  

Overnight in Glossop

Walk along the shores of Torside Reservoir, the largest man-made lake in Longendale Valley, to reach Laddow Rocks, where a long ascent awaits. Once you get the top, you'll have amazing views of the Peak District.

Following the route, you will reach another of the moors in this region: Black Hill. You will descend through Wessenden Valley to reach Standedge, where the Peak District National Park ends. From here, you will head to Diggle for the night.

Overnight in Diggle

Leaving Standedge, you'll continue across the border between Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, until you reach the edge of Blackstone, a sandstone escarpment frequented by climbers and walkers. 

Through a section of Calderdale Way, a long-walk trail, you reach the Stoodley Hill Monument (400 m), from where you can admire the Calder Valley, the River Calder, and the town of Todmorden.

Across the river is the commercial and market town of Hebden Bridge. There, you can visit Hardcastle Crags, a beautiful 160-hectare wooded valley that houses the Gibson Mill and several trails amid the natural landscape.

Overnight in Hebden Bridge

Walk along the Rochdale Canal to leave the town, and following the route, you will reach the village of Colden. Cross the River Colden Water, and then you'll reach the extensive Heptonstall Moor countryside.

To the north, you'll encounter the Gorple and Walshaw Dean Reservoirs, and later there are the ruins of the renowned Top Withins Farm, which is said to have been Emily Bronte’s inspiration for the novel Wuthering Heights.

After visiting this tourist spot, follow Stanbury Moor from where you have a panoramic view of Ponden Reservoir and the village where you will stay.  

Overnight in Ponden

Today you will have walks across moors with some ascents. The first is on Old Bess Hill, from where you also will find great panoramas over Ponden. Then, you must climb the fields of Oakworth Moor and then Ickornshaw Moor and then descend to the village of Lothersdale.

You will once again have an ascent to Pinhaw Beacon to the small village of Thornton-in-Craven. Along a section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, you'll reach East Marton, renowned by the double-arched bridge over that canal. 

In the middle of heather fields, grazing farms and quiet trails you will reach Gargrave, in the Craven district and starting point to visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Overnight in Gargrave

Today you'll enter the Yorkshire Dales National Park, 1,760 km2 along the Pennines and home to numerous geographical features such as England's three largest peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside.

Crossing the River Aire, you will reach the village of Malham, where you can get to know stunning places such as Gordale Scar gorge, Janet's Foss Waterfall in the middle of a forest or Malham Cove, a huge limestone cliff.

Overnight in Malhman

Today takes you to the aforementioned Malham Cove, a huge cliff 80 m high by 300 m wide. Once at the top, the views over the entire valley are breath-taking.  

Continue north to Malham Tarn, England's highest glacial lake and part of the eight alkaline lakes in the European Highlands. You'll climb Fountains Fell at 668 metres above sea level, and reach Silverdale Valley.

Once there, you'll climb Pen-y-ghent, the lowest of Yorkshire's three peaks, to 694 m. Before descending to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, stop to admire Silverdale Valley and the surrounding hills.

Overnight in Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Your adventure on this stretch of Pennine Way is over. If you liked it, we recommend you consider taking the complete route. 

To return home, or continue to another destination, from Horton-in-Ribblesdale train station you can head to any city in England.

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