I'm hiking the whole of the Pennine Way for charity in May.

And its a long way!...

Please sponsor me!

(In support of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme)

The Pennine Way National Trail is a 268 mile (429 Km) walking route from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It follows the Pennines and crosses some of the finest upland landscapes in England, from the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales, across the North Pennines and over Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland to the Cheviots. It it is hilly and in many places, remote.

It was the very first National Trail, opened on 24thApril 1965, and remains one of the most famous. Originally the inspiration of walker and writer Tom Stephenson in an article published in 1935 in the Daily Herald titled 'Wanted: A Long Green Trail', the Pennine Way was designated by the Countryside Agency in 1965 as Britain's first National Trail.

Today the Pennine Way is one of the most famous and popular walks in the country. To many the Pennine Way is much more than a walk, it is part of the history of access to the hills in England, and walking the Pennine Way makes you part of that story.

The Trail passes through three National Parks, The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, two National Nature Reserves and 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The variety of habitats make it one of the best places in Europe to observe birds like breeding waders in the spring and early summer.

Highlights include Kinder Scout, Stoodley Pike, Top Withins, Malham Cove, Pen-y-ghent, Tan Hill, High Force, Cauldron Snout, High Cup Nick, Cross Fell, Hadrian’s Wall and The Cheviot.

An official companion leaflet can be downloaded from the National Trails website.