Pennine Way: British Walking Guide: planning, places to stay, places to eat; includes 138 large-scale walking maps

by Chris Scott, Keith Carter, Stuart Greig

Britain’s best-known National Trail winds for 256 miles through three National Parks – the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. This superb footpath showcases Britain’s finest upland scenery, while touching the literary landscape of the Bronte family and Roman history along Hadrian’s Wall.

 138 large-scale walking maps – at just under 1:20,000 – showing route times, gradients, where to stay, interesting features. Guides to 57 towns and villages – along the way Itineraries for all walkers – whether walking the route in its entirety or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks. Practical information for all budgets – Edale to Kirk Yetholm: where to stay (B&Bs, hostels, campsites, pubs and hotels), where to eat, what to see, plus detailed town plans Public transport information – all access points on the path. GPS waypoints. These are also downloadable from the Trailblazer website. Now includes extra color sections: 16pp color introduction and 16pp of color mapping for stage sections (one stage per page) with trail profiles.

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2011

About the author

After exploring the Sahara in 1980s, I wrote Desert Biking in 1993. That evolved into today's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, now in its 6th edition. I also co-wrote several editions of Australia for Rough Guides and worked on other RG titles. Desert Travels, a Saharan travelogue came next, then Sahara Overland, Overlanders Handbook, and Morocco Overland, all for Trailblazer Guides. I also enjoy updating Trailblazer's British walking guides once in a while.
I recently reprinted Desert Travels alongside a new book: Adventures in Motorcycling, an urban motobiography paralleling the DT era of the 1980s, but telling a quite different story.

Reviews

[Sarah Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book, written with the practicalities and needs of walkers in mind. I have only used some of the maps because I haven't walked the whole Pennine Way (I have a lot more to do!), but based on those that I have used, I was incredibly impressed. I have so many walking books that are terrible, and give you really vague directions. These large scale maps have landmarks and features that a walker who is paying attention would actually notice. If I were walking the entire Pennine Way, I would definitely bring along an ordinance map and a compass in case I got lost, but I was able to navigate with this book alone for day hikes. The Pennine Way is not always well marked, but this book is certainly a great help in keeping you on track. The front material is also incredibly useful in helping you prepare, and the book will also help you identify where you can get food, accommodation, and a sit down in a warm pub along the way.

[AJW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m planning to walk the Pennine Way (PW) this year and was told this book is essential reading. Having just read it, I concur. It is packed with useful information.
The tone of the book is of a knowledgeable friend - friendly, chatty, opinionated at times, with interesting extra facts thrown in, such as when KFC sued Tan Hill Inn for using the phrase “Family Feast”. The hand-drawn maps have comments written onto them, like a friend scribbling directions & pointing out landmarks. I think in partnership with the OS 1:25k maps, I won’t get lost.
The only caveat I’d add is that some details quickly go out of date, e.g. YHA keep on selling off their hostels, so don’t 100% rely on it.
But after reading this, my confidence to successfully plan & complete the PW, has doubled at least.

[John Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

PW guides seem to be a rather crowded field nowadays but this guide seemed to me to be entirely satisfactory. It succeeded in removing the need for maps, not an easy task. But the constant churn of hostelries, so dear to the heart of walkers of this strenuous route, mean any printed guide has a limited shelf life.

[Adam Nott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I solid overview of the trail that allowed for some good pre-hike prep

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent except I didn't agree with his recommendations re: b&bs, and some wild camping sites: the cronkley rail wagons are no longer and glendue burn seemed less than idyllic with midges and a road. If wild camping be aware some sites only have space for 1 small tent. I'd also recommend having os maps which I used almost exclusively with the book as backup.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

best walking guide ever