The Official Certificate of the Pennine Way
The End
Your Reward - Half a pint of Beer
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Day 18 - Byrness to Cheviots
The Cairn Around Blackhall Hill,Windy up there so this stood as good shelter.
Watch where you walk in the Cheviots, its military training grounds up there.We also heard from a local that a gentleman took his horse up there once and it sank in the marshes, and they couldnt pull it out.
So if you can avoid millatry debris / the ground sinking beneath your feet, you'll be fine in the Cheviots
Day 15 - Greenhead to Steel Rigg
(L-R) Dan, Andy Katherine, Emma, Geoff
Twice Brewed Inn,
We stayed at Once Brewed Youth Hostel, Drank at the Twice Brewed Pub, there was a local band called Thrice Brewed, but i think me and Andrew were Fith-teenth brewed by this stage.
Geoff (Newmarsh?), AKA Mr TA, pictured on the right had been with us since Day 1 and become a friend and mentor / father figure. I found some notes of how we described him ....
Mr TA,
Jolly Good Champ, Spiffing Bloke, Well educated, groomed to perfection, military trained, steady but sure, presise planning, camoflage rucksack, camel tank included, mentor to others, friendly rival, loves a walk at the end of a days walk !, manly handshake, applauded my top athletic abilities, appearence of a model from the reggata winter clothing catalogue, devoted huisband, B15 bomber fanatic.
him and his wife looked a million bucks at the end of each day, where as me and andy looked like two sewer rats.
Day 14 - Alston to Greenhead
There are a lot of farm fields on this stretch. Be Carefull.
I was walking on the pathed route, but due to rain, puddles had flooded some of the path. I accidently stepped off the path to the right and fell 5 foot into a ditch ,where cow muck, soil and stagnent water had created a pool of water against the slabs of the path. I had to hoist myself out of this pool back onto the path. It was like getting out of a swimming pool. But i was covered from foot to head in this stenching mix.
The Sun then came out out and it all dried to my clothes and skin. I got fully cleaned at the Greenhead youth hostel. and laughed about it later.
Day 12 - High Force to Dufton
High Cup Nick, The greatest view of the Pennine Way, photography cannot do this justice
Day 11 - Bowes to High Force
This is where we camped, at the foot of the High Force waterfall. Saved us a few pounds, but a little noisy at night.
To wake up and see this next to you is good inspiration for a days walking
Day 6 - East Marton to Malham
By Day 6, your body adjusts to walking 10-15 miles a day, woke up this morning feeling fresh and strong.
Had Breakfast in the Hotel / Camp site at East Marton. Where on display was an autograph of Warrior from the gladiators.
Gargrave is a nice stop on this day for a dinner time pint.
Then easy stroll into Malham
Gordale Scar, you can camp near here, is worth walking off the Pennine Way to View
On the way to Gordale you will walk via Janets Foss, where a fairy lives beneath.... doesnt stop dogs swimming in it though.
You have to cross this small river to get into the village, prepare for wet feet
Above, As you are entering Malham,.My Parents and Nan came to meet us at this verypoint.
Good drinking locations were Listers inn and Buck Inn. Then back to our B&B room for the night. Feeling pretty tipsy watched a movie about a USA/Russian runner from the olimpics called GA Skodalvic. Which became a running joke for the rest of the walk.
We took a days rest here in Malham to re-energise. Id recommend this to anybody. Malham is a great place to do this too. We met Emma & Katherine, from the USA, James from Rotherham here. Emma & Katherine became companions of our for the remainder of the journey. James was doing the Pennine way North to South. He had the same outlook as us. Everyone had written him off , that he couldnt complete the walk. He quit his job in a bank to do the Pennine. But he was nearly there. We traded stories of what to expect. Us from our previous 6 days, James from his previous 13 starting in Scotland. He joked, that he had it easier,.... its all downhill if going North to South !
A Bad idea though is spending your last Pound of cash, putting Dire Strates on the Juke Box, cos there wasnt not ATM in Malham.
2nd night we stayed at the Malham youth hostel which was warm and clean. Youth hostels are a saviour and come highly recommended. At £7-8 a night, you get your monies worth from the drying rooms alone.
We did meet a chap at the Malham Youth hostel from Southampton. He was sharing our Dorm. Every other sentence was "Piss Poor Weather" and he was doing a spot of day walking, stopping at various YHA's. He was probably thinking back slightly pervy, telling us he only ate bread and had lost his sense of smell due to working with dead bodies in old peoples homes. Mr Piss Poor Weather he would be labelled. never to meet him again, but in the lonley hills of the Pennine Way, me and Andrew would remeniss stories of Mr Piss Poor weather and his bready adventures in Southampton.
Enjoyed a few pints of Stella with these two in Listers, we named them Ian and Norman, didnt catch there real name. Ian (Left) thought to be an Architect & Norman (Right) though to be a farmer. Told us tales of the village bike, and Ian's big claim and very long story about dating a dark skinned lady. Village folk !
Day 5 - Ponden to East Marton
This first morning was tough as we had ran out of food supplies.
The farm house at Ponden, were great and gave us some honey and Bannana Sandwiches for our breakfast.
This days walk is tougher than previous as you are mainly walking on hard slabs, which is heavy on your feet. Then when it is not the slabs it is loose rock which can be slipped on easily.
We couldnt find accomodation in Thornton, so carried on to East Marton.East marton is based on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The sun was shining, but the rain was chasing us.We made just in the nic of time to pitch the tent up for an early night.
The farm house at Ponden, were great and gave us some honey and Bannana Sandwiches for our breakfast.
This days walk is tougher than previous as you are mainly walking on hard slabs, which is heavy on your feet. Then when it is not the slabs it is loose rock which can be slipped on easily.
We couldnt find accomodation in Thornton, so carried on to East Marton.East marton is based on the Leeds Liverpool Canal. The sun was shining, but the rain was chasing us.We made just in the nic of time to pitch the tent up for an early night.
Day 4 - Hebden Bridge to Ponden
Hebden Bridge is a good place to stock up on supplies. You dont find much at tonights stop in ponden, so take food supplies.
So in the morning i called into a branch of Boots, and bought some plasters called Compeed.
By Day 4 your feet will be in pain. I was cursing my boots and taking 8 paracetemol per day to relieve the pain.
There is a very steep climb on this day near the beginning, through some housing.
So in the morning i called into a branch of Boots, and bought some plasters called Compeed.
By Day 4 your feet will be in pain. I was cursing my boots and taking 8 paracetemol per day to relieve the pain.
There is a very steep climb on this day near the beginning, through some housing.
Day 3 - Standedge to Hebden Bridge
It was raining the morning we set off here, which meant carrying a wet heavier tent. Always give your tent a good shake off begore rolling it up. This third days walk was easier comapred to the prevous two. Maybe it was us getting used to the new routine. But the sharp climbs of day one and two were not repeated.
The M62 is crossed on this day. Its very windy as you cross the bridge.
Notably there was another hot food caravan just prior to the bridge. The workers here did warn us to watch out for the farmers trying to shoot walkers ! eek.
Hebden Bridge Youth Club.
Another Late night drink ..... tea + coffee
In Hebden Bridge,
The M62 is crossed on this day. Its very windy as you cross the bridge.
Notably there was another hot food caravan just prior to the bridge. The workers here did warn us to watch out for the farmers trying to shoot walkers ! eek.
Hitching a ride from the point where you leave Callis Woods, meeting the Rochdale Canal. This lovely couple (Dafney & Ray) gave us a lift into Hebden Bridge, Gifting us with tea and Blue Ribbond biscuits.
Hebden Bridge Youth Club.Another Late night drink ..... tea + coffee
In Hebden Bridge, Staying at the Angledale B&B ran by a moustached fella called Stephen, good rest here and the first chance of warm accomodation.
Phones charged & English Breakfast is what the doctor ordered. Infact we shared a late night Cocoa with a Swiss Docotor (Dr. Peter) in the AngelDale.
Day 2 - Crowden to Standedge
Bacon Butty & Cup of tea on the A635 at Wessenden Head
Waterfall near Wessenden Reservoir
Great Western Pub Standedge,
After spending the evening here, we slept at the campsite at Globe Farm, meeting a friendly Dutch couple who gave us a strange herbal tea, with a sweet Cinnamon style stick in it
Day 1 - Edale to Crowden
Rucksack Weighed in at 16 kg's, this is quite heavy and included tent.
Stayed at a Caravan Club campsite at Crowden. There are always lots of midges on the campsites. You can get really badly bitter. It sometimes stops you from sitting outside of the tent in an evening.
The first day is a real test on your legs and i struggled to stand the next morning. Blisters were the main issue. There were a few pulled muscles too.
Stayed at a Caravan Club campsite at Crowden. There are always lots of midges on the campsites. You can get really badly bitter. It sometimes stops you from sitting outside of the tent in an evening.
The first day is a real test on your legs and i struggled to stand the next morning. Blisters were the main issue. There were a few pulled muscles too.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Pennine Way - July 2002
The Pennine Way is a national trail, that begins in Edale, Derbyshire and finishes in Kirk Yetholm, Scotland.
It is 293 mile long and took around 3 weeks to complete. I'll include some of my photos from the trail and try to add in a few stories.
The Start of the Pennine Way is the Old Nags Head pub at Edale, Derbyshire,
I Spent the Friday night drinking here, prior to the first day walk. Had a good few pints of Barnsley Bitter then back to the youth hostel.
This Blog follows the diaries of myself, Dan Fletcher, and companion Andrew Walker.
Dan and Andrew hail from Dronfield, Derbyshire. We took the challenge in July 2002 after discussing the trail about one month prior. We Borrowed, Begged and stole all our equiptment. In fact my rucksack was found in a skip by my dad.
Looking back not sure why, but we each took a plastic sword strapped to our backbacks. They acted as good conversation pieces. " Hey guys, whats with the swords ...." ..... " they're for slaying dragons !"
To walk nearly 300 miles in 3 weeks, to walk to another country, with no experience, its a challenge to say the least.
But a challange that is so rewarding. If your thinking of beginning the Pennine Way, drop me a mail at dwfletch71@aol.com for a chat
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