walked it in 1979 in 14 days backpacking all the way. I would recommend camping as it gives you more freedom, e g, we shortened the last day over the cheviot by going on from byrness to lamb hill (near the bothy)-it was still a hard slog. I would agree gaitors are a must. what you cannot prepare for is, if like me you do it in one hit, is the relentless grind of 20 miles a day.you have to be mentally strong to get out of your warm sleeping bag for another full days slog.add to that minor strains,blisters,dicky tummy,mental fatigue etc.would I recommend it? you bet. something you will remember for the rest of your life.
Camped it in '73, no gaiters, good mental attitude. Hostelled it in '96 ditto. B&B'd (because most hostels had closed) it in '16 ditto. camped it in '17 and will again in '18. Still got good mental attitude but no gaiters!
Ronnie G planningto go starting October 18.th. Walking in cotswold before with my wife until 15.th of October. Do you have any wether expectations for October to mid November?
I’ve been up the Pennine Way on four occasions and had perfect weather every time. On the second trip I bought gaiters but I chucked them away after a couple of days as they were too hot and sweaty. I know, I’ve been dead lucky!
Thanks for the video but have to disagree on the hostels, I did it solo in 2003 - made a big mistake with my approach which I had to modify after a couple of days. I had a long standing loyalty from my youth to the YHA so planned to hostel and camp where no hostel was available. Trying to sort your hostels in advance is a nightmare. Firstly, the days of just turning up to a hostel and hoping for a bed are long gone. You may be lucky but it's not likely - see the following. Most hostels have at least one day when they are closed so you have to work out what day you plan to land at which hostel - not straight forward as your days may not fit with hostel open days, Next trying to book... many hostels take school or educational group bookings over a few days or even a week. If that is the case they will not let you in even if there is room - this is to protect the little darlings from predators like you. You only find this out when trying to book so as the replies you get from hostels come in at different times you are constantly re-jigging to try to get the best fit of availability. Being able to contact hostels to make a booking is very sketchy because some are closed out of season or only take bookings within so many weeks etc. It's all very uncertain. I managed to book about half a dozen hostels out of seventeen nights on the trail. So i decided to camp for the rest of the nights - THAT WAS MY BIG MISTAKE. having a mixture of booked nights and camping nights means that you are constrained to arrive at the booked accommodation on the correct day but you are also carrying all the gear for camping. Even lightweight stuff amounts to a lot of weight. If you were camping all the way that would be ok - you could stop when you need to e.g. to give your feet a day off or if the weather was bad and you had a tiring slog. This way you would get into a rhythm and adjust your pace. I sent my camping stuff home after a few days and made the journey staying in pubs and B&B (when not in hostels) often just turning up at the door. Progress to booked locations was much more doable with a lighter backpack. Things may have changed with the YHA since 2003 - I hope so. Very much agree with the mental challenge thing but that means it's so very rewarding when you get to the end. It was an amazing experience I'd recommend to anyone. Look up zinc tape for the feet!
For over thirties, watch out for chafing. Lot of sweating and flesh rubbing together over day long marches. My thighs felt liked they'd been rudely sandpapered after two days.
I'm planning to walk the PW next year, all in one go, camping all the way, some in sites, some wild. I've done a few national trails (WHW, Offa's, Peddars/NCP) already but this looks to be tougher? I've never worn gaiters ever, and never had a problem. I don't mind getting muddy, so do I really need them? My main problem with walking is being too warm, especially on my feet. I find the best way I avoid blisters is really light shoes with very thin light socks. That way may feet don't get warm and sweaty, and no blisters! I'd be concerned that wearing gaiters would work against this philosophy?
so have walk most the way the issue here is time it better with tent then if it dark you stop at the side of the trail but this come with weight the issue on the trail the other issue is when you leave the dales going north there is no transport back to the car if you a day walker the trail is hard core on day hike but the surface is hard core as well my walk shoes or hike trainners fell to bit in 3 days so here a tip were army boots as the arm use them buy put your tousers in the boots them gagers are not need if your boots are water prof to the tops !
walked it in 1979 in 14 days backpacking all the way. I would recommend camping as it gives you more freedom, e g, we shortened the last day over the cheviot by going on from byrness to lamb hill (near the bothy)-it was still a hard slog. I would agree gaitors are a must. what you cannot prepare for is, if like me you do it in one hit, is the relentless grind of 20 miles a day.you have to be mentally strong to get out of your warm sleeping bag for another full days slog.add to that minor strains,blisters,dicky tummy,mental fatigue etc.would I recommend it? you bet. something you will remember for the rest of your life.
Camped it in '73, no gaiters, good mental attitude. Hostelled it in '96 ditto. B&B'd (because most hostels had closed) it in '16 ditto. camped it in '17 and will again in '18. Still got good mental attitude but no gaiters!
Ronnie G planningto go starting October 18.th. Walking in cotswold before with my wife until 15.th of October. Do you have any wether expectations for October to mid November?
I’ve been up the Pennine Way on four occasions and had perfect weather every time. On the second trip I bought gaiters but I chucked them away after a couple of days as they were too hot and sweaty. I know, I’ve been dead lucky!
Thanks for your tips, really useful
Thanks for the video but have to disagree on the hostels, I did it solo in 2003 - made a big mistake with my approach which I had to modify after a couple of days. I had a long standing loyalty from my youth to the YHA so planned to hostel and camp where no hostel was available. Trying to sort your hostels in advance is a nightmare. Firstly, the days of just turning up to a hostel and hoping for a bed are long gone. You may be lucky but it's not likely - see the following. Most hostels have at least one day when they are closed so you have to work out what day you plan to land at which hostel - not straight forward as your days may not fit with hostel open days, Next trying to book... many hostels take school or educational group bookings over a few days or even a week. If that is the case they will not let you in even if there is room - this is to protect the little darlings from predators like you. You only find this out when trying to book so as the replies you get from hostels come in at different times you are constantly re-jigging to try to get the best fit of availability. Being able to contact hostels to make a booking is very sketchy because some are closed out of season or only take bookings within so many weeks etc. It's all very uncertain. I managed to book about half a dozen hostels out of seventeen nights on the trail. So i decided to camp for the rest of the nights - THAT WAS MY BIG MISTAKE. having a mixture of booked nights and camping nights means that you are constrained to arrive at the booked accommodation on the correct day but you are also carrying all the gear for camping. Even lightweight stuff amounts to a lot of weight. If you were camping all the way that would be ok - you could stop when you need to e.g. to give your feet a day off or if the weather was bad and you had a tiring slog. This way you would get into a rhythm and adjust your pace.
I sent my camping stuff home after a few days and made the journey staying in pubs and B&B (when not in hostels) often just turning up at the door. Progress to booked locations was much more doable with a lighter backpack. Things may have changed with the YHA since 2003 - I hope so. Very much agree with the mental challenge thing but that means it's so very rewarding when you get to the end. It was an amazing experience I'd recommend to anyone. Look up zinc tape for the feet!
For over thirties, watch out for chafing. Lot of sweating and flesh rubbing together over day long marches. My thighs felt liked they'd been rudely sandpapered after two days.
I'm planning to walk the PW next year, all in one go, camping all the way, some in sites, some wild. I've done a few national trails (WHW, Offa's, Peddars/NCP) already but this looks to be tougher? I've never worn gaiters ever, and never had a problem. I don't mind getting muddy, so do I really need them? My main problem with walking is being too warm, especially on my feet. I find the best way I avoid blisters is really light shoes with very thin light socks. That way may feet don't get warm and sweaty, and no blisters! I'd be concerned that wearing gaiters would work against this philosophy?
Walked the Way in 82 it took us 14 days and 12 of them were camping
Great tips, your so right.....gaiters gaiters.....doing pw in aug :) camping...and yh...
The CheviotWildCamper i
It's personal preference!
Good advice, but why the London Hiker?, you sound pretty northern to me.
im doin my first trip in may 2022
so have walk most the way the issue here is time it better with tent then if it dark you stop at the side of the trail but this come with weight the issue on the trail the other issue is when you leave the dales going north there is no transport back to the car if you a day walker the trail is hard core on day hike but the surface is hard core as well my walk shoes or hike trainners fell to bit in 3 days so here a tip were army boots as the arm use them buy put your tousers in the boots them gagers are not need if your boots are water prof to the tops !
Great post. Yes weight is a big issue. Camping AND pre-booked nights are a bad combination.
wish the volume was louder can't really hear this video
so you wouldn't camp it?
i know that place
Be prepared for rain
My tip don't bother.
My tip is don't date sheep
Useful.