Wainwright's Pennine Journey
243 mile circular recreating Wainwright's 'first' long walk

In 1938 Alfred Wainwight undertook a long distance circular walk commencing in Settle in the Yorkshire Dales, northwards towards Hadrians Wall which took him along the Eastern side of the Pennine Chain via Keld, Tan Hill, Bowes, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Blanchland, to Hexham, where the route turned westwards along the Roman wall before returning southwards over the Pennines, returning down the western side to Settle, via Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Sedbergh, and Ingleton. At 243 miles long, this is a fine long distance walk in the tradition of the iconic Pennine Way.

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Holiday Packages

All our Standard Itineraries include:

  • Hand-picked accommodation in B&Bs / guest houses / inns / small hotels
  • En-suite facilities where available
  • Breakfast
  • Daily baggage transfers from our own team of local drivers
  • All booking fees

We will also endeavour to include all these in any custom itinerary you wish to build for this walk.

Itin A:   16D / 17N       £2065 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Hubberholme (18m)
Day 2: Hubberholme to Bainbridge (11m)
Day 3: Bainbridge to Tan Hill (16.4m)
Day 4: Tan Hill to Baldersdale (12.9m) personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 5: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to High Force (11.5m)
Day 6: High Force to Rookhope (16.1m), taxi to Hexham
Day 7: Taxi to Rookhope, walk to Hexham (17.3m)
Day 8: Hexham to Old Repeater Station (13.6m)
Day 9: Old Repeater Station to Kellah (17.6m)
Day 10: Kellah to Garrigill (16.7m)
Day 11: Garrigill to Dufton (16.5m)
Day 12: Dufton to Brough (15.3m)
Day 13: Brough to Garsdale Head (18.2m), taxi to Hawes
Day 14: Taxi to Garsdale Head, walk to Sedbergh (13.8m)
Day 15: Sedbergh to Ingleton (17.8m)
Day 16: Ingleton to Settle (13.9m)

£2,380 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£2,065 per person (based on two sharing)
£1,930 per person (based on group of 3)
£1,860 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxis

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Itin B:   17D / 18N       £2210 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Hubberholme (18m)
Day 2: Hubberholme to Bainbridge (11.1m)
Day 3: Bainbridge to Tan Hill (16.4m)
Day 4: walk to Baldersdale (12.9m) personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 5: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to Langdon Beck (15.8m)
Day 6: Langdon Beck to Rookhope (13.1m), taxi to Hexham
Day 7: Taxi to Rookhope, walk to Hexham (17.3m)
Day 8: Hexham to Old Repeater Station (13.6m)
Day 9: Old Repeater Station to Greenhead (12.6m)
Day 10: Greenhead to Alston (17.2m)
Day 11: Alston to Milburn (16.5m) taxi to Appleby
Day 12: personal transport to Milburn, walk to Sandford (13.9m)
Day 13: Sandford to Nateby (12.7m)
Day 14: Nateby to Garsdale Head (11m), taxi to Hawes
Day 15: Taxi to Garsdale Head, walk to Sedbergh (13.8m)
Day 16: Sedbergh to Ingleton (17.8m)
Day 17: Ingleton to Settle (13.9m)

£2,580 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£2,210 per person (based on two sharing)
£2,070 per person (based on group of 3)
£2,000 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxis

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Itin C:   18D / 19N       £2285 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Hubberholme (18m)
Day 2: Hubberholme to Bainbridge (11.1m)
Day 3: Bainbridge to Keld (12.8m)
Day 4: Keld to Baldersdale (17.3m), personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 5: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to High Force (11.9m)
Day 6: High Force to Westgate in Weardale (11.1m)
Day 7: Westgate to Blanchland (10.7m)
Day 8: Blanchland to Hexham (11.7m)
Day 9: Hexham to Old Repeater Station (13.6m)
Day 10: Old Repeater Station to Greenhead (12.6m)
Day 11: Greenhead to Alston (17.2m)
Day 12: Alston to Milburn (16.5m) taxi to Appleby
Day 13: taxi to Milburn, walk to Sandford (13.9m)
Day 14: Sandford to Nateby (12.7m)
Day 15: Nateby to Garsdale Head (11m), taxi to Hawes
Day 16: Taxi to Garsdale Head, walk to Sedbergh (13.8m)
Day 17: Sedbergh to Ingleton (17.8m)
Day 18: Ingleton to Settle (13.9m)

£2,610 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£2,285 per person (based on two sharing)
£2,125 per person (based on group of 3)
£2,045 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxis

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Itin D:   22D / 23N       £2690 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Horton in Ribblesdale (7.3m)
Day 2: Horton to Hubberholme (10.8m)
Day 3: Hubberholme to Bainbridge (11m)
Day 4: Bainbridge to Keld (12.8m)
Day 5: Keld to Baldersdale (17.3m), personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 6: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to Middleton in Teesdale (7.4m)
Day 7: Middleton to Langdon Beck (9m)
Day 8: Langdon Beck to Westgate in Weardale (8m)
Day 9: Westgate to Blanchland (10.7m)
Day 10: Blanchland to Hexham (11.7m)
Day 11: Hexham to Old Repeater Station (13.6m)
Day 12: Old Repeater Station to Greenhead (12.6m)
Day 13: Greenhead to Slaggyford 11.5m)
Day 14: Slaggyford to Garrigill (9.4m)
Day 15: Garrigill to Milburn (12.4m) taxi to Appleby
Day 16: taxi to Milburn, walk to Appleby (8.5m)
Day 17: Appleby to Brough (10.5m)
Day 18: Brough to Nateby (7.2m)
Day 19: Nateby to Garsdale Head (11m), taxi to Hawes
Day 20: Taxi to Garsdale Head, walk to Sedbergh (13.8m)
Day 21: Sedbergh to Ingleton (17.8m)
Day 22: Ingleton to Settle (13.9m)

£3,040 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£2,690 per person (based on two sharing)
£2,515 per person (based on group of 3)
£2,425 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxis

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Itin E:   13D / 14N       £1710 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Hubberholme (18m)
Day 2: Hubberholme to Keld (23.5m)
Day 3: Keld to Baldersdale (17.3m) personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 4: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to Langdon Beck (15.8m)
Day 5: Langdon Beck to Blanchland (18.7m)
Day 6: Blanchland to Humshaugh (18.6m)
Day 7: Humshaugh to Greenhead (19.5m)
Day 8: Greenhead to Alston (17.2m)
Day 9: Alston to Dufton (20.6m)
Day 10: Dufton to Kirkby Stephen (20.2m)
Day 11: Kirkby Stephen to Garsdale Head (12.5m), taxi to Hawes
Day 12: taxi to Garsdale Head, walk to Dent (19.4m)
Day 13: Dent to Settle (26.5m)

£1,940 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£1,710 per person (based on two sharing)
£1,575 per person (based on group of 3)
£1,510 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxi

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Itin F:   28D / 29N       £3315 pp *

Day 1: Settle to Horton in Ribblesdale (7.3m)
Day 2: Horton to Hubberholme (10.8m)
Day 3: Hubberholme to Bainbridge (11m)
Day 4: Bainbridge to Keld (12.8m)
Day 5: Keld to Tan Hill (4.4m)
Day 6: Tan Hill to Baldersdale (12.9m), personal transport to Cotherstone
Day 7: personal transport to Baldersdale, walk to Middleton in Teesdale (7.4m)
Day 8: Middleton to Langdon Beck (9m)
Day 9: Langdon Beck to Westgate in Weardale (8m)
Day 10: Westgate to Blanchland (10.7m)
Day 11: Blanchland to Hexham (11.7m)
Day 12: Hexham to Humshaugh (6.9m)
Day 13: Humshaugh to Old Repeater (7.9m)
Day 14: Old Repeater to Greenhead (12.6m)
Day 15: Greenhead to Kellah (5m)
Day 16: Kellah to Slaggyford (7.3m)
Day 17: Slaggyford to Garrigill (9.4m)
Day 18: taxi to Milburn (12.4m) taxi to Appleby
Day 19: personal transport to Milburn, walk to Appleby (8.5m)
Day 20: Appleby to Brough (10.5m)
Day 21: Brough to Nateby (7.2m)
Day 22: Nateby to Garsdale Head (11m), taxi to Hawes
Day 23: Taxi to Garsdale Head to Cautley (8.8m)
Day 24: Cautley to Dent (10.6m)
Day 25: Dent to Chapel le Dale (8.8m)
Day 26: Chapel le Dale to Ingleton (5.8m)
Day 27: Ingleton to Austwick (9m)
Day 28: Austwick to Settle (5.3m)

£3,700 solo walkers (plus single supplements)
£3,315 per person (based on two sharing)
£3,110 per person (based on group of 3)
£3,005 per person (based on group of 4 or more)

Note: price includes taxi

Get a Personal Quote

* All headline holiday prices are shown per person, based on two people sharing.

Baggage Transfer

Baggage Transfer is automatically included in the price of all our Walking Holiday packages.

These prices are for anyone planning their own holiday and just need bags moving from one stop to the next.

All itineraries

Price available on request

Max 17kg per bag

Note: If you are booking accommodation in an Airbnb, you must ensure that there will either be someone available to take collection/delivery of your bags or that they have appropriate, secure storage in the event that the proprietor is absent.

Walk Information

Rest Days
Rest days can be incorporated into any walking holiday package at an additional £70.00 per person per night

Solo Travellers
Solo travellers please contact us or use the booking form to send your proposed itinerary including dates, and we will price accordingly. Where possible, we take advantage of existing bookings from other clients to ensure you receive a cost effective service.

Alternative Itineraries
For alternative itineraries to those provided for this route, please contact us, or use the Booking Form to submit your proposed itinerary and number of participants and we will quote accordingly.

Walking Season Dates
Prices are based on the walk starting after 1st April and ending before 30th September.

Personal Transport
From our parking facility in Kirkby Malham to Settle, and return.

£50 per person (1 passenger)
£25 per person (2 passengers)
£20 per person (3 to 7 passengers)

Walk Information
In 1938 Alfred Wainwight undertook a long distance circular walk commencing in Settle in the Yorkshire Dales, northwards towards Hadrians Wall which took him along the Eastern side of the Pennine Chain via Keld, Tan Hill, Bowes, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Blanchland, to Hexham, where the route turned westwards along the Roman wall before returning southwards over the Pennines, returning down the western side to Settle, via Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Sedbergh, and Ingleton.

The walk, as amended by members of the Wainwright Society, is approximately 247 miles in length, and involves 17 or 18 days of moderately challenging hill walking, and will prove popular with Wainwright admirers, for those who may have already completed the Coast to Coast path, and the Pennine Way. The original route walked by Wainwright involved much road walking, but the route has been amended to use the many footpaths and green lanes now available to make for a more pleasant expedition.

OS Explorer Maps
OL2 – Yorkshire Dales – Southern & Western areas
OL19 – Howgill Fells & Upper Eden Valley
OL30 – Yorkshire Dales – Northern & Central areas
OL31 – North Pennines
OL41 – Forest of Bowland & Ribblesdale
OL43 – Hadrian’s Wall
307 – Consett & Derwent Reservoir

Guide Books
A Pennine Journey” by David & Heather Pitt – Published by Sigma Press – ISBN: 978-1910758144

Mobile Digital Mapping
Digital maps can be viewed on most modern smartphones using an appropriate app, downloaded from the app store associated with your device. Brigantes recommend that whichever app you use, it should support Ordnance Survey 1:25k or 1:50k scale maps. There are many apps to choose from, but the two main providers are Ordnance Survey and Memory Map.

Each provider’s app has its own benefits, but both provide all-important offline navigation, meaning your device does not need a mobile signal to work effectively on the trail.

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Walkers' Testimonials

Have you walked this route? Please leave a review and let others know what you think.

Use the comments form below to submit your testimonial for this walk. Rest assured, we won’t display or disclose your email address! It is only required to prevent spam – and to enable you to receive notifications of any responses to your review should you select the option to do so.

11 Replies to “Wainwright’s Pennine Journey”

  1. A note to thank you and all of your staff for the great service in transporting my bag on my walk in June. As previously, all went without a hitch. It is always great when completing a day’s walk that I could rest easy in the certain expectation that my bag will be waiting at the accommodation. Some of my days involved 20+ miles walking, but concerns over my bag arriving are non-existent with the service that you provide.
    Had I realised before that I would be walking virtually past your office doors I would have arranged to call in and say hello – an opportunity lost on my behalf.
    The Pennine Journey is an interesting, varied trail – complete with all that you would expect of the Pennines – moorland, fields, Dales, riverside stretches and plenty of hill and fell terrain. Terrific landscapes and an abundance of the natural world (especially birdlife – particularly on areas that are subject to management for grouse shooting – grouse, curlew, lapwing, golden plover, oyster catchers, redshank, short eared owls and grey partridge were all seen). I walked the route in a circuit starting and finishing at Hadrians Wall. Some sections have more challenging navigation than trails such as the Pennine Way (not as well way marked) but the trusty OS map and the Pennine Journey guidebook reduced errors to a minimum.
    Thanks to all again, and I am starting to consider options for next year!

  2. When you get great customer service you tend to give repeat business and we were very happy to book Brigantes for our second stretch of the Pennine Journey from Westgate in Weardale to Appleby taking in the incomparable Hadrian’s Wall. What a great trip, made all the better by comfortable, clean B&Bs with excellent hosts and evening meals where required and, as ever, our luggage was always already at our accommodation in advance of our arrival. Thanks again Annette and your team, we have no hesitation in recommending you to other walkers.

  3. Everything went like clockwork with Brigantes services – the accommodation was very good and every evening our bags would be there on arrival.We walked the first 80-miles of the Pennine Journey from Settle to Westgate in Weardale and were blessed with excellent weather largely (great considering it was mid-October) and, of course stunning scenery, especially enjoyed the section along the River Tees and experiencing the explosive sound of water cascading over the waterfall at High Force – really looking forward to carrying on with the Pennine Journey next year and using Brigantes with their tip-top service

  4. Recently completed Settle to Hadrian’s Wall on the Pennine Journey with Brigantes. Just as last year on The Dales Highway the accommodation was all top notch and baggage transfers moved faultlessly and smoothly. It’s such a pleasure to use such a professional and yet personable team as Brigantes. Thank you Annette. Fortunately we have other objectives in the N of England yet to do, so we look forward to teaming up with Brigantes once more. As others have written, the walk itself varies between well-travelled parts of The Dales Way and especially The Pennine Way and other less trodden parts of the northern Pennines. Plenty of variety.

  5. With friends, I just completed the Pennine Journey. Annette and Brigantes were terrific. Everything went as planned. I highly recommend this company.
    Catherine Bernard

  6. Westgate-Appleby, second part for us, and again not a drop of rain and blue sky !
    A bit difficult to find the way between Westgate and Blanchland, just need to be carefull near the quarry and when leaving the C2C cycle track.
    And baggage transfer absolutely perfect as always !

  7. Absolutely perfect luggage transfer, and Annette very helpfull finding a missing accomodation for us. We walked Horton – Westgate without a drop of rain, and blue sky. Pennine Journey looks a wonderful walk, and the absence of markways was not a real problem, just need to be carefull

  8. The Pennine Journey was a varied and challenging walk. The parts where it coincided with the Pennine Way, South Tyne Trail, Dales Way or Hadrian’s Wall were well waymarked, other parts not, but with maps and guidebook were navigable without much difficulty.

    Because of the complication of finding 18 consecutive days accommodation in mainly out of the way villages along the Pennine Journey, we decided for the first time to employ a company to arrange the walk for us and chose Brigantes. We were delighted with the service from start to finish. Annette was helpful when I phoned with a query and the accommodation was all of high quality. She even sent us downloads of the OS maps pertaining to the route. When my husband had an accident I was able to contact Annette on a Friday evening out of office hours and arrange help and when a slight problem with one of the B & Bs arose it was sorted immediately and without fuss. The bags were always at our B & B before us and it was rather a luxury to carry only a day sack rather than all our gear.

  9. This is the 8th consecutive year we have used the excellent services of Annette and her Brigantes team for our baggage transfer whilst undertaking long distance walks. The service is very reliable and the drivers all prompt and very friendly. This year we needed extra support and Annette’s help and understanding was above what we expected, so we would happily recommend them to anyone else. Thank You.

  10. My husband and I recently completed Wainwright`s Pennine Journey and a great walk it was, Bad weather prevented us sticking strictly to the route ie over Wherenside and Ingleborough but alternative route were easy to find with a trusty OS map,
    Discovery travel arranged our accommodation which was mostly excellent and Brigantes moved our luggage for us with their usual efficiency. It is great to have such companies who do all the background work so those of us who love to walk in this wonderful country can just get on with the walking

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