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A Walker'S PENNINE JOURNEY

In 1998 my wife and I set out from Settle on the first long distance walk of our own creation after 18 years of following other people's walks. We had been mindful for a long time of a comment made by AW in his guide to the Coast to Coast Path encouraging walkers to plan their own routes. Having, after early retirement in 1991, read "A Pennine Journey” it seemed natural to try to devise a route that would take in as many as possible of the places mentioned on the route that AW took. The walk that we did covered 231 miles and, coincidentally, was completed 60 years to the day that AW began his Pennine Journey

For those that have not read the book it was never intended to be a walker's guide but is essentially a narrative story about a circular walk he did from Settle, North Yorkshire.  He travelled north through the countryside traversed by the rivers Wharfe, Ure and Swale, over the bleak moorland country around Tan Hill before encountering the valleys of the rivers Tees, Wear and Tyne.  Just beyond Hexham he came to Hadrian's Wall which he followed west for a while and then headed south crossing the Pennines from the high moorland town of Alston, passing through Appleby and Ingleton before returning to the start of his 'journey' at Settle. 

His description, in the book, of the route he took is at times sketchy and in view of the limited time at his disposal involved a lot of road walking – albeit minor ones.  Whilst in 1938 this would not have been so hazardous, it certainly would have been 60 years later.  From our collection of maps and walking guides we put together a revised 'Pennine Journey' using public footpaths. The walk takes in sections of other well known long distance paths such as the Pennine Way, Ribble Way, Dales Way, Hadrian's Wall Walk and the Westmorland Heritage Walk as well as AW's 'Walks in Limestone Country'

Following a suggestion that I made at the Society's AGM last year the committee felt that this could be a great participatory venture for members and a way of strengthening the Society.  They agreed that this should be a project for 2005 and volunteers are being sought to walk and produce a write up of their journey(s) to include detailed instructions on the route that they have followed.  To add interest, it would be helpful if photographs could be taken along the way noting particular points of interest etc. The resultant copy and pictures etc will then be edited in order to produce a booklet describing the entire walk which, hopefully, will then be published. 

Details of the suggested stages to be walked are set out below.

In the Society's first newsletter there was an item from David Maughan about a walk that he had done, from Settle to Hadrian's Wall, based on A Pennine Journey. He has very kindly provided all the information that he had put together as his contribution to this project.

David Pitt

If you are interested in being involved in the Pennine Journey Project

You can contact David by writing to:
David Pitt, Latrigg, Rosgill, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2QX
or telephone: 01931 716861