HILLY, windswept and often remote, the Pennine Way takes in some of Britain’s most spectacular upland landscape on its journey from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.

The route was originally inspired by walker and writer Tom Stephenson, whose article ‘Wanted: A Long Green Trail’ was published in the Daily Herald 80 years ago.

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Three decades later, the Pennine Way with its peaty bogs and scenic valleys was designated by the Countryside Agency as the very first National Trail – officially opening half a century ago on April 24, 1965.

Walkers are to trek the entire 268 miles in a day on April 25 by choosing one of 50 circular walks as part of the Walk the Way in a Day celebrations.

Fellwalker Alfred Wainwright played a major part in popularising the long-distance trek, which takes ‘end-to-enders’ 16 days or more to complete.

His Pennine Way Companion, published by the Lancashire Telegraph’s sister paper Westmorland Gazette in 1968, established the then sometimes-pathless walk in detail and became a bible for Pennine Wayfarers.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“The book was designed to be read from south to north, starting at the back of the book and working forwards,” explained Chris Sainty, chairman of the Pennine Way Association.

AW had a surprise for his readers at the end of their walk: “Arrangements have been made with the Border Hotel at Kirk Yetholm for bona fide Pennine Wayfarers who have completed the walk in a single journey to be supplied with a congratulatory pint (of beer or lemonade, NOT whisky – and one only, mind you!) at the author’s expense. Just say ‘Charge it to Wainwright’. Cheers!”

For the 1,500 to 2,000 walkers who stride the full length each year (acoustic pads buried underground trigger automated counters) the pretty village of Dufton is a welcome sight at the end of day 10.

Cumbria Tourism sets the scene: “Cumbria’s section takes you through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, calling at High Cup Nick, a deep chasm in the Pennine fellside, with High Cup Gill winding hundreds of feet below, known as England’s Grand Canyon.

“After a brief respite in the ancient village of Dufton, the serious climbing begins up all 2,930 feet of Cross Fell, the highest point on the entire route and in the Pennines.”

Before walkers set out for Cross Fell, and its recently restored dry-stone shelter, a refuge from the fierce north-easterly Helm Wind, they can enjoy the warm hospitality of Dufton.

For Wendy Swinbank of Brow Farm B&B, “near enough 99 per cent” of her bookings this year are Pennine Way walkers. “If they’re doing the full length, I’ve been known to wash a load of washing, get it dry and ready for next day,” said Wendy.

Simon Davies, manager of Dufton YHA, said: “The majority of days we have a Pennine Way walker,” while John Geary, of Bongate House, Appleby, said: “We’ve got about 15 rooms booked up to now for walkers. It’s a lot.”

Matthew Bailes, landlord of the Stag Inn, Dufton, also welcomes many a Pennine Wayfarer with a fireside pint and hearty meal.

For Annette Schofield, of family travel firm Brigantes, the route makes up one-third of her business, in booking B&Bs and transferring walkers’ bags.

“It’s very, very, very, very, very important,” said Annette, who asked if she’s done the Pennine Way says: “I’d like to but I can’t get a day off, never mind 18.”

Chris Sainty, Pennine Way Association chairman, predicts “an uplift” of walkers in the 50th birthday year, with “people that did it in the 60s quite keen to do it for old times’ sake.”

The association is inviting walkers to upload their early photos to a Flickr account.

Meanwhile, the Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes is hosting an artistic celebration of the Pennine Way until April 26. And walkers from across the country are to trek the entire 268 miles in a day on April 25 by choosing one of 50 circular walks.

There has long been speculation about Wainwright’s personal thoughts on the Pennine Way thanks to the closing words of his Companion guidebook: “You won’t come across me anywhere along the Pennine Way. I’ve had enough of it.”

Wainwright’s friend Ron Scholes, 85, often visited AW and his wife Betty at their Kendal home, and he firmly believes the comment was tongue-in-cheek.

Long-distance walker David Pitt agrees. Writing in the Wainwright Society’s magazine, he says some people have interpreted the words as dislike, adding: “On the face of it, this view seems reasonable but it is, I would suggest, a superficial one which ignores AW’s character and his, at times, mischievous and tongue-in-cheek sense of humour.”