Author Topic: Pennine Way  (Read 6617 times)

Batesy

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Pennine Way
« on: August 07, 2012, 10:41:47 AM »
Hi,

It's probably a bit passe nowadays but my son has concluded that he wants to undertake this challenge and it seems my lot is to accompany him!

Neither of us could really afford the time to walk it in one go (~3 weeks) (nor are fit enough to run it over 2.5 days like the record holder! :o) so are looking to split the route up into 3-4 chunks.

We have just started looking at the planning and there is an awful lot to do (the nav, kit, accomodation, travel to-from intermediate points etc).

It strikes me, however, that so many people have already done this that there must be already existing plans that, if people are prepared to share them, would save us an awful lot of time! I have done some internet trawling (and bought the new, official PW handbook) but it's very time consuming too.

So..if anyone on here has any info, advice, hints/tips they are prepared to share it would be very welcome!

thanks in advance.
Steve

boogyman

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2012, 08:29:26 PM »
Hi Steve,

I have just checked on the wikiloc forum, and apparently one of the (about 500K) users has walked the Pennine way in september last year. He recorded the GPS track of each of his 17 stages, and added the waypoints from the Pennine Way Trailblazer guide to each of them.

For your convenience, I have copied the 17 links to those tracks here-below. You can view them by clicking each link, but you must be a signed-in wikiloc user in order to download the files with track & waypoints. If you do not want to register (which is free, of course), I can download them for you. Just let me know.

Best regards and good luck with your preps !
Chris.

01 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2102879
02 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2102892
03 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2102903
04 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2102919
05 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103021
06 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103123
07 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103138
08 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103152
09 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103179
10 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103198
11 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103392
12 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103434
13 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103458
14 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103472
15 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103490
16 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103508
17 http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2103544

Batesy

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2012, 09:21:30 PM »
Wow, thanks Chris!

I have never heard of wikilocs to be honest. Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to seek out and provide the links (also the offer to download)!

One of the biggest challenges I'm finding is nothing to do with navigation or route planning as such but more the logistics of it all (i.e. as we plan to do this in several chunks, where to start/stop each leg so there is either local accomodation or there is access to transport (ideally the rail network) that fits with our time available.

It's interesting to see the daily terminal points this person used - I'm guessing the logic was to stop in the vicinity of a road - one ends where the track crosses the M62! Perhaps someone volunteered to drop off for/collect after each leg? They definitely don't coincide with what I have seen used so far (ie stopping where accomodation is eg Youth Hostels). I'll check them out more throughly and use what I find in my decision making. If I decide to download then I will sign-up to the Forum.

500k have done the PW eh? Well, it's not my idea by my son's so I guess a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do etc!  ::)

Thanks again for your help and best wishes.
cheers,
Steve

Hugh Westacott

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2012, 06:10:25 AM »
Steve

When planning long-distance walks, I've found http://traveline.info/ invaluable. It lists all public transport services in Great Britain and has a journey planner function. I'm often surprised how extensive bus services are.

I've walked the Pennine Way six times but the last occasion was thirty years ago (I remember hearing the news that the Argentinians had surrendered when I was near Lothersdale) so I'm unable to help with up to date information.

There were sections (especially Kinder, Bleaklow and the Cheviots) that crossed miles of horrendous bogs, but I'm told that the condition of the path has been greatly improved since I last walked it and is now fit for cissies!

Hugh


boogyman

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2012, 07:04:58 AM »
500k have done the PW eh? Well, it's not my idea by my son's so I guess a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do etc!  ::)

Oops no, what I meant is that there are 500K members on the wikiloc forum...

Best regards,
Chris.

Batesy

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2012, 09:12:22 AM »
Thanks Hugh, I will give Traveline a check later.

I don't know about the Cheviot but you are correct about the Dark Peak (Kinder, Bleaklow and Black Hill)...in the 'good' old days they were covered in areas of horrendous bogs (and of course they still are, part of the attraction that keeps me going back!) but nowadays, due to increasing erosion and the general poor condition of the peat layer, 'they' have laid what I can only describe as pavements along long sections of the Pennine way. So now you are likely to encounter views like this as you go...
http://www.luphen.org.uk/images/2004/2004-08/2004-08-07-131215.jpg

Now I understand the need to preserve what we have (there is a whole discussion thread possible here!) and the ‘pavements’ make walking and certainly navigation easier but I feel it’s a bit of a shame and these “improvements” have definitely taken away a lot of the charm of the place for me (the isolation, the mystery, the fear of impending death!   ;D).

There is another change to the PW that has been made (also in the name of preservation). The original path used to leave Edale straight up Grindsbrook and then launch you directly over the plateau, through the horrendous bogs, in an attempt to find the Downfall somewhere on the other side. There always was an alternative path via Upper Booth which took you up Jacobs Ladder onto the plateau but then followed the edge path around to Kinder (better for the ‘cissies’ ;)).

This latter, the original alternative, is now the only official route and the Grindsbrook route has gone from the guides. I don’t mind this too much as it means that the number of intrepid Pennine Wayfarers who set off each year with high hopes only to abandon the quest after a nasty first day of bog-trotting is reduced... and of course it leaves more of the inner-plateau free for those souls who actually enjoy wading around in the quagmire! :o

@Chris – ahh, sorry, misunderstood! (wouldn’t surprise me if that many folk had attempted it though!)

Cheers,
Steve

Callum

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2012, 05:30:10 PM »
Looks like you have enough here Steve, if you are looking for places to stay Iam happy to post them for you :)

Batesy

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Re: Pennine Way
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2012, 07:48:27 PM »
Thanks Callum,

We've not finalised yet where we will be needing to stay (one thing is clear, we will break the route down into several chunks as doing the whole route in one go requires more time - thus hols - than we can afford, thus we will be travelling home at some points where accomodation might normally be required).

If you have experience of where is good to stay (or otherwise!) I'd be pleased to benefit from that in either a post or an email if you are happy to share.

cheers,
Steve