Undermanager
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Madrid (x2)
VDLP
Salvador
Primitivo
Finisterra / Muxia
Lana
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Hard surface? Hard surface? My memories are of peat bog and mire with occasional relief on the limestone country.I walked it about five years ago, and like you my pack was much heavier,, That and the amount of walking on hard surface left me with sore feet for a couple of months after. But on the bright side I did get my free half pint of beer in Kirk Yetholm. Good luck, and enjoy.
Hard surface? Hard surface? My memories are of peat bog and mire with occasional relief on the limestone country.
@Undermanager say hello to the Tan Hill Inn as you pass
Superb choice. If you’ve never been to Corsica before, I guarantee you’ll go again.prep for the gR20 next month.
There aren't any major retailers on the route. Hebden bridge probably is your best bet. There are options in saddleworth but that involves a detour. I normally go into Manchester I'm afraid so not much help. On the bright side looks like a lovely morning for you.....Thanks. For the comments. @Phil71. Is there an outdoor shop somewhere close you use? Have decided I need a new large rucksack so will go shopping when I can. ! This one is ancient and not really up to the job anymore. Hebden Bridge maybe?
I have to stop reading your posts, my feet are longing to go and I'm trying to find excuses for having 6 months off work so I can do walking in Scotland, England and Spain.
All the best to you and thanks for posting!
Really enjoying your walk, although I will never follow in your footsteps!
Like the above posters, I am enjoying your walk and yes, the photos are really good. Infrastructure is what makes it a tad stressful, clearly - maybe a forum member could appear out of the mist with an offer! Sorry, you would have to swim the Irish Sea to stay with us. Your frequent mention of youth hostels, and also of local pubs, I imagine you are asking for their knowledge of possibilities for lodgings? Might be cheaper to buy a new tent.Thanks. It's a great walk, no doubt about it, but really hard work compared to the Caminos I've done. Some of the stretches are not just long but involve lots of ups and downs, some steep, through terrible weather, driving rain and wind, and with soggy feet. At the end of a day, you are exhausted, and getting everything dry for the next day is a constant battle. The path is often poorly marked. I'm not sure how many people do this walk as there seems to be no system for logging who starts and finishes. I've met about four or five. It makes the Camino de la Lana look busy! The PW is not promoted or supported very well at all.
The biggest problem are the logistics. There are so few places to stay in some sections, if you don't carry a tent, and sometimes even finding a meal is hard work! The cost is just crazy. I've seen some people's plans where their two and a half week walk is costing them nearly three thousand pound in accommodation, taxi shuttles and food!! It's a walk for God's sake!
I'm trying to find somewhere to stay for the stage after Bellingham next Friday and beyond to finish the walk - bloody impossible so far! Not sure what to do.
Thanks, undermanager, for a lively armchair ramble . Your photos were also rather beautiful. I hope that beer was last night and not this morning!General musings on walking the Pennine Way.
1. The path is not generally marked out as well as e.g. a Camino, and in places is downright poor and misleading, although it is also adequate in many places. You will need a GPS track on ideally a GPS unit or your phone, or map and compass, or both. 99.9% of the time, however, I used my phone and maps.me. It's just so quick and easy, but shouldn't be relied on alone. I used the gpx file from https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/pennine-way/information, under Exploring the Trail. Get a weatherproof phone holder!
2. Best buy was the £1.00 pair of flip flops from pound stretchers. Brilliant, ridiculously light and perfect for evenings.
3. The Sawyer mini water filter was amazing and saved me carrying loads of extra heavy water each day. There were some long stretches without running water however so do your homework, check maps and ask before setting off for each stage.
4. I walked everyday in lycra cycle shorts, and kept a pair of lightweight long trousers for the evening. When the wind or rain became a problem during the day, I slipped on a pair of the cheapest ten quid overtrousers from Go Outdoors. The combination worked perfectly. Wearing trousers and overtrousers just didn't work; you got too hot and sweaty and trousers still ended up mucky and damp, which you then have to clean and dry when possible.
5. I was wild camping or using camp sites on many nights and didn't take a stove. This was a good move. The extra weight just to have a cup of tea or hot dehydrated meal was not worth it. Have your hot meals when in civilisation!
6. The cheap walking shoes I've been using for years (Karrimor Bodmin Weathertite iv) rather than leather boots were brilliant. They were mostly waterproof, when they did get soaking wet, I found they were still fine to walk in, and they dried quickly at night. These shoes only last for one or two long distance trips but are comfy, although I always buy Pro 11 Wellbeing ii inserts for them, to help fight off strains to foot muscles. I always have one size bigger than my feet. I also never bothered with gaiters. There are a lot of hills and mud on this walk. Having an extra two kilos of leather boot and gaiter on each foot is making a hard job much harder.
6. I used a Leviathan 300 down sleeping bag for camping and in some bunkhouses. It goes down to -10 deg C. It is really cold in many places at night, especially in places like the Cheviots and up Kinder Scout.
7. I hadn't used hostels in the UK for a decade. I used four YHA hostels, a couple of bunkhouses and a couple of independent hostels on this trip, apart from camping and B&Bs. They were all brilliant, friendly, social, good value and nearly all had all the facilities you could need, especially a drying room! Don't forget earplugs!
8. I used two lightweight cycling shirts and two lightweight fleeces as well as a quality windproof jacket. The ability to layer clothing was enough for me, even in the coldest conditions. Mostly, I just walked in a cycling shirt and the jacket.
9. I had one blister on this trip, but just wrapped the toe up in zinc oxide tape, which worked a treat.
10. The PW is pretty demanding but does remind you how stunning the wilder parts of England are. You have to do your homework with regards to where to stay and eat, as there are some sections where options are limited, expensive and have to be booked, or require the organisation of expensive taxis. It helps if there are two of you, or you are camping and can camp anywhere. There are plenty of places to wild camp in the many lonely parts of the walk, despite the silly laws in England regarding wild camping.
That's about it for this walk. Definitely put this one on your list. You won't regret it. Got to go now. Must start planning the next hike ......
Thanks for reading. Bye .......View attachment 64586View attachment 64587
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