I've just walked the Pennine Way!!

John Hume

07/06/2012 at 15:21

Got back Tuesday, thrilled to have completed it, gorgeous weather - even better scenery! Just cobbled together some photos from the walk (took over 900). Set off Sunday the 20th May completed it Sunday the 3rd June.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO325xjxZo8

Paddy Dillon

07/06/2012 at 16:09

I refuse to believe it's the Pennine Way!

Too many colourful pictures... too much blue sky... too much nice weather!

Actually... I bet you're glad you're not walking it now... with a week of rain forecast.

Seriously though... well done and you've every right to feel thrilled at completing it.

* Diddi * Im on Mars btw !!!

07/06/2012 at 16:31

Well done John

great shots and weather.

and wonder what the story is behind the bridge with two arches?

Nick the ex Mod

07/06/2012 at 16:33

Wow great weather, that brought back a few memories

Paddy Dillon

07/06/2012 at 16:40

* Didster * wrote (see)

...wonder what the story is behind the bridge with two arches?

In the days when no-one was in much of a rush, they made the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and built a little hump-back bridge over it, carrying a quiet road. Later, the road got busier, and the hump-back bridge wasn't up to the job, so they built another bridge on top of it and ironed out the gradients on the road, which is now the A59.

John Hume

07/06/2012 at 16:43

I couldn't believe it Paddy, I met people who had set off the previous week and got caught in some proper deluges, I had shorts & t-shirts on for 10 days. It rained one day solid from Slaggyford to Once Brewed and I was still grinning.

* Diddi * Im on Mars btw !!!

07/06/2012 at 16:47

Paddy Dillon wrote (see)

* Didster * wrote (see)
...wonder what the story is behind the bridge with two arches?
In the days when no-one was in much of a rush, they made the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and built a little hump-back bridge over it, carrying a quiet road. Later, the road got busier, and the hump-back bridge wasn't up to the job, so they built another bridge on top of it and ironed out the gradients on the road, which is now the A59.

Thanks Paddy somehow i knew you might know/respond

no longer the 'office manager'

07/06/2012 at 17:55

Well done John, it's on my list to do one day.

Paddy Dillon

07/06/2012 at 18:04

John... when you walked from Alston to Slaggyford, did you follow the Pennine Way, or the South Tyne Trail? I ask because I've followed both, but the last time I followed the Pennine Way, parts of it were completely overgrown with wild rhubarb, which suggested that everyone was walking the easier (and quicker) South Tyne Trail instead.

NickNick

07/06/2012 at 18:06

Great pictures and memories, thanks

John Hume

07/06/2012 at 18:41

Paddy, I only had the strip maps in the Tony Hopkins National trail guide to guide me and the Harvey 1:40000 strip maps (which didn't have enough detail to be of any use to me but had some usefull numbers) I think I know the section you mean though where the way crosses a metal footbridge beneath a viaduct then does a sharp left under the old railway and up towards Merry Knows. It was clear trail but a bit rough around the edges. Batey Shield & Greenriggs were a little awkward as the trail goes through the farmyard (not waymarked) and through the "garden" and over a ladderstile at the back of the property(at the latter) onto moorland where it becomes less clear but the way mark points in the general direction you need to be heading. I did talk to an aussie at once brewed who followed the south tyne trail and it ended up at a town (not on any of my maps) and spoke of a Sainsburys supermarket - not a Spar or a Co op - a Sainsburys!

Edited: 07/06/2012 at 18:42

John Hume

07/06/2012 at 18:51

no longer the 'office manager' wrote (see)

Well done John, it's on my list to do one day.

It was a great trip for me, so glad I did it met some really good people and the weather just capped it all. Next time I'll go North to South.

Paddy Dillon

07/06/2012 at 19:00

A Sainsbury's? He definitely followed the WHOLE of the South Tyne Trail. He ended up in Haltwhistle!

John Hume

07/06/2012 at 19:38

Paddy Dillon wrote (see)

A Sainsbury's? He definitely followed the WHOLE of the South Tyne Trail. He ended up in Haltwhistle!

Yeah that's the place. Dunno if it was the weather or not but I felt that section up until Greenhead was a bit of a let down. For a kick off the campsite shown at Slaggyford only accepted static vans and no backpackers (they did tell me about a farm with a tap & a toilet at Knarsdale which I was grateful of). Then the trail cuts left to meet a road across some rough ground at Lambley (the same road you could meet by following the Roman road you've just been walking on) The Batey Sheild/Greenriggs confusuion, and then what feels like a massive detour around the Blenkinsopp common area to get across the A69 to get into Greenhead. Could've been the weather but it felt like the place was deliberately obstructive when compared to other areas of the trail?

Paddy Dillon

07/06/2012 at 20:07

I think everyone remembers Blenkinsopp Common for all the wrong reasons!

08/06/2012 at 10:20

My memory of that area is the long plod off Cross Fell (my third trek across it over time always in poor weather, once in 4in snow) to Garrigill only to find the pub closed, seem to recall some weird 5 day licence, 6 days I had heard of elsewhere.

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