New Pennine Way Site Hits Web

Blimey, how things move on eh? When I were a lad, t'only way to find information about Pennine Way were in t'book by that fellah Wainwright with funny handwritten gobbledy gook.

Of course now we're in the technological wonderland of the 21st Century, it's all gone high tech with a brand new web site from the Countryside Agency aimed at providing - and we quote - 'a one-stop shop of all the information needed to prepare for the walk, from route map to accommodation guide.'

And it's not half bad: there's an excellent accommodation directory organised in stages along the Way, though no mention of campsites, a downloadable PDF guide to public transport on the route and even an online route map split into 19 sections and showing the route very clearly - that's 'clearly' as in a big, fat yellow line. The contours are a bit vague though and you'll still need a proper OS map and, for most people, a guidebook as well.

Other neat features include an option to send off for a free completer's certificate - not eligible there, we got stuck in the mud when we realised the entire routes was uphill - and an online slide show with some beautiful shots from along the walk.

It's one of those sites that looks at first glimpse like it might be a triumph of aesthetics over useful information, but thankfully that's not the case and there is some useful stuff on there.

Anyway, don't take our word for it, check out the site.