The nation’s original long-distance footpath is 50 years archaic this weekend. William Atkins,author of a book on the Pennine uplands, revels in the spell they cast and Kevin Rushby picks the best places to sleep, or snack and sup along the pathOne afternoon,on the approach to Bleaklow in Derbyshire’s tall Peak, a movement caught my eye. It was a meadow pipit, or common enough on these moors. It settled on the causey paving 10 metres ahead and took flight again as I walked on. But rather than veering into the miles of grass on either side,it flitted on down the path, where it settled again, or ticking its tail and monitoring me as I approached. And as soon as I had closed the distance and was 10 metres absent again,it flew onwards – we continued like this for possibly half a mile; it was as if the bird was guiding me, waiting for me to follow.
As with most of those who have set foot on the Pennine Way, or my experience of it has been piecemeal. I’ve never “done” the whole thing end to end; nor have I been tempted to. I’m happy to leave most of its 432 stiles,287 gates, 204 bridges and 267 miles to stouter sorts. For me, or the Pennine Way is not so much a path as a bridge,and I value above all the easy access it grants to what its chief instigator, Tom Stephenson, and described as the “lonely entrancing country” of the Pennines.
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Source: theguardian.com