50 photos to celebrate 50 years of the Pennine Way

View from High Cup Nick on the Pennine Way

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Britain’s oldest National Trail, the Pennine Way. The 268-mile route was launched after walker and journalist Tom Stephenson wrote an article in 1935, saying that Britain needed ‘a long green trail’ like the Appalachian Trail in America. After 30 years of lobbying and hard work, the Pennine Way was opened on April 24 1965, spawning another 14 National Trails around the country.

To celebrate the anniversary, I walked the Cumbrian leg, 34 miles from Langdon Beck to Alston, to write an article for The Independent. Guided by some of the lovely folk from Penrith Ramblers Association, I had a few scrambles up rocky boulders and some tiring climbs (all while laden down with a Duke of Edinburgh-style backpack), but it was well worth taking the hike.

Here are 50 of my favourite pictures from the trip, one for every year that the trail has been open.

The Pennine Way turns 50

Setting off from Langdon Beck

By the River Tees

Langdon Beck Youth Hostel also turns 50 this year

Room with a view at Langdon Beck Youth Hostel

Luckily there were none of these

Beside the Tees

Stones from Lancashire Cotton Mills pave the boggiest areas

Hiking along the Tees

Cauldron Snout

Cow Green Reservoir

The long road to High Cup Nick

A winding road beside a firing range

High Cup Nick

Nichol Chair

Straight line of a Cumbrian stone wall

The Stag Inn, Dufton

Crossing a stone bridge after leaving Dufton

Map checking with Sue Tomlinson

Sue's notes from her Pennine Way trip in the seventies

A water logged shake hole

Heading to Cross Fell

Rocky, barren trail to Cross Fell

At the Cross Fell summit

Sue sledding down from Cross Fell

Greg's hut, a respite for walkers

Walking from Cross Fell to Garrigill

Beneath the bridge at Alston

View from the top of Cauldron Snout

Argo cats for crossing the boggy terrain

Dufton green

Harry sledding down Cross Fell

View from a shoe, High Cup Nick

Rambling on the Pennine Way

The steam train to Alston

All aboard the South Tynedale steam train

'England's last wilderness'

Gorge crossing before High Cup Nick

Pennine Way residents

View from High Cup Nick

Leaving High Cup for Dufton

A cairn on Cross Fell

Sheltering from the wind at lunch

Picnic spot

Cumbria leg completed

The Eden Valley

Walking 'the backbone of England'

The Pennine Way

The gorge

The Pennine Way