Walking

The North Pennines offers a huge variety of walking experiences in a nationally designated landscape full of character and features to enrich your visit!

© Natural England\Barry Stacey

From the challenges of the open moorland landscape of the fells to the more intimate feel of the dales if you're into walking you'll love the many opportunities that the North Pennines offers!

Network of Routes

The North Pennines is a great walking destination. There is everything from challenging long distance routes like the Pennine Way National Trail to gentle riverside rambles. You'll find a good network of Public Rights of Way throughout each dale, integrated with the expansive rights of open access.

Leaflets and Guides

The AONB Partnership produces a wide variety of themed, self-guided, walks booklets and leaflets. There are also a large number of walking guides produced by others, available for the area. A good way to find out about good walks is to contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to where you are planning to visit. Click on the link below to find out where the TICs are in and around the North Pennines. Alternately you can access a good selection of downloadable guides to suit all interests by following the 'Walking Guides' link in the 'Related' box below.

In this section

South Tyne Trail

The South Tyne Trail follows the route of the River South Tyne from the source to Haltwhistle. Open to walkers and cyclists it is almost 23 miles (36.5km) long and is a fantastic two-day experience in the North Pennines

Updated: 18/06/09

South Tyne Trail

Open Access

Walking on access land is a very different experience to following Public Rights of Way, principally because you are able to make up your own route and explore freely

Updated: 26/04/10

Open Access

Dogs in the North Pennines

Please keep dogs under close control at all times. The North Pennines is thought to host up to 22,000 pairs of breeding wading birds. These birds nest on the ground and are therefore extremely vulnerable to disturbance by dogs. Also in the spring time moorland sheep are lambing - another reason to be careful with your dog

Updated: 28/11/07

Dogs in the North Pennines

Warcop Training Area

Warcop Training Area covers approximately 24,000 acres (9,715 hectares), of which more than half is MoD freehold land, with the balance being held on lease or by licence. Much of the Training Area falls within the AONB boundary

Published: 17/04/08

Warcop Training Area

Isaac's Tea Trail

Walk in the footsteps of the legendary tea seller and fund raiser Isaac Holden, discovering glorious dales and crossing wild moors with stunning views across the North Pennines.

Updated: 09/06/09

Isaac's Tea Trail

Wainwright's Pennine Journey

The Pennine Journey is a challenging 247 mile circular walk - based on Alfred Wainwright's 1938 expedition to Hadrain's Wall and back from Settle in the Yorkshire Dales.

Published: 16/06/10

Wainwright's Pennine Journey