If you think about trails that have changed how people see the outdoors in the United Kingdom, probably the first that comes to mind is the Pennine Way. In 2025, this popular trail turned 60 years old, and people from all over the world visited it to walk its many trails, and this upcoming year won’t be different, as one of the most iconic trails in the UK, it’s expected to welcome more than 15,000 visitors by the end of the year.
If you love fresh air, big skies, and a challenge on foot, this trail is for you. It’s not only packed with history, amazing histories, and more.
What the Pennine Way Is and Why It Matters
There’s a chance that you’re not familiar with this trail or any long-distance hikes other than the world-renowned West Highland Way (a popular walking holiday in Scotland). If that’s the case, the first thing you should know is that the Pennine Way is not just a long walk. It’s a route that stretches roughly 268 miles from the Peak District in Derbyshire up to the Scottish Borders at Kirk Yetholm.
One of its biggest draws is how you get to see a different face of Britain’s wild north, its hills, valleys, waterfalls, and moorland, with all that’s involved in between, like old towns, bars, and people.
Another thing that makes it highly relevant is the fact that when it opened on 24 April 1965, it became Britain’s first official National Trail. That meant for the first time, there was a long, planned route that people could walk without worrying about where they could and couldn’t go.
Before the Pennine Way, Hiking Wasn’t for Everyone
Thanks to popular trails like Camino de Santiago, which is a walking holiday in Spain, today, long-distance hiking feels “normal”, and there’s a massive adoption with trails getting better, maintained with signposts, guidebooks, and more.
While that’s a good thing nowadays, sixty years ago, none of that was guaranteed. In the early 20th century, much of Britain’s countryside was privately owned, and thanks to that, access was very limited, and walking freely across hills and moorland wasn’t a right; it was often seen as trespassing.
How the Trail Began
At least that was the case until Tom Stephenson, who was a journalist and passionate walker, started to notice that nature should be accessible, not guarded. Back in the 1930s, he wrote about the idea of a long path that allowed people to walk over the hill and moors from south to north without issues, a “long green trail” across the heart of the country.
Yet, it took more than 30 years before his idea became real. Stephenson and others had to push through legal and social barriers to secure public access to land that had been closed off to walkers. As you can imagine, this wasn’t an easy task, especially when debates over land access and rights of way were a source of fights.
Then in 1949 the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act gave legal support to trails like this, but it was not until 1965 that the Pennine Way was formally marked out and opened, becoming the first walking holiday in England and the UK.
Why the Pennine Way Changed Everything
Here’s the thing most people miss.
The Pennine Way didn’t just give hikers a route; it actually created a blueprint, and as soon as it existed, everything changed:
- Local economies adapted to walkers.
- Guidebooks and trail culture grew.
- Conservation gained public support.
- Long-distance hiking became mainstream.
Soon, other trails followed, and even specialized travel agencies started to show up, like Orbisways, which takes care of everything for you (from booking places to stay to moving your luggage from town to town)
How the Pennine Way Shaped Modern Hiking Culture
Before the Pennine Way, hiking was often informal and fragmented. After it? We saw:
- Clear waymarking standards
- Long-distance trail planning
- Community-supported accommodation
- A rise in walking holidays
- A national conversation about access and conservation
It also helped pave the way for today’s National Trails network, which now includes iconic routes across England and Wales.
Conclusion
You might be thinking, “Okay, but why does this matter now?” and the truth is that, because the Pennine Way reminds us of something essential: access to nature and countryside is for everyone. That’s why even sixty years on, the Pennine Way isn’t just a line on a map; people are still falling in love with it.
If the idea of walking a historic trail like this sparks something in you, the team at Orbis Ways is here to help you make it real. With thoughtful planning, friendly guidance, and great service, they turn a legendary route into your next adventure.
