Day 5 of The Pennine Way

THE PENNINE WAY
Start - Edale, England
2 7 1 M I L E S
Finish - Kirk Yetholm, Scotland

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DAY 5 OF THE PENNINE WAY

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

STARTING POINT

Ponden reservoir near Haworth. (Grid Reference SD995371 on Ordinance Survey Map 103 (1:50,000))

FINISHING POINT

Thornton in Craven (Grid Reference SD908486 on Ordinance Survey Map 103 (1:50,000))

LENGTH OF DAY

12 Miles (19 Km)

ASCENT

1850 Ft (560 M)

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

DAY 5 SUMMARY

Long stretches of moorland, with some slightly rough areas, before connecting up with much more gentle field paths.

The route is quite undulating with 2 good climbs and 1 minor one packed into the 12 miles, but well made up for by the fact that it is a good scattering of small villages on route from where refreshments can be purchased.

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

HOW I FOUND DAY 5

A beautiful days (30th July 1995) walking over the moor with the maximum temperature slightly cooler than the last few days but still far from cold at 26 degrees. The walk although undulating was quite easy with equal amounts of uphill as downhill.

Throughout the day I noticed several strangely placed buildings about 12 by 6 foot in size, which we couldn't work out what they are for, although I now think they are either summer houses, grouse hunters or artists huts due to the very scenic nature of the moor and the positioning close to the small villages scattered all over the area.

The whole walk today was on moor lands, with lots of villages scattered all over the place, thus meaning you are rarely more than 2 miles from a village, with a village being in sight 90% of the time, which is a real motivator as it constantly makes you feel that you are going somewhere.

Pinhaw Beacon was the steepest climb of the day, but with only a 600ft change in height not something which was noticed to much. Incredibly nearing the summit we saw a lizard scuttling along the undergrowth which must prove how hot is has been for the last few weeks. A very rare sight for England in general I'd guess. Although I only saw the lizard for a few seconds it will properly stay in my memory for a long time.

From the summit there was only 3 miles to go, and they were all downhill on what I found to be a very easy path to walk. We finished the day at Earby Y.H.A which is about 1.5 miles off route.

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT DAY 5

From Ponden reservoir the Pennine way continues along a rough farm track over difficult terrain. After crossing two minor road, it leads on to Ickornshaw moor via a long but very steady climb that lasts for about 1.5 miles. After the slight climb the decent starts the real moor like conditions on which we will be the predominant feature for today. This decent is rather difficult until you get into your stride for today, but also is rather fun, and beautiful and gets my vote of being one of the most beautiful stretches of moor and on the Pennine way. .

From the decent things start to become a little easier, and predictable with constant views of the moor and the up and coming villages, such as Cowling, Middleton and Lothersdale.

For people who are not Pennine way walkers this area could be viewed as a disappointment if they want to get away from civilization for the day. From here to Ponden-in-Craven a road or a town can be seen for just about most of the time thus maybe giving the feeling of not getting away from reality completely. However, in contrast for Pennine way walkers this is properly the best day, as you are able to realize that walking doesn't have to be miles from nowhere, and can involve not going miles from civilization. As the above is the case and 5 roads and 3 villages have to be crossed or walked along there is very little to write about apart from the natural beauty of the area.

After descending three villages in four miles greets you and a choose will have to be made as to in which are you going to have lunch.

After you have done what you had wanted to do in either Cowling, or Middleton after a brief climb up Cowling hill or Lothersdale after a quick descent, there is one more climb to do for today. Up ahead is a quite road that is more like a farm road that leads you to Pinshaw Beacon.

The road is just like the footpath that started off day 4, in it being so full of nature, trees and plants.

At the top after a good climb to the summit you can look down into the valley below from which you have just climbed

After a slow decent you soon find your self on a minor, farm track type of road on which will take you to Earby youth hostel about 1.5 miles of route, about the only accommodation in the area, or you can continue on into Thornton in Craven where there are limited number of guest houses.

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

REFRESHMENTS

Hotels/ public houses at Ickornshaw and Lothersdale.

ACCOMMODATION

Guest houses at Thornton in Craven. Earby Youth hostel 1.5 miles (2.5 Km) off route.

Day 5 - Summary - Personal Report - Analysis - Facilities

Most Popular Next Links -
Day 6; Day 5 Maps; Day 5 Photos; P.W. Index Page; Index Page