24th April 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the official opening of England’s first National Trail. The original idea came from Tom Stephenson, a British journalist and keen walker, who wrote an article in 1935 asking for a long distance walk in England – a ‘long green trail’. It took another 30 years, but Tom – by then secretary of the Ramblers’ Association - was there on Malham Moor at the opening ceremony on 24 April 1965. The trail was the result of a real change in how people came to value and use the countryside in the early decades of the twentieth century. This page gives information about the events that are happening along the trail throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary.
Throughout 2025 there will be a rolling exhibition along the trail. This exhibition explores the many ways in which the Pennine Way National Trail inspires us.
Where can you see the exhibition?
Dales Countryside Museum 1st February to 5th May
Hebden Bridge Town Hall 9th May to 31st May
Malham National Park Visitor Centre 6th June to 29th June
Bowlees Visitor Centre 2nd July to 31st August
The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre 12th September to 2nd November
Find out more: A Trail of Inspiration Exhibition - February 2025 - November 2025
The first stop for the exhibition - from 1st February to 5th May
Find out moreFind out more: A Trail of Inspiration Exhibition at the Dales Countryside Museum
Bookings open Saturday 1st March.
From Saturday 26th April – Monday 5th May. Hike high moorland and forests with the spirit of the Border Reivers and a frontier of Roman Empire for company. Myths and legends abound among wild country and lonely loughs. Quite simply, the Pennine Way is Britain’s oldest and most iconic National Trail – a 268-mile trek along the spine of England.
Find out more: Haltwhistle Walking Festival - Celebrate the Pennine Way’s 60th Anniversary
Join us to celebrate 60 years since the official opening of the Pennine Way National Trail. This circular walk connects with the section of Pennine Way through Marsden Moor National Trust Estate. After a steep climb up from Butterley Reservoir, enjoy far-reaching views from the ridge before winding back along the old packhorse route and Huddersfield Narrow canal.
Some may find the route challenging as it includes sections of narrow, uneven paths.
More details coming soon to National Trust website
Find out more: 27th April – 10.30 – Pennine Way, What a Diamond! (hard, 10 miles) National Trust Marsden Moor
Celebrating 60 years of the Pennine Way, come and walk some of the route with our Rangers and learn about the history of the countryside access movement, Right to Roam, Common Land and your access rights on the moor. More details coming soon to National Trust website
Find out moreFind out more: Saturday 7th June – 11.00 – Pennine Way at 60, Access for All (easy, 3 miles) National Trust Marsden Moor
10.30am (4 hours) 9 miles, level 2, Steven and Janet Hutchinson.
Start: Middleton in Teesdale, in front of the memorial fountain, DL12 8LX . GR NY 948255. OS map Ex OL31.
Local history, packed lunch, price of walk £4.
Find out more: Durham County Council Sunday 9 March - The Pennine Way and Low Force
From April to October explore the beauty of the vast openness through which the Pennine Way snakes north ‘between Tees and Eden,’ to Cross Fell and along the ancient Maiden Way through Alston and the South Tyne valley on its way to Hadrian’s Wall and ‘the great heaving swells and deep-set glens of the Cheviots' as described by Tom Stephenson.
Find out moreFind out more: Join Hexham Ramblers on one of our guided circular walks - just look for the Pennine Way 60th Anniversary logo on our website.
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Britain's first long-distance trail, The Pennine Way, Folk musician Johnny Campbell is walking it with his guitar and performing shows most nights. 17 shows, 19 days, 268 miles. He'll be joined in Horton in Ribblesdale by Wainwright prize-winning author Amy-Jane Beer who'll be reading excerpts from her current and upcoming book featuring the Yorkshire Dales. The night features an opening slot from Jack Roscoe.
Find out moreFind out more: Johnny Campbell - The Pennine Way Tour
THURSDAY 24th APRIL 10.30 am
(A guided walk into Malham along the Pennine Way leaves Airton at 9.00 am)
At the National Park Visitor Centre grounds, Malham, North Yorkshire
On 24th April 1965, Tom Stephenson came to Malham to launch the official opening of the Pennine Way. Sixty years later to the day, we return to the village for an outdoor celebration of Britain’s first long-distance path. You can join a three-mile guided walk into Malham from Airton along a section of the Pennine Way, arriving in Malham at 10.30 am for speeches, a sing song, and the chance to find out more about our new walking trail linking Tom Stephenson’s Lancashire home and Pendle Hill with the Pennine Way.
This event is organised by the volunteers of the Friends of Clarion House and the Pendle Radicals. Further information on this event will be placed on the Friends of Clarion House and the Two Toms Trail Facebook pages.
Find out moreFind out more: The Two Toms Trail and the Pennine Way at 60
SUNDAY 27th APRIL 11.30 am - 15.30 pm
At the Clarion House, Jinny Lane, Roughlee, Lancashire, BB12 9LL
A celebration of Pendle Hill’s associations with two of the 20th century’s most inspirational countryside campaigners - Tom Stephenson and Thomas Arthur Leonard. Join us for a traditional Sunday at the last Clarion House in the country as we celebrate the life and achievements of two men who shaped the Pennine Way, our National Parks and access to mountains and moorlands. There will be guest speakers, free guided walks along the ‘Two Toms Trail’, a good old-fashioned ramblers’ sing-a-long and a look at the work of the Pennine Paths Preservation Society (who surveyed part of the original Pennine Way route for Tom Stephenson). There is a new children’s playground to enjoy, so families are most welcome. Tom Stephenson’s push-bike will even be making a guest appearance!
This event is organised by the volunteers of the Friends of Clarion House and the Pendle Radicals. For more information on the day’s itinerary visit the Friends of Clarion House and the Two Toms Trail Facebook pages.
Find out moreFind out more: The Two Toms Trail and the Pennine Way at 60
11th, 19th, 27th March, 4th, 12th, 18th, 22nd April 2025
Come and chat all things Pennine Way with Sally, one of the contributors to the exhibition, and find out about how and why she made her pieces by watching her work.
Find out more: Meet the Artist days at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes - The Trail of Inspiration Exhibition, 60 Years of the Pennine Way.
March 21 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Join Hannah Kay for this Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum talk:
Pennine Way : A Trail of Inspiration – talk and exhibition tour
No booking required
Donations welcomed
Find out moreFind out more: Pennine Way : A Trail of Inspiration – talk and exhibition tour
April 22nd and August 19th 2025
The Pennine Way and River Ure walk is approximately 5 miles in length.
This is a moderate walk from the Dales Countryside Museum along the Pennine way to Hardraw and then across fields to the village of Appersett.
A short walk along a minor road leads to a delightful viaduct which previously carried the old Hawes to Garsdale railway across a gorge containing the Widdale Beck.
Groups often abseil from this viaduct.
Passing under the viaduct the walk route crosses fields to reach the A684 which is followed briefly to reach a footpath beside the River Ure which is then followed back to Haylands Bridge and thence to the DCM.
A certain level of fitness is required as there are some gradual ascents and descents but nothing difficult.
All the stiles are easy to negotiate.
11am – 3pm
Find out moreFind out more: Guided Walk – The Pennine Way & River Ure
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