Virtual Pennine Way Challenge

Take on Britain's oldest and toughest long-distance trail from wherever you already train. The Pennine Way runs roughly 397 km (about 247 miles) from Edale in the Peak District north along the spine of the Pennines through the Yorkshire Dales, Cross Fell and the North Pennines to Kirk Yetholm just inside the Scottish border. Route Rally turns every synced walk, run or ride into progress along this demanding, storied trail.

  • Route: Pennine Way
  • Distance: 396.7 km
  • Elevation gain: 8200 m
  • Britain's toughest long-distance trail
  • Best for: Longer rallies of your own for serious walkers and runners, and multi-month endurance goals

Planning your challenge

A runner averaging 40 km/week finishes in around ten weeks; a walker at 30 km/week takes roughly thirteen weeks, and a cyclist at 150 km/week completes it in about three weeks.

Long by Route Rally distance bands, and the longest and most demanding of the English national trails. Best for committed walkers and runners who want a serious multi-month goal.

Works well for serious walkers and runners who want the benchmark long-distance challenge in England and do not mind a goal that takes months to complete.

Create your own rally for your own Pennine Way target, solo or with a club, workplace or group of friends sharing one leaderboard.

Why this route

  • The Pennine Way is Britain's oldest designated long-distance trail, opened in 1965 and running about 397 km (247 miles) along the backbone of England from the Peak District to the Scottish border.
  • As a virtual challenge you cover the distance in your own time, with walks, runs and rides from anywhere pushing you north along the Pennine spine.
  • It is widely regarded as England's hardest national trail, with sustained high moorland, long stretches of bog and few easy miles, which makes the virtual version a serious goal.
  • The distance suits a multi-month target: at a consistent 40 km a week running, you reach Kirk Yetholm in about ten weeks.
  • Finishing the Pennine Way, even virtually, carries genuine weight as an endurance achievement in the long-distance walking world.

Highlights

  • Start at Edale in the Peak District, the traditional southern gateway to the trail
  • Cross Bleaklow, Kinder Scout and the high moors of the south Pennines
  • Pass through the Yorkshire Dales and along the summit of Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines
  • Finish at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, just over the border from Northumberland

Common questions

How does my activity actually count?

Connect your activity tracker to Route Rally and every kilometre you log adds up automatically. Your marker moves along the route as new activities sync, with nothing to upload and nothing to enter by hand.

Do I have to live near the route?

Not at all. Walk, run or ride wherever you usually train. The route is a virtual target, so your local roads, trails and weekend hikes all push you further north along the Pennines.

How long does the Pennine Way take to walk?

At 30 km a week it takes roughly thirteen weeks, or about three months. Build to 50 km a week and you can finish it in around eight weeks. You set the end date when you create the rally, so the pace is yours.

Is the Pennine Way the hardest national trail?

It is widely regarded as the hardest in England, combining its length with sustained high moorland, navigation challenges and stretches of bog that slow real-world walkers considerably. As a virtual challenge the difficulty is the time and consistency required to cover the distance.