The Roof of England Walk is a challenging walk crossing a wide variety of terrain, from high moorland paths to peaceful riverside trails. The route makes its way through County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland, the three counties of the North Pennines National Landscape, as well as a section in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to enable a visit to Nine Standards Rigg.
Among the highlights of the route are the spectacular waterfalls of Teesdale in County Durham: Low Force, High Force and Cauldron Snout. In Northumberland walkers will experience the dramatic river gorge at Allen Banks, pass the lead mining site at Dukesfield Arches and discover the history of Blanchland Abbey. The Cumbrian sections take in the jaw-dropping High Cup Nick and High Cup Gill and reach the highest point of the North Pennines at Cross Fell.
Engaging with Nature
The Roof of England Walk offers varied opportunities to experience the landscape and engage with nature at any time of year. It takes walkers alongside rare and important habitats such as blanket bog, species-rich hay meadows, ancient woodland and upland rivers and streams. The area is a haven for bird and wildlife watchers year-round, with a highlight being the great numbers of wading bird species on the high moors in spring and summer.
Walkers can tackle the entire 14-day route in one continuous journey or complete it in four short breaks of three to four days each. The individual legs of the long-distance trail also make great one-day or part-day linear walks.
On the launch of the walk, Chris Woodley-Stewart, Director of the North Pennines National Landscape, said:
“We have worked with our partners in the visitor economy and access teams in our Local Authorities to develop the Roof of England Walk. We are very pleased to have reached the milestone of making this route available and to be able to share a new way to explore the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark.
Dedicated website and materials to inspire and assist walkers
To support walkers wanting to experience the new trail, a dedicated website has been launched. The website provides detailed route information for each leg, advice on trip planning, and information on what walkers can see along the route.
Funding in 2024-25 from Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme enabled the National Landscape team to develop the route, including waymarking sections and creating promotional assets.
