I walked the Pennine Way in August 1970 at the age of 16 with a school friend (The Guardian view on the Pennine Way: a pioneer of long-distance soul therapy, 9 April). Wainwright’s guide and a stack of Ordnance Survey maps were in our metal-frame rucksacks. Kitted out from the Army & Navy store, clumpy leather boots and no Gore-Tex. We did it in 21 days, which would be scoffed at in these more macho times, but the experience was formative and transformative.
An abiding memory was our encounter with the M62, still under construction. The Pennine Way footbridge soared over a boggy cutting, but had barbed wire at each end and no handrails. We slithered down the bare earth cutting and dodged bulldozers to get to the other side. The majesty of the traverse of Blackstone Edge soon put that behind us. I hope many people are inspired to walk it on this 60-year celebration. So many high points and so few lows.
Paul Ince
Smalldale, Derbyshire
I walked the Pennine Way in 1998 with one of my best friends. We were medical students at the same time and she later emigrated to the US. I think the Pennine Way is one of our best national trails and we completed it in that year. Sadly, she died two years later, at just 58.
In one of our last conversations, she said to me: “Remember all the good times we have shared, especially the Pennine Way.” I have that wonderful memory among other happy ones to sustain me through our current times, when we are bombarded with depressing news.
We all need to concentrate, if we can, on better memories and events to combat current mental health problems and sadness.
Dr Angela Hilton
Altrincham, Greater Manchester
I’m very pleased that you celebrate the Pennine Way, but you are mistaken to imply that Chaucer’s pilgrims went on a tough endurance test. They didn’t walk, they ambled from London to Canterbury on horseback, covering the 56 miles in a leisurely four days.
Tony Hufton
Norwich
