Discover quiet walks in the North Pennines. Explore peaceful hiking routes, remote landscapes and uncrowded trails in Northern England.
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If you’re used to busy trails, full car parks, and summits with queues, the North Pennines feel like a reset.
This is a different kind of hiking. Big skies, long ridgelines, and stretches where you might not see another person all day.
No major crowds, no obvious “must-do” routes—just space to walk at your own pace.
In the North Pennines, quiet usually means:
Quiet doesn’t mean easy—it often means you’re a bit more on your own.
Wide, open areas with very few people.
Compared to places like the Lake District, it’s noticeably quieter.
A different kind of beauty—less dramatic, more expansive.
You’re not stuck following one popular route.
Distance: 12–16km
Time: 5–7 hours
Route Type: Out-and-back or circular
Difficulty: Moderate–Challenging
Despite being the highest point in the Pennines, it’s far less visited than comparable peaks elsewhere.
A long, steady climb across open moorland (upland terrain with grass and peat).
Huge, uninterrupted views across the Pennines—this is all about scale.
Distance: 10–12km
Time: 4–6 hours
Route Type: Circular
Difficulty: Moderate
It’s known, but still far less crowded than similar dramatic landscapes.
Gradual approach across open terrain leading to a sudden, dramatic edge.
A classic U-shaped valley—one of the most striking views in the North Pennines.
Distance: 8–12km
Time: 3–5 hours
Route Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
Often overlooked despite easy access.
A steady climb, sometimes following a service road.
Expansive views across the Pennines and beyond.
Distance: 4–6km
Time: 2–3 hours
Route Type: Circular
Difficulty: Moderate
Smaller and often skipped for bigger peaks nearby.
A short but steep climb up a distinctive cone-shaped hill.
Wide views over the Eden Valley and surrounding hills.
Distance: 6–15km
Time: 2–6 hours
Route Type: Linear or circular
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Spread-out routes mean fewer concentrated crowds.
Gentle valley walking alongside the River Tees.
Waterfalls, open countryside, and classic Dales-style landscapes.
Distance: 6–14km
Time: 3–6 hours
Route Type: Circular
Difficulty: Easy–Moderate
Less visited than nearby areas, with wide, open valleys.
Rolling terrain with gradual climbs and long views.
Open hills, quiet valleys, and expansive landscapes.
One of the best things about the North Pennines is the flexibility.
This is where the “quiet” really comes into its own.
These routes are ideal if you:
They’re not always harder—but they are more independent.
Facilities are limited—plan ahead.
Paths can be faint or unclear.
Moorland can be uneven or boggy.
Treat every walk like a proper day in the hills.
The North Pennines aren’t about famous summits or busy trails.
They’re about space. Quiet. And walking without feeling like you’re following a crowd.
Track your hikes, log your routes, and build your UK walking list with Peaky Baggers.
Photo by Ian Cylkowski on Unsplash
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