Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Edale to Top Withens | 20150507 | In 1965, after 30 years of campaigning led by the rambler Tom Stephenson, the Pennine Way was officially opened on Malham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales. Stretching from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish borders, the 268 mile route has attracted tens of thousands of walkers over the intervening years.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary this year, Mark Radcliffe travels the route and meets up with poets, folk musicians, historians and local people along the way.
In the first of three programmes, Mark travels from Edale to Top Withens near Haworth. He talks to the poet Simon Armitage about his experience of walking the Pennine Way, and finds out why the tiny Yorkshire village of Heptonstall is the burial place of one of the 20th century's most revered authors, Sylvia Plath. Singer Bella Hardy performs her song 'Peak Rhapsody' at the starting point of the Pennine Way, and Mark bumps into Kate Rusby at Top Withens - the supposed inspiration for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Kate and Damien O'Kane perform 'The Lark' sat in the ruins of the old farmhouse, looking out over Haworth Moor and the Pennine Way.
Mark travels from Edale to Top Withens, meeting Simon Armitage and Kate Rusby on the way. Mark Radcliffe walks the Pennine Way to mark its fiftieth anniversary |
| 02 | Malham To Greenhead | 20150514 | In 1965, after 30 years of campaigning led by the rambler Tom Stephenson, the Pennine Way was officially opened on Malham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales. Stretching from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish borders, the 268 mile route has attracted tens of thousands of walkers over the intervening years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary this year, Mark Radcliffe travels the route and meets up with poets, folk musicians, historians and local people along the way. In the second of three programmes, Mark travels from Malham to the village of Greenhead near Hadrian's Wall. He visits the Wensleydale Creamery to find out how they make Wallace and Gromit's favourite cheese and goes in search of Britain's highest pub. He meets up with Teesside folk group The Young'uns, who give a rousing performance of the Graeme Miles' song 'Jack Ironside'. Producer: Elizabeth Foster/Presenter: Mark Radcliffe. Mark Radcliffe travels from Malham to the village of Greenhead near Hadrian's Wall. Mark Radcliffe walks the Pennine Way to mark its fiftieth anniversary |
| 03 | Greenhead To Kirk Yetholm | 20150521 | In 1965, after 30 years of campaigning led by the rambler Tom Stephenson, the Pennine Way was officially opened on Malham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales. Stretching from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish borders, the 268 mile route has attracted tens of thousands of walkers over the intervening years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary this year, Mark Radcliffe travels the route and meets up with poets, folk musicians, historians and local people along the way. In the final programme, Mark travels from Greenhead near Hadrian's Wall to the village of Kirk Yetholm. He visits the Roman ruins of Vindolanda and in Bellingham discovers his ancestors may have been amongst the Border Reivers. He reaches the end point of the Pennine Way and meets up with Scottish folk singer Emily Smith who performs the Border Ballad 'The Dowie Dens o'Yarrow'. Producer: Elizabeth Foster/Presenter: Mark Radcliffe. Mark Radcliffe travels from Greenhead near Hadrian's Wall to the village of Kirk Yetholm. Mark Radcliffe walks the Pennine Way to mark its fiftieth anniversary |