Читать книгу The Pennine Way - the Path, the People, the Journey онлайн

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A couple of hours later, in dry clothes and with a hot cup of tea clasped in my hands, I sat chatting to my B&B hosts at the Old House above Rhodeswood Reservoir. With the closure of Crowden Youth Hostel to individuals a few years ago (group bookings only now), their establishment is one of the few options left for Pennine Way walkers looking for a roof over their head in this sparsely populated valley. For 17 years, Joanne and her husband James have run a mix of guest house, bunkhouse and café rolled into one, with Pennine Way walkers making up 90 per cent of their overnight customers. So, bearing in mind that they’re at the end of most people’s first day from Edale, what state are most walkers in when they cross their threshold? Do they get many people wanting to give up? ‘Yes, there’s some that tell us they’ve had enough,’ replied James. ‘They say “I can’t do another 260 miles of that”, but I tell them you’ve walked 15 miles from Edale today, then it’s 12 miles to Standedge tomorrow – take it each day at a time, it gets much easier!’ He paused for a moment and lowered his voice. ‘Of course it doesn’t, really, but you have to encourage them.’