HIKERS are being urged to take part in a special walk to mark the 40th anniversary of Britain's first long-distance trail.
Ramblers are invited to Walk the Way in a Day, registering to walk part of the route so the whole 268-mile Pennine Way will be covered on the big day next Sunday.
The Peak District National Park Authority, which helps maintain the path, has its own Pennine Way ranger, Martyn Sharp, who will be walking a 16-mile section.
He also makes an appearance in a BBC Radio 4 series of dramatised short stories celebrating the anniversary.
The series will be broadcast each weekday at 3.30pm in the run-up to the anniversary and features real people's voices, including Martyn's on April 22, describing the moods of the Way in different seasons.
Martyn said: "The Pennine Way takes walkers through some of the most stunning and wildest scenery along the backbone of Britain.
"Its 40th anniversary is a fitting occasion to pay homage by walking a section of the route."
Around 3,500 people each year complete the route from start to finish between Edale in Derbyshire and Kirk Yetholm in Scotland.
The Walk the Way in a Day celebration includes 50 one-day circular walks of between seven and 19 miles.
People can register to walk one of the routes at www. nationaltrail.co.uk/pennineway/walktheway.asp where they will find a full route planner.
