IT might have taken 30 years for the idea to catch on. But the Pennine Way has certainly gone on to make its mark in the walkers' world.

This weekend, the 268-mile trail celebrates its 40th birthday. The occasion is being marked with a special "Walk the Way in a Day" scheme on the anniversary itself - April 24.

For it was on that day in 1965 that the idea of a long, green trail first raised by rambler and writer Tom Stephenson in 1935 finally became a reality.

Some 2,000 people gathered on Malham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales to celebrate its completion.

Now, 40 years on, the Pennine Way is one of 11 official national trails designated, managed and part-funded by the Countryside Agency.

Running from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, it offers a superb long-distance walking challenge and has attracted thousands of hikers in its 40-year history.

About 150,000 people a year use the trail for day trips or longer walks. And some 3,500 a year complete it from start to finish.

The Countryside Agency wants to see ramblers, families and individual walkers make the most of the trail on the day itself.

To do this, the Way has been divided into 50 one-day circular walks of between seven and 19 miles.

Walkers have been invited to register a section and, once this is done, receive a full route planner to guide them.

Steve Westwood, national trails officer for the Pennine Way, said nearly 200 people had registered well before the anniversary, leaving just a few areas to be allotted to have the entire route covered on Sunday.

"People can just turn up on the day," he said, "and it would be wonderful if we can celebrate the Pennine Way's anniversary with walkers on every part of it."

One man who would love to be there is Albert Holt. But, at 94, he doubts if he will make it for the occasion.

However, he has many happy memories of his times walking the Way.

Mr Holt went to the 1965 opening ceremony in a car.

"I was going to do the walk that day but I had to take the car back. So I set off from Edale two days later," he said. "The first two days were really hard going, but it got easier towards the Craven area."

He was 54 at the time and it took him 18 days to complete the trail.

"It was something of a dedication for me," he said. "I enjoyed it in my own way. I am a bit of a loner and like to have the countryside to myself. Walking over those desolate moors, I never came across one single other person."

Mr Holt was so impressed he did the Way again in 1967, waiting for the summer so he could sleep rough on the lonely hills.

"I didn't want to have to keep finding accommodation," he said.

He last completed the trek in 1968.

Now living between Blackpool and Fleetwood, he still likes to go back to the Pennines.

He used to live in Bronte country and returned to Haworth only last year and stayed at a youth hostel.

"I have a great affection for the Pennine country and it was certainly a case of memory lane going to Haworth," he said.

"I don't think I will be able to make any of the ceremonies on the 24th. But that won't spoil my many happy memories."

Other recollections include one from John Weatherall, of Cramlington. He, too, has walked the length of the Way three times and used to do some part of it every year.

Mr Weatherall, who knew Tom Stephenson, drank water from natural springs along the route and took tins of sardines and salmon or truckles of cheese to eat with bread.

Although he knew where all the good pubs were, he always camped and liked to cook egg and bacon for breakfast.

Julia Herrod was 14 when she walked the Pennine Way in 1965. She was with a group of teenagers, including her sister and two cousins.

"My parents wouldn't let us camp so we used youth hostels," she said. "Unfortunately, due to the start of the school term, we had to finish at Bellingham to catch a train back, but even so it was a mammoth adventure in those days.

"It was a great adventure and one we often recall."

To help mark the anniversary, organisers of the celebrations are on the lookout for walkers who completed the route during the 1960s.

"We want to hear about what people wore, where they stayed, what they ate and even the price of food and drink," said Steve Westwood, the Countryside Agency's national trails officer for the Pennine Way.

Well, if legend is true, those early walkers will not have had to worry too much about the price of a drink at the end of the trail.

For it is said that those who completed the long walk and made it to the pub in Kirk Yetholm were allowed to put the price of a half-pint on to the tab of the late Lakes legend Alfred Wainwright, whose Pennine Way Companion is a definitive guide to the walk.

With 3,500 people a year now doing the 268-mile challenge, Mr Wainwright would have had quite a bar bill.

* Registrations for anniversary walks can be made on www.nationaltrail.co.uk/pennine way/walktheway.asp