General seasonal guidance, last reviewed June 2026. British hill weather is unpredictable — always check the forecast and conditions before you set out.
Ask any long-distance walker and the answer is remarkably consistent: May, June and September are the sweet spots for almost every National Trail. They offer the longest daylight, the most settled weather Britain manages, crowds you can live with, and — crucially in the north and west — fewer midges than the height of summer. But the detail varies trail by trail, so here is a month-by-month guide to all fifteen of the main walking National Trails of England and Wales.
Best time to walk each National Trail
“Best months” is about the balance of weather, daylight and crowds rather than a hard rule — plenty of these trails are walked outside these windows by people who pick their conditions.
| Trail | Best months | Best avoided | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Way | May–Sep | Deep winter | Coast and high moor; spring to autumn gives the firmest going and the clearest sea views. |
| Coast to Coast | May, Jun, Sep | Winter; peak midsummer | It starts over the high Lakeland fells, so it needs settled weather and long days; winter is a serious undertaking. |
| Cotswold Way | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Wettest winter weeks | The escarpment views are at their best in clear spring and autumn air, and the beechwoods peak in May and October. |
| Glyndŵr’s Way | May–Sep | Winter | Remote, high and exposed with thin transport; short winter days leave little margin if anything goes wrong. |
| Hadrian’s Wall Path | May–Oct | Wettest months | A summer crossing gives the best weather and protects the soft ground over the central archaeology. |
| North Downs Way | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Muddy mid-winter | Firm chalk and clear Wealden views in spring and autumn; the woodland sections get heavy after winter rain. |
| Offa’s Dyke Path | May–Sep | Winter | Long, switchback and exposed in places, so it needs daylight and reasonable weather. |
| Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path | Apr–Jun, Sep | August crowds | Spring brings wildflowers and nesting birds to the coast; the Norfolk shore is at its busiest in high summer. |
| Pembrokeshire Coast Path | Apr–Jun, Sep | Peak August | The clifftop wildflowers are unmatched in late spring, and September keeps the weather but loses the school-holiday crowds. |
| Pennine Way | May–Jun, Sep | Winter; after heavy rain | England’s toughest trail: the peat moors are at their worst after prolonged rain, and winter brings real mountain conditions. |
| The Ridgeway | May–Sep | Wet winter | The chalk track turns to mud and is churned by off-road vehicles after rain; summer gives the firmest going. |
| South Downs Way | Apr–Jun, Sep | Heatwave peaks | The chalk drains fast so it walks well most of the year, but the exposed ridge offers little shade in high summer. |
| South West Coast Path | May, Jun, Sep | August holidays | Settled weather and cliff wildflowers without the peak-season crush; August fills every bed on the coast. |
| Thames Path | Apr–Oct (walkable year-round) | Nothing major | The towpath drains better than upland trails, making it one of the few genuinely walkable in winter; spring and autumn are loveliest. |
| Yorkshire Wolds Way | May–Sep | Winter | Gentle, quiet chalk country; the dry valleys are at their best in late spring and early summer. |
The general pattern
May, June and September are the sweet spots almost everywhere — long daylight, the most settled weather on offer, manageable crowds and, in the north, fewer midges than July and August. April and October are fine on the lowland and southern trails but get riskier on the high ground, where weather windows are shorter and the days draw in fast.
Trails with a tight weather window
The upland routes have the narrowest comfortable season. The Pennine Way, the high Lakeland start of the Coast to Coast and remote Glyndŵr’s Way are really best kept to roughly May through September. Outside that, they demand winter skills, confident navigation and a tolerance for short days and serious conditions.
Where to avoid the crowds
The popular coast paths fill up over the school summer holidays. On the South West Coast Path and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path you get the same scenery with far more breathing room — and far easier accommodation — in late spring or September than in August.
A note on midges
Midges are a real factor on the northern and western routes from late June into August. The Scottish ground and the northern end of the Pennine Way are the worst affected. Carry repellent and a head-net, or sidestep the problem by walking in May, June or September.
Quick answers
When is the best overall time to walk a National Trail?
May, June and September strike the best balance of weather, daylight and crowds across almost every trail, with the bonus of fewer midges than high summer in the north.
Which National Trails can you walk in winter?
The lowland trails are the realistic ones — the Thames Path above all, and to a degree the fast-draining chalk of the South Downs Way and North Downs Way. The upland trails are serious winter undertakings rather than casual walks.
Which trail has the shortest weather window?
The Pennine Way and the high Lakeland opening of the Coast to Coast — both best kept to roughly May to September.
How do I avoid the crowds on the coast paths?
Walk the South West Coast Path and Pembrokeshire Coast Path in late spring or September rather than the August school holidays.
Planning to travel without a car as well? See our companion guide to which National Trails are easiest to walk car-free.