A walking culture
built for the long view.
Fifteen National Trails and the most generous public-rights-of-way network in Europe mean almost every landscape — the chalk South Downs, Cornish coast path, the Pennine spine, the West Highland Way — is genuinely walkable end-to-end. The directory maps the routes that are worth a weekend (or a fortnight), with terrain notes and seasonal conditions.
Common questions,
answered briefly.
Who is UK hiking for?
Almost anyone who can walk. The UK's rights-of-way network includes thousands of miles of low-level path that family groups handle in trainers, alongside the named long-distance routes that take weeks. The same country supports a half-day pub walk in the Cotswolds and a full Scottish Munro round.
Where can I hike in the UK?
Anywhere with a public footpath, which is most of the country. The fifteen National Trails of England and Wales are the obvious starting point — Pennine Way, South West Coast Path, Hadrian's Wall, the Ridgeway and so on. Scotland's Great Trails and the Wales Coast Path round out the long-distance options. The National Parks and AONBs concentrate the best day-walking.
When is the best time to go hiking?
May to September gives the longest daylight and the most settled weather, but upland walking is genuinely possible year-round if you have the kit. Lowland trails like the Thames Path and the South Downs Way drain better than the uplands and are walkable in winter. The Scottish Highlands in winter are mountaineering territory rather than hiking.
What gear do I need to hike in the UK?
Waterproof boots, layered waterproofs, a map and a compass. The weather changes fast and most upland routes have no shelter for hours on end. Above 600m, always pack head-torch, spare layer and emergency food regardless of the forecast. For long-distance walking, a 30-40 litre pack and trail-tested boots — broken in well before the start date.
How do I get started?
Pick a half-day walk in your nearest National Park or AONB and use the OS Maps app or paper sheet (1:25,000 Explorer series) to navigate. The Ramblers and Long Distance Walkers Association both run free or low-cost group walks across the country — the easiest way to learn the basics of navigation, pace and pacing alongside other people.
Hiking by region.
Glyndwr’s Way Hike
Glyndwr’s Way is a 135-mile National Trail that loops through the remote sheep country of Mid Wales — from Knighton on the English border, west through Machynlleth (Owain Glyndŵr’s historic…
The Coast to Coast Hike
Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk crosses 192 miles of northern England from St Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea, taking in…
The Cotswold Way Hike
The Cotswold Way runs 102 miles along the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment from Chipping Campden to Bath. It opened as a National Trail in 2007, though sections have…
The Hadrian's Wall Path Hike
Hadrian's Wall Path follows the line of the Roman frontier across the narrowest point of northern England — 84 miles from Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast to Wallsend on the…
The North Downs Way Hike
The North Downs Way runs 153 miles from Farnham in Surrey to Dover on the Kent coast, following the chalk escarpment of the North Downs. It opened as a National…
The Pennine Way Hike
The Pennine Way runs 268 miles along the rocky spine of England, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm just over the Scottish border. It opened in 1965…
The Ridgeway Hike
The Ridgeway is Britain’s oldest road. The line of the 87-mile National Trail from Overton Hill in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire has been walked for at least 5,000…
The Snowdonia Way Hike
The Snowdonia Way is a relatively new 97-mile route from Machynlleth in the south of the National Park to Conwy on the north coast. It threads between the major Snowdonia…
The South Downs Way Hike
The South Downs Way runs 100 miles along the chalk ridge from Winchester to Eastbourne — the most-walked National Trail in southern England and the one most likely to be…
The South West Coast Path Hike
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest National Trail — 630 miles of clifftop and beach path tracing the entire peninsula from Minehead in Somerset, around Devon and Cornwall,…
The Thames Path Hike
The Thames Path follows England's most famous river from its source in the Cotswolds at Kemble all the way to the Thames Barrier in east London — 184 miles of…
The West Highland Way Hike
The West Highland Way is Scotland's most-walked long-distance route — 96 miles from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. It opened…