The best walks in the UK
Browse all of our best UK walks guides here – discover over 350 short routes, longer trails and walks for all abilities in Scotland, northern England, Wales, southern England and Northern Ireland…
The United Kingdom – comprised of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – is bursting with countless excellent walks, from gentle trails for days out in the countryside, to serious (sometimes hilly) treks for hardcore ramblers.
Here, we’ve rounded up over 350 of the UK’s best walks – each split by region or interest into different articles – to help you plan your next walking holiday or an active day out. Simply click on the region you’re most interested in to see the walks, or search by season or interest if you’re open to any UK location. If you’re not sure where to begin, keep scrolling for the full list.
Discover over 350 of the UK’s best walks here…
Uath Lochans in Cairngorms National Park (Dreamstime)
Keen ramblers are always in bliss while traversing Scotland, be they exploring Britain’s largest national park – the Cairngorms, hiking through the Highlands and up its highest peaks, or exploring the country’s undeniably charming coast; home to quaint fishing villages, romantic castles, dramatic lochs and the mysterious Bone Caves of Assynt…
Whitby, along the Cleveland Way (Shutterstock)
Extremely popular with locals, though its upper reaches tend to be lesser known to visitors from overseas, the north of England offers some of the best walking in all of the United Kingdom.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Lake District, Cumbria’s iconic national park, which offers everything from idyllic lakeside strolls to challenging ascents. Then there’s all of Yorkshire, the Peak District and the 177km-long Cleveland Way. Phew. And that’s without even mentioning the historic Northumberland coast…
A puffin nests on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire (Shutterstock)
Wales’s walks are as diverse as they come – you can hike along the famous Wales Coast Path, reach the peak of Snowdonia (both Wales and England’s highest mountain) or wander Skomer Island in search of Pembrokeshire’s puffin colonies.
Of course, there are countless other trails well worth trying on a Welsh walking adventure. We’ve covered some of the best hills in Wales, as well as the greatest routes for ramblers in Brecon Beacons National Park, wild trails for nature lovers across the country, plus paths through the breathtaking peninsulas Gower and Llŷn…
The picturesque Cotswolds (Shutterstock)
From Great British pilgrimages to postcard-ready parishes, the rambler is spoiled for choice in the south of England. If you’re not looking for walks local to your area, it’s probably best to think about which type of walk you most enjoy before deciding where to go.
Cornwall, Essex and Devon offer excellent coastal walks, while the Cotswolds, Suffolk and Shropshire put forth the best of the classic English countryside. Some of our London walks bring a touch of nature to the capital (along with plenty of cool factor), as nearby Oxfordshire and Cambridge provide bucketloads of British history. Of course, we mustn’t forget Somerset, Kent, Hampshire and Dorset…
Try a Northern Irish walking trail (Shutterstock)
There are just a small handful of Northern Ireland’s top walks here, with more to be added soon. Use these as a starting point.
Pass through ancient woodland and spot ghostly visions by a lake on the Murlough Trail, and enjoy a riverside walk and green oases on Minnowburn’s Giant’s Ring, just outside of Belfast. If you’re visiting the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are plenty of opportunities to hop out of the car and take in the scenery on foot, too…
Llanddwyn Island in Anglesey, Wales (Shutterstock)
Come rain or shine, or even lashings of snow, there are always beautiful places to walk through the United Kingdom.
Whatever the weather, you’re guaranteed pristine views and sweet fresh air – whether you go for a springtime stroll through Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway, a coastal ramble to Llanddwyn Island in Anglesey, or an autumnal jaunt around the auburn leaf-covered Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire…
Mayfield lavender field in Surrey (Shutterstock)
Whatever your interest, it’s likely there’s a UK walk (or two, or three) suited to you. Book lovers should check out our favourite UK literary walks, while art fans can take walks inspired by Turner and Constable’s most famous paintings.
Nature seekers will find plenty of floral delights across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, from bluebells wood walks in the spring, to snowdrop strolls during the colder winter months…
