The Best Long-Distance Walks In The UK

The United Kingdom could have been tailor-made for long distance walking holidays. These shores aren’t called green and pleasant for nothing.

The UK is criss-crossed with hundreds of thousands of miles of footpaths and rights of way. Many of these have been organised into official and semi-official waymarked long distance walking trails, which can form the structure for a superb walking holiday.

Walking trails in the UK follow rivers and canals, chalk ridges and estuaries, disused railway lines and even ancient pilgrimage routes, inspiring a liberating sense of escape from modern society, and a strengthening of bonds between walkers, nature and the outdoors.

Here's our detailed guide on some of the best long-distance walks in the UK.

And yet because Britain is so small, walkers are never far from civilisation. Standing atop a moorland crag, with nothing but the buffeting Northumberland wind for company, you may feel as though you have the whole of the northeast to yourself, but the next village is always just around the corner, waiting to offer you a warming cup of tea, a bed for the night, and a hearty ‘full-English’ breakfast to set you up for your next day’s hike.

Those hardy enough to brave the British weather in a tent, and strong enough to carry all the gear, can camp as they hike. Few places allow wild camping, though it is often tolerated if your presence is fleeting and discreet, and in any case, there are thousands of official campsites dotted around Britain with a flat spot for your tent and a welcome hot shower.

For those who prefer a lighter rucksack and a roof over their head at night, youth hostels, guesthouses and that great British institution – the B&B (bed and breakfast) – are also on hand to welcome weary walkers.

Trails here are rarely technically difficult (leave those crampons and ice-picks at home, folks), but don’t underestimate the gradients of some paths (especially the coastal routes) which lead you from the beach to cliff top and back down to beach, time and time again – phenomenal views (and ice creams) provide some consolation.

The main walking season runs from Easter until the end of August and is busiest during the school summer holidays when B&Bs fill up fast. You can walk at other times, and it can be a hugely rewarding, back-to-nature experience as you’ll often have trails to yourself, but be prepared for cold weather, short daylight hours, and a few places such as campsites and cafes being closed.

There are more than a dozen 'official' National Trails across the United Kingdom, and scores of other waymarked and non-waymarked routes besides. The following offers just a smattering of the most popular and well-serviced long distance routes and ways to be found across these islands.

Considered by some to be the best long-distance walk in England, Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Path has many remarkable qualities, but it’s the walker camaraderie that is so often the stand-out take-home of this hugely popular cross-country hike. The scenery is at times stunning – looking at you, Lake District – but the sense of community you experience with fellow walkers is felt here on this walk perhaps more than on any other in Britain.

This is largely due to the fact that many, if not most walkers tackle the Coast to Coast Path in one go (or at least in two halves), rather than dipping in and out of it on day- or weekend-hikes as many people do for Britain’s other long-distance trails. The result is that you’ll bump into the same people again and again over the course of your two-week walk, in pubs, cafes and hostels along the route, where you can share a drink, and compare blisters whilst drying your bog-drenched toes in front of a roaring log fire.

Coast to Coast isn’t an official National Trail. Instead, it was the brainchild of the legendary fell walker and guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright, who in 1973 decided to plot a walk-to-remember across the width of the country which, as far as he knew, wouldn’t break any trespassing laws. Two-thirds of the trail is spent walking through three of England’s 10 national parks (The Lake District, The Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors) and the route includes some of the most dramatic upland scenery in England. Prepare to be blown away by the beauty of some of the Lake District sections. Prepare also for quite a lot of rain.

Starting from the beach at St Bees, beside the Irish Sea, your first five days of the Coast to Coast Path are an undoubted highlight as you climb your way through the spectacular hills, lakes and valleys of the Lake District – so special it was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 2017. Over the first couple of days, you’ll walk the craggy shoreline of Ennerdale Water, trot past YHA Black Sail, the most remote hostel in England, and climb up and over the rocky pass near Honister Slate Mine, before descending into the lush valley of Borrowdale, with its trio of stone-cottage hamlets.

The climb up and over Greenup Edge is challenging for sure, but the views are breathtaking, and it’s now just a short stroll into the pretty village of Grasmere, home to a plethora of teahouses, cafes, and B&Bs, a 150-year-old gingerbread shop, and Dove Cottage, where former poet laureate William Wordsworth once lived. The climb up the Great Tongue to the tiny mountain lake of Grisedale Tarn will leave you gasping, but it’s a pleasant walk down Grisedale Valley, under the shadow of 950m-tall Helvellyn, to the cute village of Patterdale, with its sheep-filled fields and walker-friendly White Lion pub.

Climbing out of Patterdale is a joy, up and over Angletarn Pike, where you sometimes see wild deer, and the even higher Kidsty Pike before descending to the huge Haweswater Reservoir en route to Shap.

Sadly, the Lakes are behind you now, but that means the walking gradients become easier so you can begin to cover more miles each day. Historic Kirkby Stephen is your next stop before you climb up and over the Pennines on a day often clouded in mist, or obscured by rain – the waymarking is hard to follow here – before you crawl, often exhausted, into lovely Keld, with its collection of ‘forces’ (waterfalls), for a well-earned rest. Pastoral Swaledale Valley leads you to Reeth with its welcoming pubs and numerous places to stay, then it’s on through farmland to centuries-old Richmond, the largest settlement on the path, and home to the formidable Richmond Castle.

The next couple of days are forgivingly flat before you hit the heather-covered North York Moors and climb up to remote Blakey Ridge, where a bed, a meal and a pint await at the 500-year-old Lion Inn, the walk’s most iconic pub.

You’re now just a hop, skip and a jump from the North Sea, via the lost-in-time village of Grosmont (steam trains, anyone?), the fairytale-like woods of Little Beck and the squelchy bogs of Sneaton Low Moor. Sweeping views abound as you follow the east coast of England south to Robin Hood’s Bay where a celebratory pint at Bay Hotel’s Wainwright’s Bar is the order of the day.

Budget walkers rejoice – the Coast to Coast path has an abundance of youth hostels, meaning you can stay in cheap dormitory-style accommodation without breaking the bank. There’s also plenty of opportunity to camp, particularly in the Lake District where so-called ‘wild camping’ is tolerated in most places. That great British institute, the B&B, is also well represented all along the route. The following itinerary assumes you’ll be walking from west to east, starting in St Bees. Most walkers do this, though it’s just as easy to walk the other way.

Day 1: St Bees – Ennerdale (14 miles)

Day 2: Ennerdale – Borrowdale (15 miles)

Day 3: Borrowdale – Grasmere (9 miles)

Day 4: Grasmere – Patterdale (8.5 miles)

Day 5: Patterdale – Shap (15.5 miles)

Day 6: Shap – Kirkby Stephen (20.5 miles)

Day 7: Kirkby Stephen – Keld (13 miles)

Day 8: Keld – Reeth (11.5 miles)

Day 9: Reeth – Richmond (10.5 miles)

Day 10: Richmond – Danby Wiske (13 miles)

Day 11: Danby Wiske – Ingleby Cross (10 miles)

Day 12: Ingleby Cross – Blakey Ridge (21 miles)

Day 13: Blakey Ridge – Grosmont (13.5 miles)

Day 14: Grosmont – Robin Hood’s Bay (15.5 miles)

This unique walking trail not only crosses the width of England, but also follows the course of Britain’s largest Roman monument – a 1,900-year-old, 73-mile long fortification that once marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. Understandably, much of Hadrian’s Wall has disappeared over the centuries, but significant stretches of it remain today, as do the ruins of many of the forts, mile castles and turrets that were once spread evenly along its length.

Roman history buffs will need weeks to fully explore all the Wall-related sights and museums en route, but the casual walker will also adore this National Trail. Apart from the architectural and historical interest, all around the Wall is scenery of breathtaking beauty, from the wild, wind-blasted moors of Northumberland to the pastoral delights of Cumbria. What’s more, this is one of the easiest long-distance trails in Britain; a week-long romp following a well-marked path through gently rolling countryside with very few steep climbs and little more than the odd wooden stile to interrupt your flow.

Unusually for a National Trail, the authorities in charge of maintenance of Hadrian’s Wall Path request that walkers do not attempt the trail in winter (ie October to April) when the path is at its most fragile as this increases the risk of heavy walking boots accidentally disturbing unexcavated archaeological artefacts.

A forgivingly flat but fascinating first stage starts outside the Roman fort of Segedunum in a suburb of Newcastle aptly named Wallsend. You then follow the River Tyne through the city’s iconic Quayside area then along the pleasant Tyne Riverside Country Park before climbing through woods to Heddon-on-the-Wall where you’ll see your first major chunk of Hadrian’s Wall.

A more modest second day passes the bird-filled lakes of Whittledene Reservoir before ending in the village of Chollerford where you’ll find Chesters Roman Fort, with its quirkily old-fashioned museum and hugely impressive Roman baths, the best-preserved on the whole trail. A glorious day three showcases the most complete section of Wall on the path (at Black Carts), the best-preserved fort (Housesteads), the most famous tree in Northumberland (at Sycamore Gap), and some of the finest views on the whole trail. The stage ends at Once Brewed where there’s a great range of accommodation, a cracking pub and a short walk to Vindolanda Fort, which contains some of Britain’s most treasured Roman artefacts, including the remarkable handwritten documents known as the Vindolanda Tablets.

Day four is almost as good, with plenty of chunks of Wall to gawp at and more great views as you climb to the highest point on the trail. This is also where you cross from Northumberland into Cumbria and where the scenery changes from windswept moors and crags to gentle rolling cultivated landscape. There are more decent chunks of Wall either side of Birdoswald Fort, but these are now stretches of turf Wall rather than the more impressive stone Wall you’ll have seen further east.

Any further remnants of Wall disappear completely as you approach the historic city of Carlisle through pretty farmland scenery before stretching your legs for the final stage, along the bird-filled flatlands of the Solway Estuary to the end of the path at the peaceful village of Bowness-on-Solway.

Accommodation is plentiful along the route, and includes campsites, hostels and B&Bs. Where you break for the night depends not only on how far you’re able to walk each day, but also on how interested you are in the numerous Roman sights along the way. It can take a few hours to visit a museum or the ruins of a Roman fort, but not every walker visits them all, so factor this into your plan. The following schedule is just one option of many and assumes you’ll be starting at Wallsend in Newcastle, but it’s just as easy, and popular, to walk the other way.

Day 1: Newcastle – Heddon-on-the-Wall (15 miles)

Day 2: Heddon-on-the-Wall – Chollerford (15 miles)

Day 3: Chollerford – Once Brewed (13 miles)

Day 4: Once Brewed – Walton (15.5 miles)

Day 5: Walton – Carlisle (11.5 miles)

Day 6: Carlisle – Bowness-on-Solway (14 miles)

Whisper it quietly; this might just be the best coastal path in Britain. Pembrokeshire has it all – dramatic clifftop vistas, seemingly endless beaches, secluded coves and tiny fishing villages, but best of all; almost no one knows about it, so you get pretty much all of it to yourself.

You’ll need two or three weeks to complete the trail in one go, and, as with most coastal paths in Britain, you’ll have to endure a lot of ups and down as you climb from clifftop down to cove and back up to clifftop, time and time again. But the rewards are plenty; as well as the sensational views, there’s wildlife to spot (seals, dolphins, all manner of seas birds), historic sites to explore (including no fewer than 11 castles), and exotic Welsh cuisine to fuel those tired legs (oggy and faggots, anyone?).

Starting in the seaside village of Amroth, day one takes you across the sandstone cliffs of south Pembrokeshire to pretty Tenby, with its pastel-coloured harbour buildings and boat rides out to the monastic island of Caldey. You’ll soon reach the beachside 12th-century castle at Manorbier Bay before passing a series of magnificent beaches – Freshwater West, Barafundle Bay, Broad Haven – each with its own unique character. Having negotiated a route around the MoD firing range at Castlemartin, and the more inviting Angle peninsula, you approach the least desirable part of the walk, around the heavily industrialised estuary of Milford Haven – fortunately, historic Pembroke and its magnificent Norman castle provide a welcome distraction.

The coastline becomes increasingly more attractive again as you approach Dale peninsular, then turns spectacular around Marloes peninsula where the three barren islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm attract thousands of seabirds, plus a boatload or two of curious day-trippers.

After the surfing hotspot of Newgale you reach St David’s, Britain’s smallest city and home to a beautiful cathedral plus a host of cute cafes, pubs and restaurants. The rugged coastline of St David’s peninsular provides fabulous hiking over the next few miles as you pass long sandy beaches, hidden coves and windswept bluffs before climbing the cliffs at Pwll Deri for outstanding ocean views.

The large harbour town of Goodwick and Fishguard offers a chance to stock up on supplies before you round the peninsular known as Dinas Island and negotiate the beautiful clifftop path to historic Newport, a precursor to the even more dramatic (and energy-sapping) clifftop walk on your final day.

Some of the more remote stretches have a dearth of accommodation so you may need to adjust your daily distances accordingly. In general, there’s a good range of places to stay, from campsites and hostels, to B&Bs and guesthouses. Don’t forget to factor in one or two rest days; walking for 16 days on the trot is a tough ask.

Day 1: Amroth – Tenby (7 miles)

Day 2: Tenby – Manorbier Bay (10.5 miles)

Day 3: Manorbier Bay – Broad Haven (10.5 miles)

Day 4: Broad Haven – Angle (20.5 miles)

Day 5: Angle – Pembroke (11.5 miles)

Day 6: Pembroke – Milford Haven (12.5 miles)

Day 7: Milford Haven – Dale (9.5 miles)

Day 8: Dale – Marloes (12 miles)

Day 9: Marloes – Newgale (15.5 miles)

Day 10: Newgale – St Davids (9.5 miles)

Day 11: St Davids – Whitesands Bay (8.5 miles)

Day 12: Whitesands Bay – Trefin (11 miles)

Day 13: Trefin – Pwll Deri (9.5 miles)

Day 14: Pwll Deri – Fishguard (10.5 miles)

Day 15: Fishguard – Newport (11 miles)

Day 16: Newport – St Dogmaels (16 miles)

Most of the gradients are reassuringly manageable along the pleasant chalk hills of the South Downs Way, and the weather down here is usually pretty favourable. You’ll need just over a week to complete the hike from the cathedral city of Winchester to the seaside resort of Eastbourne, and for much of that time, you’ll be blessed with sumptuous views of rural Hampshire and Sussex from your perch atop the ridge of chalk which this hundred-mile National Trail follows.

You’ll walk through landscapes of rolling hills and breezy fields of corn, passing numerous pretty villages with thatched cottages, historic pubs and gardens bursting with blooms. And there’s a fitting final-day climax as you rollercoaster your way up and down the majestic chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters before reaching the beaches of Eastbourne for a celebratory ice cream.

Easy going to start with, the Way leaves the River Itchen in Winchester and continues along leafy country lanes through a patchwork of villages, fields, hedgerows and woodland, before reaching the Meon Valley and its scattering of pretty hamlets. The true line of the Downs begins now, a ridge of chalk hills which you’ll follow all the way to Eastbourne.

You’ll soon be climbing Butser Hill (270m), the highest point on the trail and known for its numerous species of butterfly, before flirting with the beech forests of Queen Elizabeth Country Park on your approach into the village of Buriton, with its pretty pond and 12th-century church. More shaded woodland follows before the steep climb up Beacon Hill (242m). Look out for Bronze Age burial mounds as you cross Cocking Down – you may even catch a glimpse of the Isle of Wight off to the southwest. There’s a beautiful forest to walk through atop Graffham Down, as well as more ancient burial mounds before the Way picks up part of the old Roman road over Bignor Hill.

There are lovely views over the Arun Valley as you sweep your way down towards the picture-perfect village of Amberley before eventually reaching the hilltop Chanctonbury Ring, the site of a long-since-disappeared Iron Age hill fort dating back to the 6th-century BC and now a copse of beech trees commanding fabulous views.

The climb up Truleigh Hill is soon followed by wonderful views over Devil’s Dyke and, after passing through Pyecombe, you soon spot the famous pair of 16th-century windmills, known affectionately as Jack & Jill. The rolling hills continue as you climb up Ditchling Beacon, down to the railway level-crossing at Southease, then up Firle Beacon, before reaching the delightful Tudor village of Alfriston, with its quaint teahouses and ye-olde pubs.

The final day’s walk is the best of the lot, as you follow the River Cuckmere through pastoral scenes of English countryside all the way to the coast, where your rollercoaster ride up and down the marvellous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs begins. One final climb up to Beachy Head, marked by its famous lighthouse, is all that’s left between you and that ice cream shop in Eastbourne.

A key consideration on this walk is that you’ll have to drop down off the hills to reach many of the towns and villages you’ll be staying in, and that means a steep climb back up to the trail in the morning! There are numerous options, though, and the following is just one of many possible itineraries. If you’re fit, and not carrying a full load of camping equipment, you could easily combine some pairs of stages into one longer stage.

Day 1: Winchester – Exton (12 miles)

Day 2: Exton – Buriton (12.5 miles)

Day 3: Buriton – Cocking (10.5 miles)

Day 4: Cocking – Amberley (11.5 miles)

Day 5: Amberley – Steyning (10 miles)

Day 6: Steyning – Pyecombe (10 miles)

Day 7: Pyecombe – Southease (14.5 miles)

Day 8: Southease – Alfriston (7.5 miles)

Day 9: Alfriston – Eastbourne (10.5 miles)

The South West Coast Path is England’s longest trail but also one of its most famous and highly rated. In the Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain it is the first attraction mentioned and often features in lists of the world’s best walking trails.

The route skirts the shoreline of England’s South West peninsular, providing a constantly changing nautical panorama that ranges from popular seaside resorts to wildly remote rocky headlands.

The 630-mile trail passes through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. As it rises and falls with every river, beachhead and cliff top, the total elevation, or height walkers have to climb, is a hefty 114,931 feet (35,031 meters). That’s four times the height of Everest.

Nevertheless the coastal path is generally well signed and maintained, there is a wide selection of places to eat and stay, and a huge selection of sights, attractions and viewpoints on every stretch. And for the less experienced walker there is another great attraction: it’s almost impossible to get lost on the South West Coast Path.

Walkers usually start at the special SWCP sculpture of giant hands holding a folded map on the seafront promenade at Minehead in Somerset and end at the metal monument next to the dunes at South Haven Point on the edge of Poole Harbour, Dorset.

This north to south direction is the norm but it can equally be walked from Poole to Minehead: the waymark signs point in both directions. For the sake of convention most guides and day-by-day plans describe it in the anti-clockwise direction from Somerset to Poole.

It starts with a particularly dramatic section along the Exmoor coast. This includes its highest point, the flat-topped, heather-clad bulk of Great Hangman Hill near Combe Martin (1,043ft/318m).

The surf beaches of North Devon are followed by the high, dark, brooding cliffs of the Hartland headland. Cornwall is a sequence of charming bays, beaches and estuaries, before the path returns to the green inlets and harbours of South Devon.

Torbay involves more beach resorts and Victorian hotels, before the grand finale of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast of spectacular rock formations and geological drama on the shores of East Devon and Dorset.

This is the UK’s most popular holiday region for a reason. The path includes many memorable scenes that will have walkers unpacking their cameras, including: Clovelly’s unspoilt whitewashed and flower-bedecked cottages tumbling down to its tiny harbour, the clifftop castle ruins of Tintagel, the sandy crescent of Mount’s Bay, Penzance, dominated by St Michael’s Mount, the grand natural harbour of Falmouth and the dramatic red cliffs of East Devon leading into the extraordinary formation of the Chesil Beach.

Very few walkers complete the path in one go; for most it’s a longer-term project that’s broken up into more easily-manageable sections. Exactly how you split it up depends on how much time you have for each stretch, and how challenging you want to make it.

The official South West Coast Path website has various suggested itineraries, including this 52 day programme broken up into eight week-long segments:

Section one: Minehead to Westward Ho! (7 days, 87 miles)

Section two: Westward Ho! to Padstow (7 days, 78 miles)

Section three: Padstow to St Ives (6 days, 66 miles)

Section four: St Ives to The Lizard (6 days, 69 miles)

Section five: Lizard to Par (6 days, 72 miles)

Section six: Par to Torcross (7 days, 94 miles)

Section seven: Torcross to Seaton (6 days, 72 miles)

Section eight: Seaton to South Haven Point (7 days, 92 miles)

Minehead is easy to reach by road, although a glorious alternative is the West Somerset steam railway, which runs a regular service from Taunton to the seafront.

At the other end, most walkers jump on the Sandbanks ferry at South Haven Point across the entrance to Poole Harbour. The three-mile walk through the town to Parkstone Rail Station may seem the longest of the whole route, so note that buses and taxis are an option.

The vast majority of the 8-odd million who venture onto the path every year are doing small sections, perhaps just to buy an ice cream in the next beach cafe. On some stretches there may be no other walkers all day but be prepared for crowds and queues passing close to resorts on sunny summer weekends.

The path is so long that small sections can still provide a fulfilling holiday in their own right. Particularly scenic stretches might include Minehead to Woolacombe, Bude to Padstow, St Ives to Penzance, Exmouth to Lyme Regis and Weymouth to Poole.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way leads across the glorious rolling farmland and chalk landscapes of East Yorkshire, an unspoilt corner of England largely neglected by popular tourism.

The route wends its way from the banks of the expansive Humber estuary, across the tranquil countryside and unspoilt villages of the Wolds to reach the spectacular headland of Filey Brigg on the North Yorkshire Coast.

There are no cities on the route and no serious hills either. Don’t imagine it’s dull though: this is rural England at its best. It’s an area that seems to have bigger skies with wide panoramic views. It’s easy to see why artist David Hockney spent years painting landscapes here.

Yet the Wolds Way is never crowded. In fact, this has been called ‘Britain’s least known National Trail’ by the BBC. Nevertheless, the path is generally well mapped, maintained and way-marked.

Day one: Hessle to South Cave (13 miles/21km)

The path starts on the foreshore next to the landmark Humber Bridge then leads up into the Wolds along leafy paths and through quiet historic villages.

Day two: South Cave to Market Weighton (12 miles/19km)

Walk across hills with wide estuary views and then choose between the main route, via the classic historic country town of Market Weighton, or a trail offshoot to the pretty village of Goodmanham.

Day three: Market Weighton to Millington (9 miles/14km)

Today’s highlight is one of Yorkshire’s great hidden secrets: the photogenic old village of Londesborough and its grand aristocratic parkland. It’s a good spot to look for circling red kites too.

Day four: Millington to Thixendale (12 miles/19km)

Follow the path through a series of gentle dry valleys, enjoying long distance views, leafy countryside and friendly village pubs.

Day five: Thixendale to Sherburn (19 miles/30km)

Near the romantic deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy, cross the highest point of the Wolds Way at (700ft/215m). Savour views from Settrington Beacon during a day that mixes old woods with rolling open country.

Day six: Sherburn to Filey (17 miles/28km)

Leave this Saxon village to pass Iron Age earthworks on the hills above, then descend from the Wolds to the classic seaside resort of Filey for the opportunity to paddle on its wide sandy beaches.

Hessle makes a good starting point: it’s just three miles west of Hull, at the northern end of the Humber Bridge, and road links couldn’t be better. Hessle also has regular rail and bus services.

At the other end of the walk, Filey has convenient road and rail links too. Some walkers celebrate by marching right out onto the spectacular headland of Filey Brigg, but even then it’s only a 20-minute walk back to the station.

For walkers planning a shorter version of the Wolds Way, public transport options are rather limited as this crosses a very rural area with no cities or rail links. The best option for a break is likely to be at Market Weighton, which offers buses to Beverley, Hull and York.

Rural East Yorkshire accommodation is generally unpretentious but welcoming in a cosy old-fashioned way. Expect homely inns, B&B’s and guesthouses, real ales and hearty traditional food.

It’s an all-year route but although winters are generally mild it can be bleak and windy up on the higher Wolds. Spring provides great wildflowers and the poppy fields of June are renowned. Don’t worry about summer crowds this far inland. The old broadleaved woodlands colour any autumn walk here too.

The Monarch’s Way loops down from the West Midlands to the south coast of England, following the lengthy route taken by Charles II to evade capture following defeat by Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

With the roundheads in hot pursuit and a large bounty on his head, Charles took a roundabout route via Bristol, Yeovil and Salisbury before finally escaping by boat to France. Charles II took six weeks but he had to hide in trees and barns. Today the walk should be much more relaxed—especially if you break it up into separate sections!

The paths and bridleways are usually well maintained and signposted with a logo of the Royal Oak tree (where Charles famously hid). It is also marked with a string of diamonds on OS maps.

It’s England’s longest inland waymarked hike and is characterised by its leafy well-established paths that include plenty of canal towpaths and disused railways. The gradients are mostly gentle, the terrain cultivated and much of the route passes through little-known rural areas.

It’s customary to start at Worcester, as Charles did. He escaped rapidly after watching the Royalist defeat in the final battle of the English Civil War from the cathedral tower, so the grand gothic church is a good place to begin.

The path loops north to Bosbobel and the famous Royal Oak tree where Charles hid, then heads into Shropshire as Charles tried to escape to Wales. It turns south to Stratford on Avon and through the Cotswolds to Bristol. Then crossing over the Mendip Hills, it continues to Wells and down to Charmouth on the Dorset coast. The final loop curls back over the Chalk Downs of Wiltshire and Hampshire to Shoreham in Sussex.

The Monarch’s Way is so long that it is usually broken into three sections for convenience of description and mapping. Each of these could make a one to two week holiday depending on the speed of walking.

Section one: Worcester to Stratford (180 miles/290km)

Through the West Midlands and Shropshire, highlights include following a network of historic Industrial Revolution canals, seeing a descendant of the Boscobel Royal Oak and reaching Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Less celebrated discoveries along this section might include the romantic ruins of White Ladies Priory and Moseley Old Hall, both used as hiding places by Charles.

Section two: Stratford to Charmouth (210/340km)

Crossing the Cotswolds and Mendips are the most arduous parts of the Way but the compensation is a sequence of some of the finest English country towns and villages, including Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Tetbury, Wells and Montacute. Lesser known highlights include the classic thatched cottages in Upper and Lower Qunton in Warwickshire, the thick woods at Abbots Leigh above the winding Avon Gorge and pretty South Cadbury nestling under its mysterious hillfort.

Section three: Charmouth to Shoreham (225miles/360km)

The Way loops from the Jurassic Coast inland along the ridge of southern England’s chalk downland, passing the major attraction of Stonehenge. Memorable less crowded (and less expensive) discoveries along the route might include the vast hill fort at Old Winchester Hill, crossing the parkland under the ramparts of Arundel Castle and the view from the great cliff peak at Golden Cap, the highest point on England’s south coast.

Worcester and Shoreham are easily accessible by road or rail, as are many spots along the Monarch’s Way. It doesn’t cross wilderness areas, so refreshments, accommodation and transport links are never far from the trail.

A path this long can be walked in smaller sections of course and detailed mapping and guides are available for specific stretches provided by various local authorities and walking groups.

The Monarch’s Way Association is the best source of detailed information. It publishes three books on the route and offers up-to-date online news about work and conditions on the trail, including via social media. Visit: www.monarchsway.50megs.com

As a long distance walk, the Isle of Wight coastal path is quite short but it provides an opportunity to walk right round the shoreline of England’s largest island. You might find that on return to the start point there’s great satisfaction in completing an island’s circumference, regardless of the length!

Along the way, the Isle of Wight offers a surprisingly varied sequence of landscapes, including jagged chalk headlands, long sandy bays, salt marshes and estuaries. There are certainly no boring stretches on this route.

Many islanders are keen walkers and many visitors try at least part of the coast trail. This means the local authority keeps the path well maintained and signposted. It also means you are likely to see other walkers at any time, especially round Tennyson Down and the Needles. Nevertheless the round-the-island walk is generally less crowded than mainland coastal trails simply because it’s harder for most people to get there.

It’s a circular route of course so walkers could start anywhere and it may depend on your accommodation plans.

Most walkers will arrive by ferry and so the terminals make sensible start and end points.

The choice of clockwise or anti-clockwise is entirely down to personal preference. Similarly, the time of year is a personal choice. Summer brings more people but better chances of good weather; winter storms could make a coast walk very memorable or spoil your day. Generally the Island has a mild climate and the north coast is particularly sheltered.

It makes sense to check the dates of occasional round-island walks and races before committing. Even major yachting events like the Round-the-Island race could make a big difference to the walk, either positive or negative depending on taste, and also affect availability of accommodation.

Wherever you start it’s useful to know what each section of the walk is like:

Day 1: Cowes to Yarmouth (16 miles/26km)

Heading along the sheltered north coast with views across the Solent and its busy waterways to the mainland. Highlights include Newtown Nature Reserve and panoramic views at the delightful coastal village of Gurnard.

Day 2: Yarmouth to Brighstone (14 miles/23km)

This is probably the most spectacular day on the route. Savour amazing seascapes including Alum Bay, the Needles and the south coast ‘chines’ or valleys. Note Tennyson’s grand home at Freshwater too.

Day 3: Brighstone to Niton (8 miles/13km)

Another inspiring day, now walking along the south coast of big chalky cliffs, grand sea views and rolling grassy downs.

Day 4: Niton to Sandown (9 miles/14km)

A chance to explore Ventnor’s Victorian charm and free botanical gardens, then stroll along Shanklin and Sandown’s classic seaside promenades.

Day 5: Sandown to Ryde (12 miles/19km)

Continue up the east coast tackling a fascinating sequence of seaside resorts, wild cliffs, sandy bays and yachting harbours.

Day 6: Ryde to Cowes (8 miles/13km)

Head back along the north coast through attractive wooded shores to photogenic Wootton Creek, then passing Queen Victoria’s favourite home at Osborne House to descend back into the bustling yachting centre of Cowes.

Arriving at the route’s start point will usually involve a ferry trip for most walkers. The available ferry routes for vehicles and pedestrians are: Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Southampton to East Cowes and Lymington to Yarmouth.

Additional pedestrian-only ferries are: Southampton to West Cowes, Portsmouth to Ryde and Southsea to Ryde.

The best route can depend on your route to the south coast and where you plan to stay on the island. Accommodation should not be a problem; there aren’t any wilderness areas although there are some largely rural stretches. As a holiday destination the choice should cover everything from nice boutique hotels to campsites and B&Bs.

The White Horse Trail is a circular long distance walking route through the Wiltshire countryside linking eight white horse chalk figures and visiting historic sites like Avebury, Silbury Hill and the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The eponymous chalk figures are famous sights across the Wiltshire Downs and each has a different story and associated legends.

It’s a very rural trail using well-established paths across classic chalky hills and neat Wiltshire farmland. It can be muddy but there are no wilderness sections.

It’s rated moderate because there’s a fair amount of clambering up the sides of chalk hills - all the horse figures are cut on the sides of escarpments. The total elevation of the White Horse Trail is 6,703ft/2,043m and the highest point is 932ft/284m.

The route can be tackled in either direction and from any point, as it is a circle – but a possible day plan provides a formula to make your own holiday arrangements.

Day 1: Westbury to Market Lavington (11 miles/18km)

Start at Wiltshire’s oldest and most iconic White Horse at the site of Alfred the Great’s victory over the Danes. Then follow a spectacular ridge path next to the army’s Salisbury Plain ranges.

Day 2: Market Lavington to Pewsey (12 miles/19km)

The trail leads down into the fertile Pewsey Vale with the village’s modern white horse on the hills above.

Day 3: Pewsey to Marlborough (11 miles/18km)

More glorious rolling Wiltshire Downs leading into the grand historic market square of Marlborough and its 200-year-old horse.

Day 4: Marlborough to Broad Hinton (8 miles/13km)

Discover the Hackpen Hill Horse cut to commemorate Queen Victoria’s coronation amid great countryside views.

Day 5: Broad Hinton to Compton Bassett (12 miles/19km)

Pass prehistoric and medieval earthworks to find Broad Town’s small horse figure cut on a slope above the woods.

Day 6: Compton Bassett to Bottlesford (14 miles/23km)

Pass the Georgian Cherhill White Horse, walk part of the ancient Ridge Way and discover the Avebury World Heritage Site. Cross the mysterious Wansdyke and Milk Hill, Wiltshire’s highest point, to find the remote Alton Barnes horse.

Day 7: Devizes to Westbury (15 miles/24km)

Follow the Kennet and Avon canal towpath down Caen Hill, then cross the farmland and leafy villages back to Westbury.

The route is a circuit so can be started and ended anywhere. Obvious start/end points are the towns Westbury, Marlborough and Devizes. Note that of those, only Westbury has a rail link but Devizes and Marlborough have more historic (and attractive) town centres to explore.

Wherever you start the White Horse Trail there’s a good choice of accommodation in the towns, less so in the rural spots. It is certainly advised to plan ahead because some stretches will only be served by a couple of farm B&Bs.

Unlike other more popular routes, there may not be a huge choice of organised walking holidays on offer but your accommodation may offer a luggage transfer service, or be able to recommend one.

The walk can be tackled at any time of year and crowds won’t be much of a problem. In the peak of summer there may be small crowds around Westbury White Horse, the Kennet and Avon towpath and Avebury but these are generally wide-open spaces with lots of room to escape others if that’s what you want.