Simon is a TV writer turned travel journalist and photographer who specialises in walking and hiking holidays in the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond. He writes on walking holidays in England for the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, among others.
- Distance: 615 miles/990km
- Duration: 30 - 60 days, or shorter sections
- Start point: Worcester
- End point: Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
- Difficulty: Easy to medium
- Suitable for: History fans and walkers who enjoy discovering little known patches of rural England
Here's another left-field suggestion you won't find in all the obvious contenders, but one I feel deserves inclusion for its historical interest as much as the walking.
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.
The Monarch’s Way is so long that it is usually broken into three sections for convenience of description and mapping. 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.
At a glance
Destinations
Worcestershire
Activity
Adventure, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Culture, HistoryPhysical Level
Mild
Duration
30 days
Related Guides

The best walking holidays in the UK

The United Kingdom is a walking holiday paradise: Hundreds of thousands of miles of well-mapped public footpaths, beautifully varied landscapes, excellent hospitality, and easily accessible. It’s no wonder this is a nation of walkers.

Walking holidays in England

There are two broad categories of walking holidays in England: single location (‘centre based’) or long distance (‘inn-to-inn’) walks. When I've been walking with a big group or with kids in tow, it can work better being based in one location and heading out on day hikes as the group (and weather) sees fit.

The best walking holidays in Europe

Europe is a famously popular and, in places, crowded travel destination. Escaping the bustle on a walking holiday in Europe's more-remote corners is a good way to escape the day trippers, tour buses and cruise ships that plague the continent’s busier hotspots.

Simon Heptinstall
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The Monarch’s Way
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