There are plenty of brilliant walking trails across the UK, whether you're looking for stunning scenery, accessibility or family-family routes.
But those up for a challenge should consider a long-distance trail. While they are all beautiful, they are also tougher than the average ramble – with some taking up to eight weeks to complete. We asked our team of experts for their favourite long-distance walking trails. Dare you try one this year?
- National Parks of the UK: history, wildlife and best walking routes
- Britain's most stunning coastal walks
- Guide to the UK's National Trails: history and walking routes
Toughest long distance walking trails in the UK
Coast to Coast, Northern England
Alfred Wainwright’s breathtaking Coast to Coast trail passes through three of England’s greatest national parks. But more than that, it’s a chance to slow down, live the simple life and absorb the stories of the land. “Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk!” wrote the guidebook author and fellwalker when he devised the Coast to Coast in the 1970s. It’s hard to disagree. For 192 miles, this route meanders across northern England’s spectacular parks: the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
Most people tackle the route from west to east so they have the prevailing weather at their backs. This means starting the journey at St Bees Head in Cumbria and concluding at the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. Whichever way you choose, you’re in for a treat. This is some of the finest and most varied scenery in the UK – from Lakeland’s gnarly mountains to the heather-clad moors of North Yorkshire.
En route, you’ll encounter the medieval ruins of Shap Abbey and Richmond Castle, and walk through landscapes dotted with the remains of our industrial heritage. The towns and villages used as overnight stops form an integral part of the experience, as does the camaraderie that builds as walkers’ paths cross time and time again.
Glyndŵr’s Way, Powys
Glyndŵr’s Way was created to celebrate the 600th anniversary of Owain Glyndŵr’s ill-fated revolt against Henry IV’s forces, launched on 16 September 1400. He was also proclaimed Prince of Wales – the last native Welshman to hold the title.
This 135-mile National Trail meanders from Knighton to Welshpool via some of the prettiest parts of Mid Wales, passing sessile oak stands, upland heath and emerald farmland, visiting comely villages, Roman fortlets, ancient lead mines and cheerful market towns. In spring you will amble greenways lined with nodding daffodils and through woods carpeted in bluebells; in summer, you will be serenaded by skylarks, perhaps even spot a hen harrier soaring above. What you won’t meet are crowds: overshadowed by Eryri National Park to the north, Glyndŵr’s Way is delightfully peaceful.
Expect to take nine to 14 days to complete Glyndŵr’s Way – it’s usually walked south to north. With an elevation gain of 7,202m (53.3m of ascent per mile), it’s one of the more challenging National Trails. If you’re dipping in and out, the 15-mile leg between Dylife and Machynlleth offers a lovely snapshot of the route’s attractions.
South West Coast Path, Minehead to Poole
Immortalised in Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path, the South West Coast Path is one of the UK’s longest and most popular walking trails.
Some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches, prettiest coastal villages and major historical landmarks are all here. But it’s often the less travelled sections – the hidden coves, weathered fishing villages and rugged headlands – that prove the most rewarding. And that’s before we’ve mentioned the endless supplies of Cornish pasties and cream teas.
Blockbuster stretches include the Porthcurno and Minack Theatre combo, Tintagel Castle and Durdle Door. St Ives, Falmouth and Penzance are arty, maritime history-filled towns, while Slapton Sands and the abandoned village of Tyneham in Dorset reveal haunting wartime stories. Quieter highlights include the tin mines at Botallack (made famous as a filming backdrop for the BBC's Poldark), Countisbury Cliffs and Yealm Estuary in Devon.
For those of us who struggle with navigation, it’s difficult to get lost – just keep the coast on your right (or left if you’re starting in Poole). With 35,000 metres (56m per mile) of elevation gain, it’s consistently hilly, particularly around Exmoor, Hartland Quay and the Jurassic Coast.
If you want to walk the 630-mile National Trail in one go, on average it takes around seven to eight weeks, and is usually walked in an anti-clockwise direction starting from Minehead in Somerset.
Northumberland Coast Path, Northumberland
With dramatic castles, wide beaches and warm hospitality, the 62-mile Northumberland Coast Path is one of the most distinctive walks in the UK.
The route’s pathways follow the North Sea coast between the village of Cresswell in the county’s south and the spectacular border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed on the Scottish frontier. The light-hearted locals have many reasons to be cheerful, whether it’s the rugged mix of romantic ruins rising above the golden-duned beaches or a surprise guest visit from a grey seal popping its head above water.
The Northumberland coast has a beguiling nature, and comparisons can be drawn to the Cornish coast, but without the crowds. Highlights include the crumbling ruins of medieval Warkworth Castle, Druridge Bay’s pristine sweep of white sand, Alnmouth village and Lindisfarne Castle.
There’s also Bamburgh Castle, one the largest inhabited castles in England with a fascinating history spanning some 1,400 years and more than its fair share of ghost stories. In the sixth century, the Northumbrian kings sited their capital on this mighty escarpment, building fortifications and, later, a monastery. The walk across three miles of golden sand from Seahouses is dominated by its looming presence.
Expect to take three to seven days to complete this accessible trail, which has just 700m (11.3m per mile) of elevation gain.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Wales
Behold the glistering sea above which clouds flock like so many sheep! There’s a whip to the wind on Pen yr Afr, from which striated cliffs stretch out and gulls wheel, while seals lament in the caves far below. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path – Llwybr Arfordir Benfro in Welsh – is exhilarating yet also profoundly peaceful.
This 186-mile trail circumnavigates the county’s south-westerly peninsula. Its concertina topography boasts almost 11,000m of elevation gain (59m per mile). Expect to take 12 days to walk it in one swoop. You need strength and good boots, but it’s not all tough terrain.
If you’re walking sections, shuttle buses (in summer at least) serve coastal villages and towns where you’ll find respite and refreshment, whether it’s a pint at The Old Point House in Angle or fresh Welsh cakes at MamGu in Saundersfoot.
Between the start and/or end points of St Dogmaels in the north and Amroth in the south, spectacular geological features, such as the Church Doors near Lydstep, contrast with sandy bays like Marloes. Treasures abound: St Gofan’s Chapel in the cliffs and tiny Porthclais Harbour being favourites.
Pennine Way, Northern England
Quite simply, the Pennine Way is Britain’s most iconic National Trail – a 268-mile trek along the spine of England, traversing three national parks and the North Pennines National Landscape.
Pennine Way walkers will clock up 11,000m of ascent (41m per mile), gained by scaling a succession of lofty summits and elevated plateaus across Northern England’s most spectacular upland terrain. It’s the original designated National Trail and, to the tens of thousands who have walked it, still the best.
While it visits some of England’s natural wonders – including Malham Cove, High Cup Nick and the Cheviot – these are separated by long tracts of remote upland. In these vast landscapes the trail’s true nature is revealed, transcending modern noise and creating a more primal connection between those who walk it and the soul of the nation.
The trail starts at Edale in the shadow of Kinder Scout in the Peak District, the backdrop for a series of mass trespasses in the 1930s. From Kinder, the route meanders through the northern uplands, traversing increasingly wild terrain to reach the Scottish Border at the hamlet of Kirk Yetholm.
Ulster Way, Northern Ireland
Ulster Way runs through all six counties of Northern Ireland. Unusually, it’s formed of waymarked routes joined by non-waymarked stretches.
The waymarked routes vary greatly in length and difficulty, so there should be something for everyone who wants to take on a bite-sized chunk of the circuit. The 11-mile Lagan Towpath uses the river and canal system to guide walkers placidly through woods and meadows from Belfast to Lisburn. By contrast, the 39-mile section from Dungiven to Castlerock mainly follows a ridge from the Sperrin Mountains to the north coast. The non-waymarked sections of the Ulster Way are mainly on roads; walkers are advised to take public transport along these to reach the next waymarked trail in the circuit.
On the Lecale Way, keep an eye out for seals, otters and porpoises along with huge numbers of seabirds as you skirt Strangford Lough, the UK’s largest coastal inlet. You can learn about myths and legends on the Sliabh Beagh Way as it passes through counties Tyrone, Monaghan and Fermanagh.
For handy info on the full 636-mile route or individual sections, check out the Walk NI website.
West Highland Way, Scotland
The West Highland Way (WHW) is one of the world’s most popular long-distance hikes. With its ever-changing scenery, it constantly rewards the efforts of those who walk it with something fresh around every corner.
Opened in 1980, the WHW was the first official long-distance walk in Scotland and is now one of the nation’s designated Great Trails. At 96 miles and around 4,000m of ascents (41.7m per mile), it gives a taste of several distinct landscapes in the Scottish Highlands without being too daunting.
On the way the route flanks the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, heads along impressive valleys such as Glen Falloch and Strath Fillan, rises on to wild Rannoch Moor, passes the entrance to Glen Coe and tiptoes around the towering hulk of Ben Nevis.
Milngavie, with its railway station and plentiful shops, makes an ideal jumping-off spot for a long-distance walk. Pass beneath the archway that marks the official start of the WHW and wander into a wood to leave all traces of urban life behind you.
Served by railway stations at both ends (and en route at Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy), the most popular way of accessing the trail is by train. Usually walked in five to eight days south to north, the well waymarked route ends at Fort William on Loch Linnhe.
South Downs Way, England
The South Downs Way isn’t a route for the hillphobic. Opened in 1972 and extended westward 15 years later, the long-distance trail spends the vast majority of its 100-mile journey across Hampshire and Sussex either climbing a hill, descending a hill or surfing the grassy waves of exposed high ridges.
The path runs the length of the sumptuous South Downs National Park. After leaving its starting point of the historic city of Winchester in Hampshire, it avoids civilisation as much as possible before its conclusion in Eastbourne, East Sussex, despite flowing close to some of England’s busiest areas.
However, from time to time, the National Trail will deign to pass through a small village or dozing hamlet in the Weald below whenever the mighty chalk ridge is interrupted by one of the rivers that have patiently carved a path across it over the millennia.
In all, there’s a challenging 4,150m of ascents (41.5m per mile) over the 100-mile route. However, since the highest point is the relatively modest peak of Butser Hill (270m), the route is accessible to any walker with a reasonable level of fitness, and typically takes between six and eight days to complete.
Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, Suffolk and Norfolk, England
An intriguing fusion of the ancient Peddars Way and a modern path along the Norfolk coast, this National Trail presents a 130-mile odyssey that passes through heaths and forests and around a famously breezy shoreline.
The Peddars Way section follows a Roman road constructed in AD61. It seems likely though that the Romans themselves were building on a prehistoric pathway that may have stretched all the way to the Dorset coast. However, the modern trail starts at Knettishall Heath Country Park in Suffolk, crossing the county border almost immediately on its mostly straight and largely flat push towards Holme-next-the-Sea on the north coast.
Here it joins the Norfolk Coast Path close to its western end as it heads from Hunstanton all the way to Hopton-on-Sea, passing through the resorts of Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham, Cromer and Great Yarmouth. The going in both sections is largely flat (600m of elevation at just 4.6m per mile), with only the stretch on the shingle bank between Cley and Weybourne likely to be testing.
Watch for wild boar and deer as you pass through woods and look out for rare flora and fauna among the dunes at Holkham National Nature Reserve. Further east, take a boat to see the thriving seal colony at Blakeney Point.
Main image: hikers on the West Highland Way/Getty
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