10 Hiking Trails in England That You Shouldn't Miss

October 4, 2021 Phylicia Berquist

– in Europe  (green & dark grey) – in the United Kingdom  (green)
Restaurants in England

1. Cotswold Way

England 01451 862008 https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/cotswold-way
Excellent
81%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 202 reviews

Cotswold Way

This 104-mile hiking trail starts close to Shakespeare's Stratford and finishes in Bath, as it winds through pretty countryside and delightful villages steeped in history.

Reviewed By karencA6283NY - Peterborough, United Kingdom

My friend and I are planning on walking the national trail over a few weekends. So far we have walked from Chipping Campden to Seven springs and have really enjoyed the variety and stunning views. Highlights: Hailes Abbey, Broadway, views from Cleeve Hill, Stanton and Belas Knap plus too many other places to mention. Take a drink in Stanton as (walking south) we found no other options on the trail until Hailes fruit farm. A really beautiful trail.

2. Offa's Dyke Path National Trail

England http://www.offasdyke.demon.co.uk/
Excellent
87%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 30 reviews

Offa's Dyke Path National Trail

This 177-mile long trail runs from Sedbury to Prestatyn, mostly through Wales.

Reviewed By 350dwainl - Leominster, United Kingdom

On October 10th 2019 to October 20th 2019, a group of 3 veterans and a wife to a veteran (suffering with PTSD) 2 women 2 men set out from Prestatyn using just a small little book map and a compass, on a typical Welsh morning (chilly but sunnyish) at 0930 on a charity walk for the FIRST LIGHT TRUST raising awareness for HOMELESS VETERANS and PTSD. At the time of the walk I was also homeless and still struggling with PTSD. During the whole experience along the route we seen some truly amazing views and sights and met some very nice, kind and friendly people. 1 very kind and helpful family actually let us set up camp in there back garden for the night and also charged our phones and gave us the use of a proper toilet ????. We completed the route in 10 days, sleeping in tents to show the hardship and suffering our veterans are going through. The weather was pretty grim at night lots of rain (time of the year) and some days. It's a fantastic challenge and I'll be truthful it's not an easy route but with the right attitude and DETERMINATION (THERE'S A LOT OF UP'S AND DOWNS) and some good navigation skills as some of the route is not very well sign posted or maintained. We also noticed some farmers have knocked down sign posts to stop people going across their fields. Some farmers have actually made footpaths across their fields so you can stick to the route. The joy and feeling we all had and felt completing the route was a massive achievement and fantastic effort by our little 4 man team and our support man transporting our tents to each night's stop and doing brew duty. I would definitely recommend the route but I think it's a good idea to plan the route for the warmer months of the year because of 2 reason's: (1) we only had 8 hours of daylight to cover 17.5 miles and with some of the terrain we experienced and climbs and decents made covering ground a bit tricky. (2) Due to the time of year and the weather making everything soaked it made drying our tents virtually impossible (we wanted that anyway to raise awareness for our cause) and it's not pleasant at times. But if your slightly hard-core and like a challenge take it on you will not be disappointed

3. Ingleborough

Yorkshire Dales National Park, Settle England +44 15242 41256 http://www.oldhillinn.co.uk
Excellent
78%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 234 reviews

Ingleborough

Reviewed By sheffieldeats - Sheffield, United Kingdom

Seen from the top of Pen y Ghent and knowing that in about 6-8 hours you will be looking up at its vast bulk, takes some beating mixed emotions! Variety of terrain on the approach in, followed by a relatively short scramble up. Take your time and watch where you put your feet! Your respect for the mountain will be rewarded.

4. Catbells Lakeland Walk

Keswick England +44 1229 587232 http://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_26.html
Excellent
84%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,648 reviews

Catbells Lakeland Walk

Reviewed By gburge - Basingstoke, United Kingdom

Who doesn’t visit Cat Bells when visiting Keswick or its surrounding villages. I lovely climb with a lovely view from Newlands or ascend via Little Town to Hause Gate and also visit Maiden Moor or even do a ridge route horse show and descend via Robinson’s for the more experienced walker.

5. Helvellyn

England
Excellent
90%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 280 reviews

Helvellyn

This is England's 3rd highest mountain at 3,118 feet.

Reviewed By sjh1404 - Weston super Mare, United Kingdom

This was our first attempt at climbing this awe inspiring peak. We took the route from Glenridding with a planned figure of eight taking in Striding Edge, the Summit, Swirrals Edge and then skirting Red Tarn to return close to Patterdale and Lanty’s Tarn back to Glenridding. The weather was beautiful and the scenery unsurpassed. I must stress that Striding Edge is a challenge and should not be undertaken lightly. It is a climb where you will be looking for foot and handholds but so worth it. I am not a super fit experienced hiker so if I can manage it then most people can and the sense of achievement is a great incentive to keep going. There are plenty of other routes to the summit of this, the third highest peak in England, so it caters for all abilities. One hiker we met on the descent had undergone a double knee replacement and was putting us all to shame. Give this a go. Check the weather. Take plenty of water and wear the right footwear. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

6. The South West Coast Path

Both north and south coast England +44 1752 896237 http://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Excellent
83%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 18 reviews

The South West Coast Path

Reviewed By charliedog56

Set off from minehead up to Portsmouth now Can be very challenging near minehead but Can recommend it to anyone. Takes the cares of the world off your back just so much to see We fly down to betray airport and do around 120 mile stretch every year .fantastic views and many nice people on the way. You won't regret doing it we book through a company called contours who arrange everything for you hotel luggage transport every thing. Just chase your bags every day. WALK OF A LIFETIME.

7. Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk

England http://www.coastto.co.uk/
Excellent
95%
Good
2%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 178 reviews

Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast Walk

Reviewed By lawyerrambling - Glendale, United States

Signed on with C2C in Kirkby Steven to do the first two-thirds of the walk (solo) in early June. Cannot praise the walk enough. Even this portion (of roughly 120 miles) offered a cross-section with coastal bluffs the first day, lakes and peaks through the Lake District, moors across Westmoreland, hills through the Pennines, dales in Yorkshire, villages in the Lake District and market towns (Kirkby Steven and Richmond). I took a slow pace and an extra night in Grasmere and the pace is such that, time permitting, an extra day every three days or so is welcome. (I wish I'd allowed an extra night in Kirkby Steven). The accommodations proved excellent (guest houses and B&Bs mostly) and the food was a pleasant surprise.

8. Kinder Scout

Peak District National Park England http://www.facebook.com/kinderscoutpeakdistrict
Excellent
79%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 290 reviews

Kinder Scout

Reviewed By amdgriggs - Sheffield, United Kingdom

I’ve been walking on and around Kinder for nearly 60 years now and it’s probably my favourite place in England for grand walking, certainly if all the places you can reach easily from Sheffield. It boasts a couple of true classic routes (eg up Grindsbrook from Edale, round the southern edge of the plateau westward to Edale Rocks and then down Jacobs Ladder and via Upper Booth, with options to go up Ringing Roger to start to avoid the Grindsbrook crowds, and to extend by heading north across the plateau to Kinder Gates and Kinder Downfall before heading south along the western edge to Jacobs Ladder) - great walks and spectacular in good weather but also never to be underestimated. Kinder is very different in cold, wet or misty weather - I well remember wintry walks on Kinder with my dad as a child, but also more recent occasions when I’ve marvelled at inexperienced and under-equipped walkers up there in descending mist with no map or compass and only a sketchy idea where they want to be. There’s a reason the Edale Mountain Rescue Team is so busy.... Things have changed in the past few years and much of the popular stretch of the plateau edge from Grindsbrook to Jacobs Ladder is now well-engineered with millstone slabs (to control erosion; the centre of the plateau also has far more vegetation than 60 years ago, thanks to extensive replanting of heather and the construction of hundreds of leaky dams which have prevented the further erosion of many of the peat hags. My favourite sections to walk are now some of the quieter and more remote areas at the eastern or northern ends of the plateau, where there are a surprising number of clear but little-used paths and some wonderful rock outcrops. A great walk is to walk up to Hope Cross (eg from Bagshaw Bridge on the Edale side), up to the plateau and then do as long an anti-clockwise circuit as you have the energy for, cutting across to the south side at one of the narrower points and using your navigation skills. There are also paths across the plateau, most not shown on OS maps but clearly shown on (eg) Open CycleMap, which comes free with the ViewRanger app. There’s another fine walk too from the Snake Inn west up Ashop Clough to Ashop Head, then east along the plateau’s northern edge before descending again off Fairbrook Naze. Kinder gets really popular at weekends and in good weather - good to see, of course, and not surprising too as it’s also the start of the Pennine Way - and it’s always good to know there are quieter parts which are just as dramatic and just as wild: check out the iconic Kinder Gates, or the Madwoman’s Stone. Very highly recommended.

9. Yorkshire Wolds Way

England http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/yorkshire-wolds-way
Excellent
89%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 46 reviews

Yorkshire Wolds Way

10. Ridge Walk Mam Tor to Losehill

Castleton, Peak District National Park England +44 7854 024242 http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kinder-edale-and-the-dark-peak/trails/mam-tor-circular-walk
Excellent
81%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 756 reviews

Ridge Walk Mam Tor to Losehill

Reviewed By 677KarenL

Highly recommend this walk in the Peak District - it's a firm favourite. I love the great outdoors and this really is an area of unspoilt natural beauty. Walks for all abilities - simply from the NT car park up to the top of Mam Tor peak to take in the views or to carry on and follow the ridge all along and descend into Castletown for a walk around. It's a stunning walk that I will happily do time and time again!

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