Guide To The Best Hiking Trails The UK Has To Offer – Get Out And Explore!
Don’t Miss Out on the Best Hiking Trails Britain has to Offer
Hiking in Britain, particularly during the summer, spring or autumn before the weather gets too ‘British’, offers seemingly no end of possibilities for the hiking enthusiast. Here are seven of the best hiking trails the UK has to offer.
1. Hadrian’s Wall, Northeast England
Hadrian’s Wall is a worthy World Heritage Site and one of the best destinations in Britain for hiking enthusiasts. It’s a relatively short trail in comparison to many British trails at 131 kilometres (84 miles), but it’s certainly one of the most iconic and rewarding.
2. The West Highland Way, Highlands, Scotland
By far the most famous trail in all of Scotland, the West Highland Way is popular for the abundance of wildlife hikers see along the way, not to mention the views of Scotland’s most iconic and famous landscapes.
The peaks of Glencoe, the glassy surfaced Loch Lomond and the snowy, harsh crags that make up Ben Lomond nearby are some of the most amazing sights you’ll witness on this rewarding, yet exertive, hike.
3. Cotswold Way, Central England
This is Central England at its finest, complete with rolling hills and picturesque farmland with breaks of forest. At just 163 kilometres (102 miles) it’s far from the lengthiest walk in Britain but it’s considered to be among its finest, not to mention an excellent choice for hikers from overseas looking for ‘quaint England’ who’ll find exactly what they’re looking for in the traditional limestone villages of the Severn Vale.
4. The Thames Path, Southern/Central England and London
Yearning to walk to London? If you are then the Thames Path is the hiking trail for you. One of the lengthier trails in Britain – 294 kilometres (184 miles) – this trail is undemanding but will take about ten to fourteen days to complete depending on how swift you are, how many breaks you take and how many days you decide to relax along the way.
Beginning at the source of the Thames in Kemble (Gloucestershire), you can witness the Thames transform from a trickling stream into the mighty river we’re familiar with in the capital.
5. Glyndŵr’s Way, Mid Wales
A lengthy trail at 217 kilometres (135 miles), hiking Glyndŵr’s Way is an excellent way to discover the beauty of Central Wales, widely considered by many hiking enthusiasts to be one of the most beautiful parts of Wales. The top sights here are the Cambrian Mountains and Lake Vyrnwy.
6. The South Downs Way, Southern England
A mid-sized trail, 160 kilometres (100 miles), the South Downs Way is a remarkable trail, particularly in the summer and spring, and takes about eight to nine days to complete as a hike, but has also proven to be a popular two to three day bike ride.
This is one of the most popular hikes in the area and takes in the picturesque countryside between the white cliffs of Eastbourne and the first capital of England, Winchester.
7. The Pennine Way, Northern England, Southern Scotland
Not for the fainthearted, well not really, but the Pennine Way is a very lengthy, at times arduous hike that takes at least eighteen to twenty one days – the direct route is 162 kilometres (255 miles) and the Bowes Loop a few kilometres more – to complete for an intermediate hiker, plus it’s set in some of the remotest, most rugged countryside in the upland country.
The Pennine Way is well worth the effort and boasts sights like Hadrian’s Wall and Withins Height, the latter reputed to be the inspiration for Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
Time to pack your backpack, lace up your hiking boots and head to Britain!
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About The Author: This article was shared by Trekwear a UK-based retailer of quality ski wear, outdoor clothing, and camping equipment.
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