Walking holidays in the UK: The Best to Experience

Lake District

For those looking more towards relaxation than invigoration, the Lake District has an array of suitable, gently-does-it walks. However, there are also hikes to get the adrenaline flowing like a raging spring river.

The Coniston Round is a magnificent balance between the two ends of the spectrum, offering relatively easy walking without sacrificing the splendour of the mountains.

• It’s a good 14 miles and will take a solid seven hours, probably closer to eight.
• There is a certain amount of tough ascending, but nothing technical and certainly nothing beyond the fitness of even the most occasional walker.

As with the Bochlwyd Horseshoe, there is plenty to occupy your mind on the climbs, with the imposing cliffs of Dow Crag being a highlight. The best thing about this route is that it maintains altitude almost all of the way, meaning you are rarely without superb views, either out to the coast or to the surrounding hills and mountains.

Stratford-upon-Avon

For culture vultures and history buffs, why not combine a walking holiday with some of the myriad culturally significant landmarks and stopping points that abound in the UK?

One option – and, as always, there are many – would be to walk from Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace, as you are probably aware) via numerous archetypal English villages and small market towns to the historic university city of Oxford.

The scenery may not be as dramatic as the more rugged destinations, but watching a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company on their home turf and visiting some of the fascinating – and ancient – colleges in Oxford adds a different dimension that is sure to appeal to many.

Britain Isles

If coastal walks are your preference, then the Britain Isles are, once more, a fantastic option. The clue is in the name – isles – and with over 11,000 miles of coastline, you are genuinely spoilt for choice.

While the West coast of Scotland, North Yorkshire, or Northumbria all have much to offer, in our opinion, the finest walks with the sea at your side are to be found in the South of England.

• Dorset Devon Cornwall

These regions all offer escape, romance, and fresh, salty air in abundance.

Lulworth Cove in Dorset

Picking just one route seems both nigh on impossible and also a tad unfair on all the other fabulous possibilities. However, with a gun to my head, I’d have to plump for the area around Lulworth Cove in Dorset.

There are plenty of different routes to choose from, so you can tailor the length and difficulty to your needs, but all of them will offer up some of the most stunning views imaginable.

• Durdle Door is one of several highlights, with the limestone arch reaching out into the sea like a fairytale bridge.
• The entire Jurassic coast, with its well-managed paths, child-pleasing fossil-hunting, sheer cliffs, erosion-warped outcrops, and fabulous views is one entire highlight.

This article could easily cover another hundred majestic options and probably still leave some readers marvelling that we’ve ignored their own personal favourites.

With Pembrokeshire, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, various areas of Northern Ireland, and numerous other areas to explore, you could spend a lifetime – and what a lifetime – walking around these little, wet islands and still only scratch the surface.

Important warning: Of course, the longer you wait, the less you’ll scratch, so wait no more. Get that long weekend, week, or even fortnight booked off work and get planning your UK walking holiday: just remember to pack the raincoat.