South West Coast Path
Whole size Minehead to Poole, 630 miles
Finest bit Bude to Tintagel, 21 miles
sum up England’s longest Nationwide Path in a single weekend? A path wealthy in smugglers, dinosaurs, tiny harbours, secret coves, lonely cliffs and golden seashores. It’s onerous to decide on a “finest bit”, however the north Cornwall snippet from Bude’s buzzy seaside to the myth-wreathed fortress at Tintagel is a robust candidate. “This is among the most various sections,” says Aletha Mays of the South West Coast Path Affiliation. “Headlands, sandy bays, historic options and, sure, steep valleys, all in a manageable however picturesque size that isn’t too taxing or crowded. It’s the right taster.”
With two days extra, proceed from Tintagel to Padstow (21 miles), which provides on the mile-long Trebarwith Strand, Bounds Cliff (good for birdwatching), the squeeze-belly lanes of Port Isaac, the wild Rumps headland, the chapel of St Enodoc and a ferry over the Camel Estuary.
Transport Buses run between Bude and Tintagel. Direct buses join Bude to Exeter St David’s station. Buses additionally join Padstow to Bodmin Parkway station.
KeepCoombe Barton Inn in surfy Crackington Haven has doubles from £140 B&B.
Extra infosouthwestcoastpath.org.uk
Offa’s Dyke
Whole size Prestatyn to Chepstow, 177 miles
Finest bit Knighton to Hay-on-Wye, 28 miles
It takes about two weeks to stroll the stays of Offa’s Dyke alongside the English/Welsh border. However two days, targeted on the south-central chunk between Knighton (dwelling of the Offa’s Dyke Centre) and Hay-on-Wye, give a wonderful concept of what it’s wish to hint this eighth-century fortification.
“The very best sections of the earthworks are seen between Kington and Knighton and, for an excellent a part of this stroll, the trail runs alongside the highest,” says Ali Allen, proprietor of The Strolling Hub store and B&B in Kington. “It additionally contains a few of the path’s most gorgeous surroundings. South out of Kington it takes you over Hergest Ridge, the place there are 360-degree views so far as the Cotswolds, the Shropshire Hills, and to the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.”
Transport Buses run from Hay and Kington to Hereford station, and between Knighton and Kington. Knighton is on the Swansea-Shrewsbury prepare line.
KeepThe Strolling Hub in Kington has doubles from £75 B&B.
Extra infooffasdyke.org.uk
Pilgrims’ Approach
Whole size Winchester to Canterbury, 133 miles
Finest bit Rochester to Canterbury, 45 miles
Devotees started making pilgrimages from Winchester to Canterbury within the late twelfth century, after the assassination of Thomas Becket. Round two-thirds of the traditional monitor they used remains to be identifiable right now, based on Pilgrims’ Approach knowledgeable Derek Vivid. For these shorter on time, Derek and his spouse, Mandy, founders of mountain climbing firm Stroll Awhile, advocate ranging from Rochester as an alternative: “Public transport hyperlinks are good and connections with pilgrims robust,” Mandy says. Doable over 4 or 5 days, this feature makes use of a bit of the North Downs Approach, through the Medway Hole, to hook up with the Pilgrims Approach simply south of the Equipment’s Coty megalithic burial chamber. From there, preserve in keeping with medieval forebears previous the chalk Lenham Cross, Boughton Aluph church, Chilham Fortress, St Nicholas hospital chapel in Harbledown (from the place Henry II walked barefoot to Becket’s shrine), Caesar’s camp at Bigbury and into Canterbury itself.
Transport Rochester and Canterbury have prepare stations.
KeepAylesford Priory, south of Rochester, presents on-theme B&B doubles from £81. There are lodging choices at Lenham, Charing, Wye and Chilham through Stroll Awhile.
Extra infopilgrimswaycanterbury.org
Pennine Approach
Whole size Edale to Kirk Yetholm, 268 miles
Finest bit Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston, 41 miles
Extremely-runner Damian Corridor, as soon as holder of the quickest time on the Pennine Approach and writer of the official Nationwide Path information, has an intimate relationship with the route. And the part from Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston is, he reckons, Pennine Approach gold. “It has three nice waterfalls, plus the apocalyptic canyon of Excessive Cup, the very best sight alongside your entire path,” he says.
It begins with a stunning amble by means of flower-dotted meadows and beside the River Tees. Higher Teesdale ushers you thru a picturesque valley earlier than a testing scramble by Cauldron Snout, then the epic Excessive Cup Nick and all the way down to Dufton. Overnighting right here makes most sense, although it does break the route into two lengthy days. Certainly, the subsequent, says Corridor, is the hardest of the Pennine Approach: “Cross Fell is the very best level on the route, and among the many coldest locations in England. In clear climate it’s a day of gorgeous views.”
Transport Each Middleton-in-Teesdale and Alston are served by bus.
KeepDufton YHA has doubles from £29 room solely.
Extra infonationaltrail.co.uk
Monarch’s Approach
Photograph: UK Church buildings/Alamy
Whole size Worcester to Shoreham-by-Sea, 625 miles
Finest bit Boscobel loop from Cosford, Shropshire, 31 miles
The Monarch’s Approach is each traditionally genuine and brilliantly bonkers. This circuitous, generally backtracking beast follows the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after shedding the Battle of Worcester to Cromwell, and lots of hyperlinks to the fleeing royal stay. For these in search of a path taster, a loop on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border is probably the most resonant, based on John Tennant, chairman of the Monarch’s Approach Affiliation. “That is the place, for the king, all hell was breaking unfastened – he had a plan, his plan fell to bits, he had one other…”
Making this stroll anti-clockwise from rail-connected Cosford signifies that Boscobel Home and its Royal Oak, wherein Charles sought refuge, are reached early on day one; many different spots with hyperlinks to the king lie forward: the ruins of White Girls Priory (the place Charles stayed), Evelith Mill (the place he was virtually found), Madeley’s Royal Barn (the place he hid). The quiet village of Kemberton, close to Ironbridge and as soon as a hub of business, lies about midway.
Transport Cosford prepare station.
Keep Church Farm in Kemberton has doubles from £95 B&B.
Extra infoldwa.org.uk
West Highland Approach
Whole size Milngavie to Fort William, 96 miles
Finest bit Drymen to Inverarnan, 29 miles
The West Highland Approach is Scotland’s hottest long-distance path. And it’s a cracker: diversified, effectively waymarked and an ideal intro to the Highlands. If you wish to minimize it brief, Paul Webster, co-founder of wonderful Scottish hikes database Stroll Highlands, recommends a few choices. “The basic bits are the crossing of Rannoch Moor, adopted by climbing over the Satan’s Staircase, so you might stroll Tyndrum to Kinlochleven over three days,” he says. “The opposite actually good part is the east aspect of Loch Lomond, from Drymen over Conic Hill after which by the loch to Inverarnan – more durable than individuals anticipate.”
The latter is doable in two days. From the village of Drymen you climb Conic Hill, which lies on the faultline that divides the Highlands and Lowlands and marks a dramatic change in surroundings, earlier than undulating alongside the sting of Loch Lomond, through forests, rugged tracks and Rob Roy’s Cave.
Transport Drymen and Inverarnan are each served by bus.
KeepRowardennan Resort has doubles from £138 B&B.
Extra infowesthighlandway.org, walkhighlands.co.uk
Thames Path
Whole size Kemble, Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier, 185 miles
Finest bit Cricklade to Oxford, 42 miles
The Thames Path has a break up persona: the higher reaches are much more peaceable and rural, however comparatively ill-served by public transport; decrease down, issues get busier and extra constructed up, however extra accessible. Hannah Gutteridge, supervisor of the Thames Path, suggests Cricklade to Oxford would make a nice two- or three-day choice: “This part presents extra tranquillity, as a result of there are fewer boats upstream from Oxford, and extra likelihood of seeing kingfishers and listening to cuckoos. Plus, strolling into the historic metropolis alongside the Thames could be very attention-grabbing.”
This part additionally passes the small Cotswold market city of Lechlade and Kelmscott Manor, one-time retreat of William Morris, which reopened in April after conservation work. Cricklade is accessible by bus, and there are a number of pubs en route for in a single day stops.
Transport Buses run to Cricklade from Swindon. Oxford is effectively served by bus and prepare.
Keep The Riverside Inn in Lechlade has room-only doubles from £68. The Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge has room-only doubles from £100.
Extra info nationaltrail.co.uk
Coast to Coast Stroll
Whole size St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay, 192 miles
Finest bit Kirkby Stephen to Richmond, 36 miles
In keeping with David Claxton of the Wainwright Society, you shouldn’t shorten the C2C. “The fantastic thing about it's that it has selection unfold over the entire route. To say any part actually sums up the route would do it no justice,” he says. “Much better to pick separate day walks and do them when the climate is sweet.” Highlights, based on David, embody Rosthwaite to Grasmere (9 miles), which passes by means of basic Lakes surroundings, and Ingleby Cross to Clay Financial institution High (11.2 miles) within the distant North York Moors. David additionally reckons Kirkby Stephen to Keld (11 miles) and Keld to Reeth (11 miles) are each nice, and Reeth to Richmond (11 miles) is good too,, so when you’re content material to only concentrate on the Dales, this makes an accessible – if not completely accepted of – mini-adventure.
Transport Kirkby Stephen is on the Settle-Carlisle prepare line. A bus connects Keld, Reeth and Richmond.
KeepKeld Lodge has B&B doubles from £110. The Black Bull in Reeth has B&B doubles from £40.
Extra info wainwright.org.uk
John o’Groats Path
Whole size Inverness to John o’Groats, 147 miles
Finest bit Wick to John o’Groats, 26 miles
The John o’Groats Path is itself a trimmed section of a really lengthy stroll: the basic problem from Land’s Finish to Scotland’s north-eastern extremity is effectively over 1,000 miles. However arguably probably the most satisfying part of the lot is the grand finale.
“Wick to John o’Groats is an excellent coastal stroll,” says Paul Webster of Stroll Highlands, “although it’s a a lot rougher, extra casual route than many different long-distance paths.” Certainly, the entire of the shoreline-hugging John o’Groats Path remains to be a piece in progress, and suited to extra skilled walkers; the part from Wick to halfway Keiss entails fording the River of Wester, which is impassable if the water is excessive. However the pay-offs are dramatic cliffs and sea stacks, lonely lighthouses, fortress ruins, magnificent Sinclair’s Bay and the tip of the nation itself.
Transport Wick is the terminus of the Far North Line from Inverness. John o’Groats is served by buses.
KeepA Fortress View B&B in Keiss has B&B doubles from £65.
Extra infojogt.org.uk, walkhighlands.co.uk
Wales Coast Path
Whole size Chester to Chepstow, 870 miles
Finest bit Nefyn to Pwllheli, 56 miles
The world’s first coast path to stretch round a complete nation celebrates its tenth anniversary this yr. However individuals nonetheless haven’t cottoned on to the Llŷn Peninsula, reckons Paddy Dillon, writer of the Cicerone guidebook to the path (a second version is out now). “When the Wales Coast Path was established, they made the largest effort to create brand-new footpaths round this peninsula, opening up spectacular cliff coastlines,” says Paddy.
With simply two days to spare, Paddy suggests any stretch between Nefyn and Aberdaron, for dramatic rocky promontories, whistling sands and an excellent likelihood of seeing seals; with 4 or 5 days, strive Nefyn to Pwllheli, which takes in some good seaside walks too.
Transport Buses run to Nefyn from Pwllheli. Pwllheli is the terminus of the Cambrian Coast railway.
Keep The beachfront Ty Newydd Resort in Aberdaron has doubles from £110 B&B. The Wylfa in Abersoch has doubles from £120 room solely.
Extra info walescoastpath.gov.uk
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