The most epic multi-day walks in the UK, from the Thames Path to Hadrian's Wall
Stretch your legs on a multi-day hike across the UK’s most spectacular scenery
With ancient stone circles, craggy mountains slicing the sky, and yawning valleys speckled with wildflowers, the UK has way too much to offer to be seen in just one day. Thankfully, its network of long-distance walks is well-maintained, well-signposted and well worth the schlep. Here are some of the best.
The South Downs Way, Sussex, England
Length: 99 miles
Duration: 7-9 days
We can thank England’s early settlers for the South Downs Way; the route was carved out some 6,000 years ago when they laid their tracks at the top of the dry hills (rather than the swampy Weald below). The paths have been used for generations since, including by Bronze Age traders and marching Romans and the network of trails offers an ideal long-distance walk, even for those with little experience of long trudges. There’s a wealth of accommodation along the way and routes are well-marked, but be sure to take a few detours, you might find historic buildings, cosy pubs and just-for-you views of chalk downlands and the English Channel.
The Thames Path, London, England
Length: Between 183 and 185 miles, depending on route.
Duration: 12-14 days
The Thames Path snakes its way through bucolic English countryside, taking in the sort of scenery that ends up on cake tins. The Thames waters are the cleanest they have been in a century, meaning you’ll be sharing them with plenty of birds, mammals and fish, including spindly-legged oystercatchers, Jurassic-looking grey herons and even mink and common seals. You’ll have to adhere to the towpath where possible, which means lots of switching back and forth between banksides, but this only keeps things fresh, and you’ll find many highlights along the way, from George Orwell’s burial spot in Sutton Courtenay, to Hampton Court Palace, home to Henry VIII and a ‘haunted gallery’ through which Catherine Howard’s ghost reportedly rampages.
The Cotswolds Way, England
Length: 102 miles
Duration: 7-8 days
This gem of a walk – through the limestone hills of the Cotswolds – is surprisingly unchallenging, even though it takes in some truly spectacular scenery, including a towering mountain and one of the most beautiful cities in England. Running from Bath to Chipping Campden, and averaging 600ft in height, this is a gentle trail across picturesque scenery, peaking at Cleeve Cloud, which stands 1086 feet above sea level. On the way, you’ll pass ancient settlements and wildlife-filled forests, and best of all, there are countless tea rooms awaiting you at your final stop, heaving with cream-slicked scones and pots of warming coffee.
Hadrian’s Wall, England
Length: 84 miles
Duration: 6-7 days
Give or take a few miles, this trail effectively represents a walk across the width of England. It follows the defensive wall built by Roman Emperor Hadrian in order to hold back the unconquered Scottish tribes and crosses some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK. There’s no doubt this is a walk of contrasts though – large sections of wall at the rural centre are flanked by pretty countryside scenery, while city suburbs crop up when the wall is sparsest (or non-existent). There are also some parts which require old school map reading and strength in the legs, while some sections can be strolled at leisure. But the promise of grand sweeping views and history-rich remains will keep you going, wherever you are along the route.
The Great Glen Way, Scotland
Length: 73 miles
Duration: 5-6 days
This Scottish route is one of the newest long walks in Britain, but hikers have been treading its paths since 2002. For the most part it follows the Great Glen Valley, which connects Fort William on the west coast and Inverness on the east. The route is made up of well-defined, smartly waymarked pathways, meaning you don’t even need a guidebook or map to complete it. You’ll pass three glassy locks and the Caledonian Canal along the way, considered by some as one of the greatest waterways in the world. But make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the ospreys, buzzards and rare red squirrels that call this mountain and moorland scenery home.
The Pilgrim’s Way, Canterbury, England
Length: 18 miles
Duration: 1-2 days
The Pilgrim’s Way is almost preposterously pretty, replete with timber cottages, apple orchards and daisy-flecked fields. The route follows ancient footsteps, as this was once an Iron Age trading route (it acquired pilgrimage status after the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in the early 12th century), with the lacework pattern of country roads and paths leading from Winchester to the magnificent Canterbury cathedral. It’s now a great way to explore some of the UK’s loveliest countryside, and the cosy pubs that can be found among it.
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