Walks around England and Wales
UK

South West Coast Path

Walking in England and Wales

There is something in the UK for every outdoor person, whether casual walker or hardcore hiker, from flower-shrouded tracks through calm, endlessly rolling, pastoral hills to winding chalk cliff paths beside fossil rocks to steep, wild trails up bleak and challenging mountains.

But beware, weather can be very changeable, particularly along the west coast, in the north and as always in higher areas. Remember - 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes'!

There is excellent access to, and management of rural space, with parking, well marked trails, plentiful free information from local tourist offices, frequently cosy little pubs en route and good, free medical facilities not far off - the UK is an excellent walking destination.

Walking on Dartmoor, Devon

Public Rights of Way
These are paths accessible to people not on motor vehicles. There are thousands of miles of right of way in the UK for foot, horseback or bike.

Where to go in the UK:
Many areas without guidebook defined boundaries offer the adventurous hiker inspiring walks.

However, for those taking a book along with them will find that the UK's National Parks, 'Designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty', 'National Scenic Areas' and World Natural Heritage Sites, combined with several long distance National Trails offer comprehensive coverage of the best places and are usually worthy of their status.

World Natural Heritage Sites:
'Protecting natural and cultural properties of outstanding universal value against the threat of damage in a rapidly developing world'.
e.g. the Jurassic Coast in Devon and Dorset - one of the oldest coastlines in the world, stretching 95 miles from Orcombe Point in Devon and ending at Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, it encompasses over 185 million years of geological and fossil records. The United Nations have described it as 'an outstanding example, representing a major stage of earth's history and the record of life'.

Most of this coast is part of the South West Coast Path National [walking] Trail.
The most scenically interesting areas include the fossil centre of Lyme Regis, Chesil Beach [though very tough walking], Portland Bill, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Kimmeridge Bay, Dancing Ledge and Old Harry Rocks. See Dorset's South West Coast Path pictures.

English National Trails - in addition to numerous rights of way and free to roam areas there are nineteen specially maintained official long distance trails for walkers, cyclists and riders in the UK. Guidebooks are available for each.

South West Coast Path, Stair Hole to Durdle Door, Dorset

***South West Coast Path [630 miles, Britain's longest footpath, passing through 'The Jurassic Coast'.

***Cotswold Way [100 miles], Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Glyndwr's Way, Offa's Dyke Path, Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, Wolds Way, Cleveland Way, ***Hadrians Wall Path, Southern Upland Way, ***West Highland Way, Great Glen Way, Speyside Way.

National Parks in England

These are usually large protected areas, well organised and catering efficiently [signage, path maintenance etc.] for all levels of walkers.

Lake District in Cumbria, England - 885 square miles of steep but rounded mountains of well watered green flora surrounding a cluster of lakes in Cumbria, a hill walker's paradise.

Walking and Hiking: 1,799 miles of public rights of way, from easy valley trails to steep, precarious treks. The highest peak is Scaffel Pike at 3209 ft. Scaffel Pike walks
Buttermere is perhaps the most beautiful and tranquil lake for a base at which to stay.

Climbing: many demanding peaks and crags, topped by Pillar Rock and Scaffel Crag.

Watersports: various watersports on Windermere, Coniston, Derwent Water, Ullswater and Bassenthwaite lakes, but water skiing is only allowed at Windermere, the largest lake in England.

Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire, England - 683 square miles of gently rolling landscape with dry stone walls, high granite hills and limestone cliffs.

Walking: lots of potential but make sure to visit the old waterfall of Mallam Cove and perhaps some large caves like the Ingleborough Cave, White Scar Caves, and the Stump Cross Caverns. The Malham walks

Climbing: quite a few gritstone crags such as Caley and Almscliff and limestone scars such as the popular Mallam as well as the Twistleton Scars, Giggleswick, and the Gordale and Kilnsey Crags.

Caving: extensive limestone cave systems including Alum Pot, Gaping Gill, Mossdale Caverns, and the Kingsdale Master System.

Yorkshire Dales

North York Moors in North Yorkshire - 554 square miles which includes the largest heath moorland in the UK and also the largest natural woodland areas of all the national parks. Some parts are like the Yorkshire Dales - created by generations of sheep farming.

Walking: 1,000 miles of rights of way including the 108 mile Cleveland Way National Trail.

Biking: ideal for mountain biking, for example the Whitby to Scarborough Trailway, 20 miles along the edge of the North York Moors National Park, is one of the most spectacular routes. You may be able to travel with bikes on the North York Moors steam railway.

Northumberland embraces 405 square miles of gently rolling moorland and low hills and the largest man made forest in the UK. It's often bleak and windswept, with low a low population but hosts several old castles due to long past differences with neighbouring Scotland.

Walking: castles, coastline, beaches and isolation are the main attraction of a good Northumberland walk and the Pennine Way National Trail crosses the area. Bamburgh Castle and an ocean of dunes 13 miles [21kms] to Craster fishing village is one favourite longish hike or Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle for a short 1.5 hour walk.
Also in Northumberland is Kielder Water, an ambush of hillforts and Hadrians Wall Path.

Climbing: around a hundred or so crags across the county.

Part of a Pennine Way footpath, Derbyshire

Peak District, Derbyshire - 555 square miles of dry stone wall patchwork, narrow winding lanes, and quaintly bleak rolling hills and valleys.

Walking: 1,479 miles of public rights of way, especially on the well-orgainsed Pennine Way.

Climbing: very popular region with numerous gritstone crags.

Dartmoor in Devon - 368 square miles of hilly, high moorland in north Devon with high points known as tors.
Walking: over 600 miles of paths, with access to all of the park.
Hundreds of official guided walks all year round and the Ten Tors race every year. Dartmoor walk

Exmoor in Devon and Somerset - 268 square miles of high moorland and rolling grasslands with wooded areas, including part of the North Devon coastline.

Walking: a 620 mile walk including part of the South West Coast Path National Trail - the most southerly path in the UK, so relatively good weather! Other long walks include the Two Moors Way and the Tarka Trail.

Watersports: sailing and windsurfing on the Wimbleball lake, canoeing on the Exe and Barle rivers. Exmoor walk

The Norfolk Broads in Norfolk and Suffolk [not far from London] - 117 square miles, the largest wetland area in the UK on the coast of Norfolk. Consisting of 124 miles of waterway including 5 lowland rivers, 40 shallow broads plus marshes and fens along with wooded areas. The broads are the result of hundreds of years of digging up peat for fuel.

Walking: 193 miles of paths. Generally flat and easy traversing all manner of waterways and their wildlife, through many villages with many pubs. Long walks include the Weaver's Way and Angles Way.
Prefer to avoid crowds? Try Wells-next-the-Sea to Cley walk

Biking: easy going riding through country lanes or along rights of way where permitted. There are 12 bike hire places at moorings for boaters.

Watersports: canoeing allows access to the more sensitive areas of the broads.

Boating: cruisers and houseboats are available for voages along the larger waterways.

Birdwatching: excellent region for watching migrating wetland birds.

UK, Wales, Snowdonia

Fine Parks for hiking in Wales:

Wales is darkly magnificent and full of lush slopes, bug-eyed sheep, babbling brooks, brooding peaks, spooky woods, calm lakes and cosy little pubs. Some of the best spots are:

Pembrokeshire Coast in South Wales - 240 square miles of unspoilt coastline. The Gower Peninsula is here.

Walking: 500 miles of rights of way including the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail. Gower Peninsula walks

Brecon Beacons in South Wales - 519 square miles of scenic, moderately mountainous highlands.

Walking and Hiking: 1,242 miles of paths.

Climbing: lots of crags and disused quarries. Brecon Beacons walks

Snowdonia in North Wales - 827 square miles of dark and dramatic mountain hikes, including Mt. Snowdon, with a peak at 3560 ft.

Walking & Hiking: 1,739 miles of paths with lots of ups and downs, lakes, rivers, bogs and pubs.

Climbing: lots of mountainous crags, especially Mt. Snowden itself, the second highest mountain in the UK. Plus winter mountaineering. Snowdon summit walk

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