List of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom
There are hundreds of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom designated in publications from public authorities, guidebooks and OS maps.[1] They are mainly used for hiking and walking, but some may also be used, in whole or in part, for mountain biking and horse riding. Most are in rural landscapes, in varying terrain, some passing through National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[2] There is no formal definition of a long-distance path, though the British Long Distance Walkers Association defines one as a route "20 miles [32 km] or more in length and mainly off-road."[1] They usually follow existing rights of way, often over private land, joined together and sometimes waymarked to make a named route.[3] Generally, the surface is not specially prepared, with rough ground, uneven surfaces and stiles, which can cause accessibility issues for people with disabilities.[4] Exceptions to this can be converted railways, canal towpaths and some popular fell walking routes where stone-pitching and slabs have been laid to prevent erosion.[5] Many long-distance footpaths are arranged around a particular theme such as one specific range of hills or a historical or geographical connection.[3]
England and Wales: National Trails
[edit]National Trails are a network of long-distance paths in England and Wales (plus a small stretch of the Pennine Way in Scotland[6]) funded by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales and maintained by local authorities under a Trail Partnership.[7] As of January 2023[update], there are over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) of trails on seventeen routes.[7] The longest trail, the England Coast Path, is not complete though more sections are planned to open over the coming months and years, with a planned completion date of around 2024.[8] The newest trail is the Coast to Coast Walk which will officially open in 2025.[9] There are 83 million visits to the National Trails each year and over 80,000 people complete a trail.[10]
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Ivinghoe Beacon (the eastern trailhead) seen looking north from the Ridgeway
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The paved surface of the Pennine Way on Black Hill
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
Cleveland Way | 110 | 177 | North Yorkshire, England | Helmsley | Filey Brigg | Runs around the edge of the North York Moors National Park in a horseshoe configuration. |
Cotswold Way | 102 | 164 | The Cotswolds, Central England | Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire | Bath, Somerset | Runs along the Cotswold Edge escarpment of the Cotswold Hills. |
Coast to Coast Walk* | 197 | 317 | Cumbria and North Yorkshire, Northern England | St Bees, Cumbria | Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire | Devised by Alfred Wainwright and announced to become a National Trail in 2022.[9] |
England Coast Path | 2,795 | 4,500† | England | N/A | N/A | Will cover the entire coast of England and will be the longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world.[11] |
Glyndŵr's Way | 135 | 217 | Powys, mid Wales | Knighton | Welshpool | Runs in an extended loop. |
Hadrian's Wall Path | 84 | 135 | England: Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Cumbria | Wallsend, Tyne and Wear | Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria | Runs from the east to west coast along the remains of Hadrian's Wall. |
North Downs Way | 153 | 246 | South Eastern England | Farnham, Surrey | Dover, Kent | Passes through the areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) of the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs. |
Offa's Dyke Path | 177 | 285 | Wales–England border | Sedbury, Gloucestershire | Prestatyn, Denbighshire | Follows close to the border near the remnants of Offa's Dyke. |
Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path‡ | 97 | 156 | England in Suffolk and Norfolk | Knettishall Heath, Knettishall, Suffolk | Cromer, Norfolk | The two paths join at Holme-next-the-Sea. |
Pembrokeshire Coast Path | 186 | 299 | Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales | Poppit Sands, near St Dogmaels | Amroth | Has a total of 35,000 feet (11,000 m) of ascent and descent and lies almost completely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.[12] |
Pennine Bridleway | 205 | 330 | Pennines, Northern England | Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire | Ravenstonedale, Cumbria | Runs roughly parallel to the Pennine Way. |
Pennine Way | 267 | 430 | Pennines, Northern England and Southern Scotland | Edale, Derbyshire | Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders | Spans the length of the Pennines, according to the Ramblers, "one of Britain's best known and toughest" trails.[13] |
The Ridgeway | 87 | 140 | Berkshire Downs, Southern England | Overton Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire | Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire | Ancient trackway on a chalk ridge described as Britain's oldest road. |
South Downs Way | 100 | 161 | South Downs in Southern England | Winchester, Hampshire | Eastbourne, East Sussex | Within the South Downs National Park. |
South West Coast Path (South West Way) | 630 | 1,014 | England: Somerset, Devon, Cornwall & Dorset | Minehead, Somerset | Poole Harbour, Dorset | Originated as a route for the Coastguard to walk from lighthouse to lighthouse patrolling for smugglers.[14] |
Thames Path | 184 | 296 | Southern England | Kemble, Gloucestershire | Thames Barrier, Charlton | Follows the River Thames from its source to the Thames Barrier in London. |
Yorkshire Wolds Way | 79 | 127 | Yorkshire, England | Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire | Filey, North Yorkshire | Runs around the Yorkshire Wolds. |
* Officially opens in 2025[9]
† When complete in around 2024[8]
‡ Treated as one path by National Trails
Scotland: Great Trails
[edit]Scotland's Great Trails are long-distance "people-powered" trails (predominantly hiking trails but including cycling, horse-riding and canoe routes) in Scotland.[15] NatureScot maintains the official list of Scotland's Great Trails and is the custodian of the brand, but responsibility for creating and maintaining each route lies with each local authority through which a route passes, although Scottish Natural Heritage provides some of the finance and publicity.[16] There are 29 routes, offering 1,900 miles (3,000 km) of trails in total.[16]
Each of the routes is clearly waymarked with a dedicated symbol, and run largely off-road. They range in length from 24 to 214 miles (40 to 340 km), and are intended to be tackled over several days, either as a combination of day trips or as an end-to-end expedition. They are primarily intended for walkers, but may have sections suitable for cyclists and horse-riders.[17] One of the trails, the Great Glen Canoe Trail, is designed for canoeists and kayakers.[18]
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Fife Coastal Path at West Wemyss
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Cliffs from the Berwickshire Coastal Path
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A St Cuthbert's Way marker post at the edge of the square between Grubbit Law and Wideopen Hill
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
Annandale Way | 55 | 89 | Solway Coast, Dumfries and Galloway | Moffat | Annan | Follows the valley of the River Annan from its source in the Moffat Hills to the sea in the Solway Firth. |
Arran Coastal Way | 66 | 106 | Isle of Arran | N/A | N/A | Circular route around the coastline of the Isle of Arran. |
Ayrshire Coastal Path | 100 | 161 | Ayrshire | Glenapp, Ballantrae | Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire | Runs alongside the coast and forms part of the International Appalachian Trail.[19] |
Berwickshire Coastal Path | 28 | 45 | Scottish Borders and Northern England | Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders | Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland | Coastal path spanning the Anglo-Scottish border. |
Borders Abbeys Way | 68 | 109 | Scottish Borders | N/A | N/A | Circular route in the Borders passing through the ruins of many abbeys: Kelso – Jedburgh – Hawick – Selkirk – Melrose. |
Cateran Trail | 64 | 103 | Perth and Kinross and Angus | Blairgowrie and Rattray | N/A | Circular route covering many conditions such as farmland, mountains and forest: Blairgowrie – Kirkmichael – Spittal of Glenshee – Alyth. |
Clyde Walkway | 40 | 64 | South Lanarkshire | Glasgow | New Lanark | Runs close to the River Clyde for most of its length. |
Cowal Way | 57 | 92 | Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute | Portavadie | Inveruglas on Loch Lomond | Connects with the West Highland Way. |
Cross Borders Drove Road | 52 | 84 | Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders | Little Vantage, near Edinburgh | Hawick | One of the newest trails based on existing routes.[20] |
Dava Way | 24 | 39 | Moray | Grantown-on-Spey | Forres | Follows the route of the former Highland Railway which closed in 1965.[21] |
Fife Coastal Path | 117 | 188 | Fife | Kincardine | Newburgh | When opened it originally ran from North Queensferry to Tayport, but was later extended. |
Formartine and Buchan Way | 53 | 85 | Aberdeenshire | Dyce, near Aberdeen | Fraserburgh and Peterhead | Follows the track of the former railway line the Formartine and Buchan Railway which closed in 1970. The path branches into two sections at Maud.[22] |
Forth and Clyde Canal Pathway | 66 | 106 | Central Belt | Bowling, West Dunbartonshire | Fountainbridge, Edinburgh | Runs between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. |
Great Glen Canoe Trail | 60 | 97 | Scottish Highlands | Banavie, near Fort William | Clachnaharry, near Inverness | Coast-to-coast canoe trail on Caledonian canal and lochs. |
Great Glen Way | 79 | 127 | Scottish Highlands | Fort William | Inverness | Follows the Great Glen. |
Great Trossachs Path | 28 | 45 | Trossachs | Callander, Stirling | Inversnaid on the bank of Loch Lomond | In the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. |
John Muir Way | 134 | 216 | Central Belt | Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute | Dunbar, East Lothian | Named in honour of the Scottish conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 and became a founder of the United States National Park Service.[23] |
Kintyre Way | 100 | 161 | Argyll and Bute, Argyllshire | Tarbert | Machrihanish | On the Kintyre peninsula.[24] |
Moray Coast Trail | 50 | 80 | Moray | Forres | Cullen | Part of the North Sea Trail. |
Mull of Galloway Trail | 37 | 60 | Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire | Mull of Galloway | Glenapp, Ballantrae | Created and maintained by the Rotary Club of Stranraer.[25] |
River Ayr Way | 44 | 71 | Southern Scotland | Glenbuck, East Ayrshire | Ayr, South Ayrshire | Mostly follows the River Ayr. |
Rob Roy Way | 92 | 148 | Perthshire and Stirlingshire | Drymen, Stirling | Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross | Takes its name from Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century.[26] |
Romans and Reivers Route | 52 | 84 | Southern Uplands | Ae | Hawick | Mostly follows former Roman roads. |
St Cuthbert's Way | 62 | 100 | Scottish Borders and Northern England | Melrose, Scottish Borders | Lindisfarne, Northumberland | Named after Cuthbert, a 7th-century saint, a native of the Borders who spent his life in the service of the church.[27] |
Southern Upland Way | 214 | 344 | Southern Uplands | Portpatrick | Cockburnspath, Berwickshire | Coast-to-coast walk generally from west to east. |
Speyside Way | 80 | 129 | Northern Scotland | Aviemore | Buckie, Moray | Follows the River Spey through some of Banffshire, Morayshire and Inverness-shire. |
Three Lochs Way | 34 | 55 | Highland Boundary Fault to the Southern Highlands | Balloch, West Dunbartonshire | Inveruglas, Argyll and Bute | For much of the way it passes through the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. |
West Highland Way | 96 | 154 | Scottish Lowlands to the Scottish Highlands | Milngavie, near Glasgow | Fort William, Highlands | Scotland's first and most popular long-distance walking route.[28] |
West Island Way | 30 | 48 | Isle of Bute | Kilchattan Bay | Port Bannatyne | The first waymarked long-distance route on a Scottish island.[29] |
Other UK long-distance paths
[edit]Those included here meet the definition of a long-distance path as being around 50 km (31 miles) or more, particularly that they will take more than one day's walking to complete. Some shorter paths linking between major walks (e.g. Maelor Way) are also included.
Southern England
[edit]-
The 1066 Country Walk near Battle
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Monarch's Way looking back at the outskirts of Wolverhampton
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Meadows on the West Deane Way
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Church of All Saints, West Camel, viewed from the Leland Trail
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
1066 Country Walk | 31 | 50 | East Sussex | Pevensey Castle near Pevensey | Rye | Commemorates the year 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. |
Avon Valley Path | 34 | 55 | Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset | Christchurch | Salisbury | Takes its name from the River Avon and passes through the western edge of the New Forest. |
Basingstoke Canal Towpath Trail | 33 | 53 | Hampshire and Surrey | Penny Bridge, Up Nately, Basingstoke | Woodham | Follows the path of the 200-year-old Basingstoke Canal. |
Blackwater Valley Path | 23 | 37 | Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey | Rowhill Nature Reserve, Aldershot | Swallowfield | Follows the path of the Blackwater. |
Bournemouth Coast Path | 20 | 32 | Dorset and Hampshire | Sandbanks | Milford on Sea | Coastal path connecting the South West Coast Path (via the Sandbanks Ferry) to the Solent Way. |
Capital Ring | 75 | 121 | London | N/A | N/A | Circular route through inner London, crossing the Thames at Richmond and Woolwich. |
Celtic Way | 725 | 1,167 | Wales and Southwest England | Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire | St Michael's Mount, Cornwall | Visits more than 100 pre-historic sites including Stonehenge.[30] |
Channel to Channel Path | 50 | 80 | South West Peninsula | Seaton, Devon | Watchet, Somerset | Connects the English Channel with the Bristol Channel.[31] |
Chiltern Way | 134 | 216 | Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton and Oxfordshire | Hemel Hempstead railway station | N/A | Circular route, originally a 125-mile-long (201 km) Millennium Project.[32] |
Coleridge Way | 51 | 82 | Somerset and Devon | Nether Stowey | Lynmouth | Starts in the Quantock Hills later moving on to the Brendon Hills, within Exmoor National Park. |
Dartmoor Way | 95 | 153 | Dartmoor | N/A | N/A | In the Dartmoor National Park in southern Devon. |
Devonshire Heartland Way | 43 | 69 | Devon | Okehampton | Stoke Canon, Exeter | West-to-east across Devon, starting in Dartmoor near the Exe Valley.[33] |
Downs Link | 37 | 60 | Surrey and West Sussex | St. Martha's Hill near Guildford | Shoreham-by-Sea | Heads from the North Downs Way onto the South Downs Way at Steyning. |
East Devon Way | 38 | 61 | South West England | Exmouth, East Devon | Lyme Regis, West Dorset | Runs inland but links with the South West Coast Path at both ends. |
Essex Way | 81 | 130 | Essex | Epping | Harwich | Crosses Dedham Vale and Constable country to finish at the Stour estuary. |
Exe Valley Way | 45 | 72 | Devon and Somerset | River Exe estuary | Exford in Exmoor National Park | Follows the valley of the River Exe from its source to the coast.[34] |
Gordano Round | 27 | 43 | North Somerset | Roath Road, Portishead | N/A | Figure of eight around the Gordano Valley via Clevedon and Abbots Leigh. |
Great Stones Way | 36 | 58 | Wiltshire | Coate Water Country Park, Swindon | Salisbury Cathedral | From Barbury Castle to Old Sarum with optional detours to Avebury and Stonehenge.[35] |
Greater Ridgeway | 362 | 583 | South and Central England | Lyme Regis, Dorset on the English Channel | Hunstanton on The Wash | Follows the Wessex Ridgeway, The Ridgeway National Trail, the Icknield Way Path and the Peddars Way National Trail. |
Greensand Way | 108 | 174 | Home counties | Haslemere, Surrey | Hamstreet, Kent | Follows the Greensand Ridge along the Surrey Hills and Chart Hills. |
Hampshire Millennium Pilgrims Trail | 29 | 47 | Hampshire | Winchester | Portsmouth | Part of the historical Pilgrims' Trail, a 155-mile long-distance footpath connecting Winchester Cathedral to Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy.[36] |
Harcamlow Way | 141 | 227 | Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire | Harlow | Cambridge | A figure-of-eight from Harlow to Cambridge and back again, hence its portmanteau name.[37] |
Hardy Way | 220 | 354 | West Country | Hardy's Cottage, Higher Bockhampton | Stinsford, Dorset | Almost circular, the endpoints being a mile apart, and named after the writer Thomas Hardy.[38] |
High Weald Landscape Trail | 90 | 145 | West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent | Horsham | Rye | Passes through the landscapes of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. |
Isle of Wight Coastal Path | 70 | 113 | Isle of Wight | Ryde | N/A | Circular coastal route mainly following public footpaths. |
Itchen Way | 32 | 51 | Hampshire | Hinton Ampner near Alresford | Sholing | Follows the River Itchen from its source. |
Jubilee Trail | 88 | 142 | Dorset | Forde Abbey | Bokerley Dyke | Created to celebrate The Ramblers' Association's Diamond Jubilee and passes through many historical sites.[39] |
King's Way | 45 | 72 | Hampshire | Winchester | Portchester | Created by the Ramblers' Association as a memorial to the late Allan King (who formed many local groups in Hampshire). |
Land's End Trail | 303 | 488 | South West Peninsula | Land's End, Cornwall | Avebury, Wiltshire | Links Land's End with many of England's central long-distance trails.[40] |
Leland Trail | 28 | 45 | Somerset | King Alfred's Tower, Brewham | Ham Hill | Named after the antiquary and poet John Leland.[41] |
Liberty Trail | 28 | 45 | Somerset and Dorset | Ham Hill | Lyme Regis | Based on the route rebels travelled to join the Monmouth Rebellion.[42] |
Limestone Link | 36 | 58 | South West England | Mendip Hills, Somerset | Cold Aston, Gloucestershire | Connects with the Mendip Way and the Cotswold Way. |
London Outer Orbital Path (The LOOP) | 150 | 241 | London | Erith | Rainham | Circular route around the edge of Outer London. |
Mendip Way | 50 | 80 | Somerset | Uphill near Weston-super-Mare | Frome | On the Mendip Hills, giving views over the Somerset Levels. |
Monarch's Way | 615 | 990 | Southern England | Worcester | Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex | Approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.[43] |
New Lipchis Way | 40 | 64 | Hampshire and West Sussex | Liphook | West Wittering | Passes through Midhurst and Chichester crossing the Western Weald and South Downs. |
Orange Way | 350 | 563 | Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire | Brixham, Devon | London | Follows the march in 1688 of Prince William of Orange and his army from Brixham to London.[44] |
Oxford Canal Walk | 82 | 132 | Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands | Oxford | Coventry | Follows the towpath of the Oxford Canal.[45] |
Oxford Green Belt Way | 52 | 84 | Oxfordshire | N/A | N/A | Circular route through the Oxford Green Belt. |
Oxfordshire Way | 62 | 100 | Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire | Bourton-on-the-Water | Henley-on-Thames | Passes from the Cotswolds to the Chiltern Hills. |
Pilgrims' Way | 120 | 193 | South Eastern England | Winchester | Shrine of Thomas Becket, Canterbury | Historical route taken by pilgrims to and from the shrine of Thomas Becket. An ancient trail of which perhaps two-thirds is still identifiable, much of it now incorporated into the North Downs Way National Trail.[46] |
Quantock Greenway | 37 | 60 | Somerset | N/A | N/A | A figure-of-eight centred on Triscombe in the Quantock Hills. |
River Parrett Trail | 50 | 80 | Dorset & Somerset | Chedington | Bridgwater Bay, Bristol Channel | Follows the River Parrett to the coast. |
Royal Military Canal Path | 27 | 43 | Kent and East Sussex | Seabrook | Pett Level | Follows the Royal Military Canal and touches the northern edge of Romney Marsh. |
Samaritans Way South West | 103 | 166 | South West England | Clifton Suspension Bridge | Lynmouth | Opened by the Ramblers and the Samaritans in part to help local farmers. Only the section from Bristol to Goathurst is waymarked.[47] |
Sarum Way | 32 | 51 | Wiltshire | N/A | N/A | Circular route around the city of Salisbury, only partly waymarked. |
Saxon Shore Way | 163 | 262 | South East England | Gravesend, Kent | Hastings, East Sussex, | Traces the shoreline as it was in Roman times and visits many historical sites of the period.[48] |
Serpent Trail | 64 | 103 | Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex | Haslemere | Petersfield | Designed to join up many of the heathland areas in the western Weald. |
Shipwrights Way | 50 | 80 | Hampshire | Alice Holt Forest | Portsmouth | Traces the route that might have been taken by timber from forest to shipyards for the construction of warships.[49] |
Solent Way | 60 | 97 | Hampshire | Milford on Sea | Emsworth | Follows the coast of the Solent. |
Stour Valley Walk | 52 | 84 | Kent | Pegwell Bay | Lenham | Follows the River Stour, through the Low Weald and Kent Downs, from its source to its estuary. |
Stour Valley Way | 64 | 103 | Dorset and Wiltshire | Stourton with Gasper | Hengistbury Head | Follows the River Stour as it winds through the Dorset countryside. |
St. Swithun's Way | 34 | 55 | Hampshire and Surrey | Winchester Cathedral | Farnham | Named after Swithun, a 9th-century Bishop of Winchester, and roughly follows a short stretch of the Pilgrims' Way. |
Sussex Border Path | 138 | 222 | West & East Sussex | Thorney Island | Rye | Follows the Sussex border with Hampshire, Surrey and Kent. |
Sussex Ouse Valley Way | 42 | 68 | West & East Sussex | Lower Beeding | Seaford | Follows the River Ouse from its source to the English Channel. |
Tamara Coast to Coast Way | 87 | 140 | Cornwall | Cremyll | Morwenstow | Mostly follows the River Tamar and the boundary between Cornwall and Devon. |
Tarka Trail | 180 | 290 | Devon | Barnstaple | N/A | Two separate circular routes based on the fictional route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of the same name. |
Test Way | 49 | 79 | Berkshire and Hampshire | Walbury Hill | Totton and Eling | Passes through the towns of Romsey and Totton and starts in the Test Valley. |
Thames Down Link | 15 | 24 | London and Surrey | Kingston Bridge | Box Hill Station | Links the Thames Path and the North Downs Way. |
Thames Estuary Path | 29 | 47 | Essex | Tilbury Town | Leigh-on-Sea | Along the northern side of the estuary of the River Thames |
Three Castles Path | 60 | 97 | Hampshire and Berkshire | Winchester Castle | Windsor Castle | As well as Winchester Castle and Windsor Castle, passes through Odiham Castle; unwaymarked. |
Two Moors Way | 102 | 164 | Devon & Somerset | Ivybridge, Dartmoor National Park | Lynmouth, North Devon Coast | Across Dartmoor over exposed moorland. |
Vanguard Way | 66 | 106 | Surrey, Kent and East Sussex | East Croydon | Newhaven | Connects Central London with the Wandle Trail along the River Wandle from Croydon. |
Wayfarers Walk | 70 | 113 | Berkshire and Hampshire | Walbury Hill | Emsworth | Approximates an ancient route that might have been used by drovers taking cattle to market. |
Wealdway | 83 | 134 | Kent and East Sussex | Gravesend | Eastbourne | Connects the Thames Estuary with the English Channel and also traverses the Ashdown Forest. |
Wessex Ridgeway | 136 | 219 | Wiltshire and Dorset | Marlborough | Lyme Regis | One of the four long-distance footpaths referred to as the Greater Ridgeway. |
West Deane Way | 45 | 72 | Taunton Deane area of Somerset | Taunton | N/A | Circular walk in the Vale of Taunton Deane. |
West Devon Way | 36 | 58 | Devon | Okehampton | Radford Castle, Hooe Lake, Plymouth | Links with the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail and the Two Castles Trail to form the 'West Devon Triangle', a 90-mile circuit.[50] |
Wey South Path | 32 | 51 | Surrey and West Sussex | Guildford | Houghton Bridge | Follows the banks of the River Wey and the Wey and Arun Canal. |
Midlands and East Anglia
[edit]-
The Derwent Valley Heritage Way along Whitewells Road
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A view of the former High Marnham power station on the Trent Valley Way
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The Derwent Valley Heritage Way next to the Cromford Canal
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A field of rapeseed on the Viking Way
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
Angles Way | 92 | 148 | Norfolk and Suffolk | Great Yarmouth | Barnhamcross Common, Thetford | Largely follows the county border; originally 15 miles shorter and ending in Knettishall Heath. |
Bishop Bennet Way | 34 | 55 | Southwest Cheshire | Beeston | Wirswall | Named after William Bennet who carried out detailed surveys of Roman roads in the area. |
Boudica's Way | 36 | 58 | East Anglia | Diss railway station, Diss | Norwich railway station, Norwich | Parallel to the old Roman Pye Road, now the A140 road. |
Centenary Way | 99 | 159 | Warwickshire | Kingsbury Water Park | Lower Quinton | Devised to celebrate 100 years of Warwickshire County Council.[51] |
Cheshire Ring | 97 | 156 | Cheshire and Greater Manchester | N/A | N/A | Circular walk alongside six canals, via Dukinfield and Marple. |
Coventry Way | 40 | 64 | Coventry | Meriden, West Midlands | N/A | Circular route around the city of Coventry in West Midlands and Warwickshire. |
Dane Valley Way | 48 | 77 | Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire | Buxton, Derbyshire | Northwich, Cheshire | Along or near the course of the River Dane, past its source at Dane Head in Derbyshire and down to its end at its confluence with the River Weaver in Cheshire |
D'Arcy Dalton Way | 66 | 106 | Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire | Wormleighton Reservoir, Warwickshire | Wayland's Smithy Long Barrow | Links four long-distance footpaths: Oxford Canal Walk, Thames Path, The Ridgeway and Oxfordshire Way. Follows the western boundary of Oxfordshire in unspoilt countryside.[52] |
Derwent Valley Heritage Way | 55 | 89 | Derbyshire | Ladybower Reservoir, north of Bamford | Shardlow | Runs around the Derbyshire Dales through Chatsworth, Derbyshire and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. |
Fen Rivers Way | 50 | 80 | Eastern England | Cambridge | King's Lynn, Norfolk | Runs alongside the River Cam and on to the River Great Ouse. |
Geopark Way | 109 | 175 | West Midlands and South West England | Bridgnorth Castle | Gloucester Cathedral | Links a series of geologically and historically important sites.[53] |
Gloucestershire Way | 100 | 161 | Gloucestershire | Tutshill | Tewkesbury | Routes through the Forest of Dean, Cotswolds and the Severn Plain. |
Gritstone Trail | 35 | 56 | Cheshire East and Staffordshire | Disley railway station, Disley | Mow Cop, Kidsgrove | Mostly through the western section of the Peak District National Park. |
Heart of England Way | 100 | 161 | Midlands | Milford, Staffordshire | Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire | Links the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; officially recognised by the four councils it passes through.[54] |
Herefordshire Trail | 154 | 248 | Herefordshire | Ledbury, Herefordshire | N/A | Circular route linking the market towns of Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Kington. Waymarks planned but not yet in place. |
Hereward Way | 110 | 177 | East Anglia | Oakham | East Harling | Through Thetford Forest linking the Viking Way and the Peddars Way long-distance footpaths. The Stamford to Peterborough section is not fully waymarked, but walkers travelling between those two places can follow the waymarked Torpel Way. |
Hertfordshire Way | 194 | 312 | Hertfordshire | N/A | N/A | Circular walk in open countryside, although some parts are within 20 miles of London. Passes through the county town of Hertford and the towns of Royston and Bishop's Stortford. |
Icknield Way Path | 110 | 177 | Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk | Ivinghoe Beacon | Knettishall Heath | Prehistoric pathways passing through many sites of archaeological remains.[55] |
Jack Mytton Way | 93 | 150 | Shropshire | Bridgnorth | Much Wenlock | Runs through the Shropshire Hills and the Clee Hills including parts of Wenlock Edge. |
Jurassic Way | 88 | 142 | The Midlands | Banbury, Oxfordshire | Stamford, Lincolnshire | Mostly follows a Jurassic limestone ridge, from where its name derives.[56] |
Lea Valley Walk | 50 | 80 | South East England | Leagrave, Bedfordshire | Limehouse Basin, Limehouse, East London | Follows the River Lea from its source and along the Lee Navigation to the East India Docks in London. |
Limestone Way | 50 | 80 | Derbyshire, Staffordshire | Castleton | Rocester | Through the limestone Derbyshire Dales finishing in Dove Valley. |
Leicestershire Round | 102 | 164 | Leicestershire, Rutland | Bradgate Park | Circular | Encircles Leicester, including Foxton Locks, Bosworth Battlefield and Burrough Hill.[57][58] |
Limey Way | 40 | 64 | Derbyshire | Castleton | Dovedale | In the White Peak area in limestone countryside visiting twenty dales. |
Maelor Way | 24 | 39 | Shropshire, Cheshire and into Wrexham, Wales | Grindley Brook | Bronygarth | Links six long-distance footpaths, the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, while travelling through meadows and woodland.[59] |
Mercian Way | 230 | 370 | The Midlands and Northern England | Salisbury | Chester | Part of National Cycle Route 4, but also well used by walkers. |
Midshires Way | 230 | 370 | South-East England, the Midlands and Northern England | Chiltern Hills near Bledlow, Buckinghamshire | Stockport, Greater Manchester | Footpath and bridleway linking the Ridgeway with the Pennine Way across Middle England. |
Mortimer Trail | 30 | 48 | Shropshire and Herefordshire | Ludlow | Kington | Runs through the Welsh Marches on the English side of the Anglo-Welsh border and named after the Mortimer family of ruling Marcher Lords.[60] |
Nar Valley Way | 34 | 55 | Norfolk | King's Lynn | Gressenhall | Through the watershed of the River Nar.[61] |
Nene Way | 110 | 177 | Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire | Badby | Lincolnshire | Follows the course of the River Nene. |
New River Path | 28 | 45 | Hertfordshire and North London | New Gauge, Hertford | New River Head, Islington | Follows the course of the New River aqueduct. |
North Worcestershire Path | 35 | 56 | Worcestershire | Kinver | Major's Green | Links four country parks in the north-east area of the historic county. |
Ouse Valley Way | 150 | 241 | The Midlands and the East of England | Syresham, Northamptonshire | The Wash | Follows the River Great Ouse from its source to the sea. |
Pathfinder March | 46 | 74 | Cambridgeshire | N/A | N/A | Annual circular route around former RAF Pathfinder airfields in Cambridgeshire, held on the Saturday closest to Midsummers Day. |
Peak District Boundary Walk | 190 | 306 | Derbyshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Staffordshire | Buxton Market Place | Buxton Market Place | A circular walking trail, broadly following the boundary of the Peak District national park. The route was developed by the Friends of the Peak District (a branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England). |
Robin Hood Way | 104 | 167 | The Midlands | Nottingham Castle | Edwinstowe, Sherwood Forest | Commemorates the folklore of Robin Hood. |
Sabrina Way | 203 | 327 | The Midlands and Central England | Hartington, Derbyshire | Great Barrington, Gloucestershire | Bridleway providing a link between the Ridgeway and the Pennine Bridleway. |
Saffron Trail | 70 | 113 | Essex | Southend on Sea | Saffron Walden | Traverses the county from the south-east to the north-west.[62][63] |
Sandlings Walk | 60 | 97 | Suffolk | Ipswich | Southwold | Has eleven sculptures along the route and passes through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[64] |
Sandstone Trail | 32 | 51 | Cheshire and Shropshire | Frodsham | Whitchurch | Mostly follows the Mid Cheshire Ridge but in places, also passes through the Cheshire Plain. |
Severn Way | 210 | 338 | Mid Wales and Western England | Plynlimon, the Cambrian Mountains | Bristol | Follows the course of the River Severn from its source to the Severn Estuary. |
Shakespeare's Way | 146 | 235 | Southern England | Stratford-Upon-Avon | Globe Theatre on the South Bank, London | Replicates the route William Shakespeare would take from his home and playhouse. |
Sheffield Country Walk | 53 | 85 | City of Sheffield | Eckington | N/A | Circular walk around the city boundary.[65][66] |
Shropshire Way | 202 | 325 | Shropshire | Shrewsbury | Whitchurch | Re-waymarked in 2017 to 2019, the Main Route South (122 miles) and Main Route North (70 miles) are circulars from Shrewsbury, with a further 10-mile northern spur to Whitchurch.[67] |
South Cheshire Way | 32 | 51 | Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire | Grindley Brook | Mow Cop | Connects with several other long-distance paths, including the Maelor Way, the Staffordshire Way and the Sandstone and Gritstone Trails. |
Staffordshire Way | 92 | 148 | Staffordshire | Mow Cop | Kinver Edge | Opened in three stages by Staffordshire County Council between 1977 and 1983.[68] |
Stour Valley Path | 60 | 97 | East Anglia | Newmarket | Cattawade, Manningtree | Follows the catchment area of the River Stour and the majority of the route forms part of European Path E2. |
St Edmund Way | 79 | 127 | Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk | Manningtree | Brandon | Follows Stour Valley Path; not waymarked but on OS mapping.[69] |
St. Kenelm's Trail | 95 | 153 | Gloucestershire and Worcestershire | Clent Hills | Winchcombe | Originally devised by John Price, linking the two places most commonly associated with the legend of St Kenelm. |
St Peter's Way | 45 | 72 | Essex | Chipping Ongar | Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea | Runs across the agricultural land of Essex passing Hanningfield Reservoir and the inlets of the Blackwater Estuary going on to reach the coast.[70] |
Suffolk Coast Path | 50 | 80 | Suffolk | Felixstowe | Lowestoft | Follows the Heritage coast. |
Swan's Way | 65 | 105 | Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | Salcey Forest, Milton Keynes | Goring-on-Thames | Bridleway forming the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way. |
Tas Valley Way | 25 | 40 | Norfolk | Cringleford | Attleborough | Follows the course of the River Tas to the source near New Buckenham.[71] |
Telford T50 | 50 | 80 | Telford | Telford Town Park | n/a | A waymarked 50-mile route created in 2018 to celebrate Telford's 50th birthday. Many rural sections.[72] |
Three Forests Way | 60 | 97 | Essex and Hertfordshire | Harlow | N/A | Circular route through Epping, Hainault and Hatfield forests on the borders of Essex and Greater London.[73] |
Three Shires Way | 49 | 79 | East Anglia | Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire | Tathall End, Milton Keynes | Bridleway through rural landscape and ancient woodland. It originally ended in Salcey Forest but the Grafham Water Circular Ride, of 12.4 miles around the reservoir, has now been added to the route.[74] |
Trent Valley Way | 116 | 187 | Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire | Trent Lock | Alkborough | Follows the River Trent; originally created in 1998. |
Viking Way | 147 | 237 | Lincolnshire and Rutland | Barton-upon-Humber | Oakham | Links other major routes including the Macmillan Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way; most is designated as part of the European E2 footpath. |
Way for the Millennium | 41 | 66 | Staffordshire | Newport, Shropshire | Burton upon Trent | East–west route across Staffordshire, designed for easy walking. |
Weavers Way | 61 | 98 | Norfolk | Cromer | Great Yarmouth | Can be combined with the Peddars Way to make a circuit around Norfolk; links with the North Norfolk Coastal Path and the Angles Way.[75] |
Wherryman's Way | 35 | 56 | Norfolk | Norwich | Great Yarmouth | Follows the River Yare for the most part. |
Wild Edric's Way | 49 | 79 | Shropshire | Church Stretton | Ludlow | Shares much of its route with the Shropshire Way. |
Worcestershire Way | 31 | 50 | Worcestershire | Bewdley | Malvern | When created it was partly into Herefordshire, being 48 miles long (77 km). |
Wychavon Way | 40 | 64 | Worcestershire and Gloucestershire | Droitwich Spa | Winchcombe | Originally opened in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[76] |
Wychwood Way | 37 | 60 | Oxfordshire | Market Street, Woodstock | N/A | Circular walk around the heart of the ancient royal forest of Wychwood. |
Wysis Way | 55 | 89 | Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire | Monmouth | Kemble station | Runs from the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail at Monmouth to the Thames Path National Trail at Kemble. |
Northern England
[edit]-
Middle Intake Farm alongside the Brontë Way
-
A bog on the Coast to Coast Walk next to St Sunday Crag
-
Harber Scar Lane which carries the Ribble Way northwards out of Horton-in-Ribblesdale
-
The Calderdale Way at the southern end of Norland Moor
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
Abbeys Amble | 104 | 167 | North Yorkshire | Ripon | N/A | Circular route linking three abbeys: Fountains Abbey, Bolton Abbey and Jervaulx Abbey. |
Abbott's Hike | 107 | 172 | Cumbria, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire | Ilkley | Pooley Bridge | Classed as a challenging walk on upland and moorland. |
Ainsty Bounds Walk | 44 | 71 | North & West Yorkshire | Tadcaster | N/A | Circular route following the boundaries of the ancient wapentake of The Ainsty. |
Brontë Way | 43 | 69 | West Yorkshire and Lancashire | Birstall | Padiham | Links places that have strong associations with the writings of the Brontë family. |
Bullock Smithy Hike | 56 | 90 | Central England, Northern England and the Peak District | Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester | N/A | Circular challenge walk with over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of accent.[77] |
Bullock Smithy Hike | 40 | 64 | Lancashire | N/A | N/A | Circular route around Burnley, covering a range of terrain from canal towpaths to open moorland. |
Calderdale Way | 50 | 80 | Calderdale, West Yorkshire | Greetland | N/A | Ccircular route devised in the 1970s. |
Centenary Way | 83 | 134 | Yorkshire | York | Filey Brigg | Runs across the Howardian Hills and Yorkshire Wolds via Castle Howard and Wharram Percy. |
Cistercian Way | 24 | 39 | Cumbria | Grange-over-Sands | Roa Island | Partially waymarked, no longer recognised by Ordnance Survey or the Cumbria County Council.[78] |
Coast to Coast Walk | 192 | 309 | Cumbria and North Yorkshire | St. Bees | Robin Hood's Bay | Passes through three national parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. |
Cumbria Coastal Way | 185 | 298 | Northern England and the Scottish Borders | Silverdale, Lancashire | Gretna Green, Dumfries and Galloway | Coastal walk established by Cumbria council in the late 1980s.[79] |
Cumbria Way | 70 | 113 | Cumbria | Ulverston | Carlisle | Passes through Coniston and Keswick. |
Dales High Way | 90 | 145 | Yorkshire and Cumbria | Saltaire | Appleby-in-Westmorland | Runs roughly parallel to the Settle–Carlisle Railway. |
Dales Way | 80 | 129 | Yorkshire and Cumbria | Bowness-on-Windermere | Ilkley | Extensions to Leeds, Shipley and Harrogate. |
Ebor Way | 70 | 113 | Yorkshire | Ilkley | Helmsley | Connects to the Dales Way to the Cleveland Way running through the low-lying vale of York. |
Esk Valley Walk | 35 | 56 | North Yorkshire | Castleton | Whitby | Loops around the North York Moors and then follows the River Esk to the North Sea. |
GM Ringway | 186 | 299 | Greater Manchester | N/A | N/A | Circular route around the city-region. |
Herriot Way | 52 | 84 | Wensleydale and Swaledale, North Yorkshire | N/A | N/A | Circular route through Yorkshire Dales of Wensleydale and Swaledale.[80] |
Howardian Way | 30 | 48 | North Yorkshire | Coxwold | Kirkham Priory | Travels through the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[81] |
Hyndburn Clog | 53 | 85 | Lancashire | Stanhill | N/A | Circular route around Hyndburn.[82] |
Irwell Sculpture Trail | 30 | 48 | Greater Manchester, Lancashire | Salford Quays | Bacup, Rossendale | The largest public art scheme in England, its route follows the River Irwell.[83] |
Isaac's Tea Trail | 36 | 58 | Northumberland | Isaac's Well, Allendale | Ninebanks | Circular route passing through Nenthead and Alston in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[84] |
Kirklees Way | 72 | 116 | Kirklees, West Yorkshire | N/A | N/A | Circular route including the upper Colne Valley, Spen Valley and Holme Valley. |
Lady Anne's Way | 100 | 161 | Cumbria, North Yorkshire | Skipton | Penrith | Travels through the Yorkshire Dales and the Upper Eden Valley linking the castles of Lady Anne Clifford.[85] |
Lake to Lake Walk | 166 | 267 | Cumbria, Northumberland | Windermere | Kielder Water | Links England's largest natural lake and largest man-made lake.[86] |
Lancashire Coastal Way | 66 | 106 | Lancashire | Silverdale | Freckleton | Follows the coast of the county of Lancashire; length quoted as 137 miles by Lancashire County Council.[87] |
Leeds Country Way | 62 | 100 | Leeds metropolitan district, West Yorkshire | N/A | N/A | Circular route around Leeds. |
Lyke Wake Walk | 40 | 64 | North York Moors, north-east Yorkshire | Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley | Ravenscar | Challenge walk with its own associated Lyke Wake Clubs. |
Miller's Way | 51 | 82 | Cumbria | Kendal | Carlisle | Celebrates 175 years of Carr's by memorialising the journey of destiny taken by founder JD Carr in 1831. |
Nidderdale Way | 52 | 84 | Nidderdale, North Yorkshire | Ripley | Pateley Bridge | Long-established circular route near the source of the River Nidd.[88] |
Northumberland Coast Path | 63 | 101 | Northumberland | Cresswell | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Coastal route, part of the North Sea Trail.[89] |
Oldham Way | 40 | 64 | Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester | Dove Stone Reservoir | N/A | Circular route across Pennine moorland linking both ends of Standedge Tunnel.[90] |
Peatlands Way | 50 | 80 | South Yorkshire | Thorne | N/A | Circular route across Thorne and Hatfield Moors in the Humberhead Levels.[91][92] |
Pendle Way | 45 | 72 | Lancashire | Barley | N/A | Circular route in the Southern Pennines incorporating Pendle Hill.[93] |
Pennine Journey | 247 | 398 | County Durham Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire | Settle | N/A | Circular route running anti-clockwise up to Hadrian's Wall and back to Settle.[94] |
Reiver's Way | 150 | 241 | Northumberland | Corbridge | Alnmouth | Through the Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills.[95] |
Ribble Way | 72 | 116 | Lancashire and Yorkshire | Longton | Ribblehead | Runs between the Lancashire coast and the Yorkshire Dales National Park following the course of the River Ribble. |
Rochdale Way | 45 | 72 | Rochdale, Greater Manchester | Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre, Littleborough | N/A | Circular route around the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. |
Rossendale Way | 45 | 72 | Lancashire | Sharneyford | N/A | Circular high-level route, mostly over 1000 ft, around the Rossendale Valley.[96] |
Six Dales Trail | 38 | 61 | North and West Yorkshire | Jubilee Tower, Otley | Market Cross, Middleham | Takes its name from the six Yorkshire Dales it traverses: Wharfedale, Washburndale, Nidderdale, Colsterdale, Coverdale and Wensleydale.[97] |
St Bega's Way | 36 | 58 | Cumbria | St Bees Priory | St Bega's, Bassenthwaite | Links the Norman priory church of St Mary and St Bega at St Bees, through the Lake District.[98] |
St. Cuthbert's Way | 62 | 100 | Scottish Borders and Northumberland | Melrose | Lindisfarne | Links Melrose Abbey, where Cuthbert began his religious life, with his burial place on Holy Island. |
St Oswald's Way | 97 | 156 | Northumberland | Lindisfarne | Heavenfield | Links places associated with St. Oswald, the king of Northumbria in the early 7th century. |
Stanza Stones Trail | 45 | 72 | West Yorkshire | Marsden | Ilkley | Links six stones engraved with poems by Simon Armitage[99] |
Tabular Hills Walk | 48 | 77 | North Yorkshire | Helmsley | Scarborough | Links the Cleveland Way between Helmsley and Scarborough at the southern border of the North York Moors[100] |
Teesdale Way | 100 | 161 | Cumbria and North Yorkshire | Dufton | Warrenby | Follows the River Tees as it passes Cumbrian moorlands to Teesside and the coast. |
Trans Pennine Trail | 350 | 563 | Lancashire, Greater Manchester, East Yorkshire and Derbyshire | Southport | Hornsea | Runs coast to coast across northern England, forming part of European walking route E8. |
Weardale Way | 73 | 117 | County Durham, Tyne and Wear | Sunderland | Wearhead | Follows the River Wear from the sea to the east Pennines. |
Welcome Way | 36 | 58 | West Yorkshire | NA | NA | Circular walking linking four Walkers are Welcome towns: Otley, Burley in Wharfedale, Baildon and Bingley. |
White Rose Walk | 35 | 56 | North Yorkshire | Kilburn White Horse | Roseberry Topping | Takes in the highest peaks in the area such as Carlton Moor, Sutton Bank and Urra Moor. |
The White Rose Way | 104 | 167 | Yorkshire | Leeds | Scarborough | Runs from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast. |
Wilberforce Way | 60 | 97 | Yorkshire | Kingston-upon-Hull | York | Waymarked route marking the bicentenary of the abolition of the British Transatlantic slave trade in the 1807 Act of Parliament introduced by Hull-born William Wilberforce. |
Windermere Way | 45 | 72 | Cumbria | Bowness-on-Windermere | N/A | Circular route around Windermere in the Lake District. |
Witton Weavers Way | 33 | 53 | Lancashire | Witton Park | N/A | Circular route around the West Pennine Moors, Blackburn and Darwen. |
Yorkshire Heritage Way | 42 | 68 | West and North Yorkshire | Bradford | Ripon | Includes World Heritage Sites of Saltaire and Fountains Abbey[101] |
Yorkshire Water Way | 104 | 167 | North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire | Kettlewell | Langsett Reservoir | Walk connecting over 25 reservoirs maintained by Yorkshire Water[102] |
Wales
[edit]-
Pembrokeshire Coast
-
Wye Valley Walk
-
Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail
Scotland
[edit]- Cape Wrath Trail, runs around 300 km (186 mi) from Fort William to Cape Wrath; as the route is unwaymarked, different guides to it suggest slightly different routes.
- Central Scottish Way, 251 km (156 mi) from Milngavie to Byrness (just over the border in Northumberland, England)
- Coast to Coast, 205 km (128 mi), Oban to St Andrews[104] 128 miles, ISBN 978-0-9526900-8-5
- Edinburgh the walk, follows paths, green spaces, roads and cycleways through Edinburgh for 69km starting at Edinburgh Castle and finishing at Holyrood Palace.[105][106]
- John o' Groats Trail, 231 km (145 mi) from Inverness to John o' Groats
- Sir Walter Scott Way from Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway to Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders
- The East Highland Way, runs from Fort William to Aviemore
Northern Ireland
[edit]- Ulster Way, runs for 1023 km (636 mi), mainly in Northern Ireland, with some sections in the Republic of Ireland
The Macmillan Ways
[edit]The Macmillan Ways are a set of paths that promotes and raises money for the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity.
Name | Length | Region | Endpoint one | Endpoint two | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mi | km | |||||
Macmillan Way | 290 | 467 | Southern England | Abbotsbury in Dorset | Boston, Lincolnshire | For the first 30 miles it crosses open fen then it follows the oolitic limestone belt. It is the longest of the Macmillan Ways. |
Macmillan Way West | 102 | 164 | Somerset and Devon | Castle Cary | Barnstaple | Follows the River Cary and then onto the Quantock Hills and to Exmoor. |
Cross Britain Way | 280 | 451 | England and Wales | Boston, Lincolnshire | Barmouth, Gwynedd | The terrain varies from the flat land of The Fens to the Welsh Berwyn Mountains. |
Macmillan Abbotsbury Langport Link | 40 | 64 | South West England | Abbotsbury | Langport | Allows walkers to go 126 miles (203 km) coast-to-coast from Abbotsbury to Barnstaple, using the Macmillan Way West. |
Macmillan Cross Cotswold Pathway | 36 | 58 | Cotswolds | Banbury Cross | Bath, Somerset | Provides links from much of Oxfordshire to the Macmillan Way.[107] |
Cotswold Link | 21 | 34 | Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire | Chipping Campden | Banbury Cross | Links to the Cotswold Way National Trail.[108] |
European walking routes
[edit]Several European walking routes pass through the United Kingdom. They all use sections of UK long-distance paths.
- E2 from Stranraer to Dover, with an alternative route to Harwich
- E8 from Liverpool to Hull
- E9 from Plymouth to Dover
- The North Sea Trail covers seven countries with North Sea coastlines.
See also
[edit]- Adventure travel for worldwide options
- Backpacking and Ultralight backpacking
- Hiking and Thru-hiking
- Hillwalking
- Land's End to John o' Groats
- List of Conservation topics
- List of long-distance trails
- Long Distance Walkers Association
- Raad ny Foillan, a long-distance path on the Isle of Man
- Ramblers' Association
- Scrambling
- Slow Ways
- Walking in London
- Walking in the United Kingdom
References
[edit]- ^ a b "What is an LDP? [long-distance footpath]". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Walking". National Parks. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Out in the country". Natural England. 29 November 2007. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Out in the country". Natural England. 29 November 2007. p. 10. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Path Repair Techniques". fixthefells.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "The Pennine Way - Route Description & Downloads". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails.
- ^ a b "The National Trails". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b Natural England (26 October 2022). "England Coast Path takes a step forward in north Kent". GOV.UK.
- ^ a b c "Coast to Coast". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "National Trails". nationaltrail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "England Coast Path". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails.
- ^ "Pembrokeshire Coast Path Statistics". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ Ramblers' Association. "Pennine Way National Trail". Archived from the original on 20 February 2006.
- ^ "Heritage". South West Coast Path.
- ^ "Scotland's Great Trails: the official guide". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ a b "About Scotland's Great Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "FAQs". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ "Great Glen Canoe Trail". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ "Scottish walking at its best!". ayrshirecoastalpath.org.
- ^ "The Cross Borders Drove Road". Walk Across Scotland.
- ^ "Walking and cycling along the Dava Way". davaway.org.uk/. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "The Formartine and Buchan Way". walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "The John Muir Way". walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Route information and maps". Kintyre Way.
- ^ "Walk the beautiful south-west corner of Scotland". Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "The Rob Roy Way". walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "St Cuthbert's Way". walkhighlands.co.uk.
- ^ "Scotland's Great Trails - The West Highland Way". walkhighlands.co.uk.
- ^ "West Island Way". westislandway.co.uk.
- ^ "Celtic Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Channel to Channel Path". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Chiltern Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Devonshire Heartland Way". LDWA. Retrieved 2012
- ^ "Exe Valley Way". Explore Devon. 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Great Stones Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Pilgrim's Trail". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Harcamlow Way". ldwa.org.uk. Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Hardy Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Jubilee Trail (Dorset)". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Land's End Trail". LDWA. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Leland Trail". LDWA.
- ^ "Liberty Trail". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ "Monarch's Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Orange Way". LDWA. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Oxford Canal Walk". waterscape.com.
- ^ "Pilgrims Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Samaritans Way South West". bristolramblers.org.uk. Bristol Ramblers. Retrieved 20 August 2022.,
- ^ "Saxon Shore Way". Visit Kent. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Shipwrights Way". Hampshire County Council.
- ^ "West Devon Way". The Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Ramblers Charity". Archived from the original on 4 June 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Darcydalton". The Ramblers. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Geopark Way". LDWA. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "About the Route". heartofenglandway.org. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- ^ "Icknield Way Path". icknieldwaypath.co.uk.
- ^ "Jurassic Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "The Leicestershire Round". Leicestershire Footpath Association. 28 November 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ The Leicestershire Round: A 100 Mile Circular Walk. Leicestershire Footpaths Association. 2017. ISBN 978-1-5272-0622-9.
- ^ "The Guide to the Maelor Way". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Mortimer Trail". LDWA.
- ^ "Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk". Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "Saffron Trail". essexwalks.com. 12 October 2021.
- ^ "LDWA Saffron Trail". Long Distance Walker's Association.
- ^ "Sandlings Walk". LDWA.
- ^ "Sheffield Country Walk". ldwa.org.uk.
- ^ "SCW Historical Notes". ldwa.org.uk.
- ^ "Shropshire Way Association". shropshireway.org.uk.
- ^ "The Staffordshire Way - Official Guide" (PDF). Staffordshire County Council.
- ^ "St Edmund Way". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "The St Peter's Way" (PDF). Essex Highways. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Tas Valley Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Telford T50 50 Mile Trail". telfordt5050miletrail.org.uk.
- ^ "Three Forests Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Three Shires Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "About Weavers' Way and points of interest". Norfolk County Council.
- ^ "Wychavon Way". LDWA.
- ^ "The New Bullock Smithy Hike". LDWA.
- ^ "Cistercian Way (Cumbria)". LDWA. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ "The Cumbria Coastal Way". Visit Cumbria.
- ^ "The Herriot Way". Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Howardian Way". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Hyndburn Borough Council: Hyndburn Clog Trail". hyndburnbc.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "About the Irwell Sculpture Trail". irwellsculpturetrail.co.uk.
- ^ "Isaacs Tea Trail". Northpennines.org.uk.
- ^ Gordon, Sheila (2015). "Lady Anne's Way". Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Lake to Lake Walk". LDWA. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Trails and Long Routes: Lancashire Coastal Way". Lancashire Countryside Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
- ^ "Nidderdale Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Northumberland Coast Path". LDWA. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "Oldham Way". LDWA website. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "The Peatlands Way". thepeatlandsway.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Peatlands Way". www.ldwa.org.uk. Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ "www.pendle.gov.uk: title missing". pendle.gov.uk.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "A Pennine Journey – 'My escape to the hills' ….. Alfred Wainwright". penninejourney.org. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Reiver's Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Rossendale Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "BBC - Otley has warm welcome to walkers". news.bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- ^ "St Bega's Way". LDWA.
- ^ "Stanza Stones Trail". LDWA. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
- ^ "The Tabular Hills Walk". nationaltrail.co.uk. National Trails. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ Harrison, Janet (22 March 2022). "Yorkshire Heritage Way to link Ripon with Bradford". Harrogate Advertiser.
- ^ "Yorkshire Water Way - LDWA Long Distance Paths". ldwa.org.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ "Snowdonia Slate Trail". Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Coast to Coast (Scotland)". Long Distance Walker's Association. Retrieved 17 July 2009. – includes links to guidebooks
- ^ "Edinburgh THE WALK". Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Edinburgh's new walking route reveals the city's quieter side". 8 August 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Macmillan Way - Cross Cotswold Pathway". Long Distance Walkers Association.
- ^ "Macmillan Way - Cotswold Link - Chipping Campden to Banbury". Long Distance Walkers Association.