Skip to content
  • Map
  • Route Finder
  • Route Planner
  • Travel Guide
  • Community
Sign up or log in
  • Map
  • Route Finder
  • Route Planner
  • Travel Guide
  • Community
Sign up
  • Places & Accommodation
    • Places to visit
    • Eat & drink
    • Huts
    • Accommodation
    • Ski resorts
    • Crags
  • News & Conditions
    • Current Conditions
    • Weather
    • Webcams
    • Avalanche Report
    • Events
  • Inspiration
    • Collections
    • Offers
    • Travel Stories
    • Publications
  • Community
    • Challenges
    • Groups
  • Settings
  • Help
Hiking routeHiking route
more
  • Hiking in the Lake District, UK
    Hiking in the Lake District, UK Photo: Jonny Gios, CC0, unsplash.com

Hikes & Walks in the United Kingdom

Outdooractive Editors  Verified partner 
Author of this page
LogoOutdooractive Editors

Walking in the United Kingdom is as versatile as the country itself. Various national parks such as the Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia are a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. These are brilliant destinations for your active break. Go Munro bagging in Scotland or enjoy the beauty of the Jurassic Coast in the South. The UK holds plenty of well-maintained walking routes for all experience levels.

  • My Map
  • Content
  • Show images Hide images
Features
Maps and trails
Show map

The 10 most beautiful hikes in the United Kingdom

Blick Richtung Gipfel vom Rand des Plateaus
Hiking route · Argyll and Bute
Beinn Bheigier (Ben Vicar) höchster Berg auf der Isle of Islay Schottland
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
12.1 km
3:10 h
449 m
480 m
Wanderung auf den höchsten Berg der Insel Islay Beinn Bheigier (ehemals Ben Vicar genannt) in Schottland innere Hebriden
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Westmill - phone box.
Hiking route · South East England
Westmill and Roman Road
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
3
8.5 km
2:05 h
54 m
54 m
A circular walk on, mostly, quite roads.  If you are looking for an easy countyside walk and a bit of history, this is for you...
Outdooractive Editors
Nether Hall Estate
Hiking route · East England
Old Orchard Walk
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
1
7.1 km
2:00 h
0 m
0 m
A 4.5 mile walk heading east from Thurston village towards Great Green before heading north to Pakenham Church and returning to Thurston via Nether Hall.
Discover Suffolk
Footpath heading towards Pakenham Woods
Hiking route · East England
Blackbourn Valley Walk
Toprecommended route Difficulty difficult
1
10.4 km
3:00 h
4 m
4 m
A 6.5 mile walk heading east from Thurston village towards the Blackbourn Nature Reserve returning via the pretty village of Pakenham.
Discover Suffolk
Misericord
Hiking route · East England
A Circle of St Andrew’s
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
1
5.3 km
2:00 h
14 m
14 m
Learn about Misericords on this 3.3 mile walk around the village of Norton. Take in the Medieval church and learn about the Old Rectory's past use.
Discover Suffolk
St Mary's Church
Hiking route · East England
Mills and Meadows - A Walk in the Gipping Valley
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate
2
6.9 km
2:00 h
32 m
32 m
This walk takes you upstream along the Gipping Valley River Path, passing water meadows and through agricultural land into the village of Sproughton, returning to Bramford via the river path.
Discover Suffolk
Approaching Normanby-by-Spital.
Hiking route · Central England and the Midlands
Spridlington to Normanby-by-Spital
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
1
4.3 km
1:05 h
8 m
4 m
A pleasant off road route from the village of Spridlington to Normanby-by-Spital and The Bottle & Glass Pub.
Outdooractive Editors
Daffodils in bloom at Farndale
Hiking route · North East England
Miles without Stiles (For some) - Farndale Daffodil walk
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
6 km
1:35 h
33 m
36 m
Enjoy a classic spring walk in the so-called ‘Daffodil Dale’ to see Farndale’s glorious wild daffodils
North York Moors National Park
Rievaulx Abbey
Hiking route · North East England
Miles without Stiles (For some) - Rievaulx Loop
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
4 km
1:10 h
86 m
87 m
A beautiful, easy, walk with stunning views of Rievaulx Abbey and Rievaulx Terrace. 
North York Moors National Park
Beacon with Humber Bridge behind
Hiking route · North East England
Humber Foreshore Access Walk - Yorkshire Wolds Way
Toprecommended route Difficulty easy
8.1 km
2:00 h
5 m
5 m
This easy walk has lots of points of interest and, with no steps or stiles and a good firm surface, can be enjoyed by most people.
National Trails (North)
Customize your search
Route Finder

Forecast for United Kingdom

Where to go hiking in the UK?

When you have a day off, or even a week, there is nothing better than to explore nature. For some, walking is like meditating – getting away from daily life and listening to the stories of your surroundings while butting one foot in front of the other mile after mile. The UK has many magical and mystical places that you can only enjoy on foot.

We’ll show you around and introduce you to the best places in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Get inspired and start planning your next walking or hiking trip!

  • Hikes & Walks in Cumbria
  • Hikes & Walks In The Cotswolds
  • Hikes & Walks in the Highlands
  • Hikes & Walks on the Isle of Anglesey

England – over hill, to sea

In between its dazzling cities, England surprises with a vast land full of deep forests, endless heathland and plenty of peaks giving the landscape an attractive shape.

Walk the length and breadth of the Lake District, and you'll see why it is one of the UK's most famous beauty spots. Wild boar and deer live in Sussex countryside, and the Seven Sisters tops the area off. If you like the coastal walks there, you should also check out the routes connecting Norfolk and Suffolk. The Norfolk coast has a long history of maritime and architectural links and is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists.

The White Peak is one of the UK's most spectacular mountain ranges and is home to some of the country's most spectacular scenery. The Dragon's Back range is often cited as the only true peaks in the Peak District; a line of pinnacles said to resemble the 'plates' along the spine of a stegosaurus dinosaur.

The rolling hills of the Staffordshire Dales are a world away from the madding crowds of the Grand National. This route is part of the Dimmings Dales National Park in North Yorkshire.

United Kingdom
Hikes & Walks in England

England holds a variety of beautiful and well-maintained walking routes, which are appealing to a huge number of walkers. ...

Outdooractive Editors

Scotland – warmhearted roughness

Yes, sometimes it rains in Scotland. But often enough, there is some sun.

Besides that, everyone can hike when the weather is good. But there is some joy in climbing a mountain when the conditions seem to be against you. Don’t be afraid of a bit of rain and enjoy the mystic country of Scotland.

The most important spots you shouldn’t miss are:

  • Munro Ben Nevis, the highest mountain of Scotland
  • Inverness and Fort William as outdoor sports hot spots
  • Loch Ness and its legendary monster
  • Edinburgh, explore the Athens of the North

 

The Scots are excellent hosts and know how to make your stay unforgettable. Don’t hesitate to start a conversation with them – they might let you in on some secrets and recommend you their favourite hikes and walks.

United Kingdom
Hikes & Walks in Scotland

The walking and hiking paths in Scotland are as diverse as the weather. The great network offers the right route for ...

Outdooractive Editors

What to wear hiking in the UK?

The keyword here is layering. For example, if you are out in Scotland, the weather can vary in one hour. Carrying a thin raincoat is always recommended. To protect yourself from wind up on the mountain tops, bring a thin headband or a loop scarf that you can wear around your neck or as a headband. Make also sure you have sturdy hiking shoes. They should have an excellent tread to give you grip even if the path is wet.

Wales – Coastal walks and National Parks

Explore the top of Mount Snowdon or take a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path alongside the turquoise sea as you explore Wales' two incredible national parks - Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons.

Spend some action-packed active breaks with your family and friends and learn about the culture and history of this unique country while hiking through Wales from North to South. The hiking network is well established and offers routes suitable for hikers of all levels.

Do you want to know where to hike in the UK? Well, Wales is a great start. The difficulty of the routes there start from easy but can also get quite tricky. So, whether you are a beginner on your first adventure or an expert explorer, Wales has got a lot of summits with an excellent view.

Fall in love with Wales!

United Kingdom
Hikes & Walks in Wales

With two fantastic national parks, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons, Wales has great walking routes and amazing scenery. ...

Outdooractive Editors

Northern Ireland – challenging miles with a view

The Belfast Hills are a good place to experience the hustle and bustle of the city down below while high up in the calm. You can easily reach the 478 meters (1,568 feet) tall Divis peak from the city centre.

In addition to enjoying the surroundings, you will also be able to see Scotland's peaks in the distance from the Ridge Trail.

The Mournes offers more challenging hikes you may enjoy. If you want challenging hikes, you can set out on three days to conquer six of Northern Ireland's highest peaks, beginning with Slieve Donard and ending with Meelberg. With challenging routes across the highest peaks and spectacular views, The Mourne Wall Challenge is for experienced hikers. The Sperrin Mountains offer megalithic structures like more than 90 stone circles and challenging routes.

Province · United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
Map / Northern Ireland

You will remember your vacation in Northern Ireland for a long time. Find information about fantastic routes, Crags, ...

Outdooractive Editors
Explore our Travel Guide for United Kingdom
Dog-friendly hiking Webcams Accessibility Accommodation Great places to visit with the family Eat and drink Ideas for bad weather huts

Reviews

  87,167
Lynford Arboretum, Ickburgh circular walk by Ros
Yesterday · Community
Lovely walk, but road section very busy with traffic
More Show less
Comment
Weston-on-Trent Circuit by Nofearsophia
July 07, 2024 · Community
Interesting walk, we only did the western loop of Weston due to lack of time, and will be back to do the eastern Trent loop another time - although there is a chance to go down to see the Trent from the canal on the western loop too. thank you! Interesting area and nice church.
More Show less
Comment
Uplyme to Lyme Regis Jan 2022 Mill stream by Alan
July 07, 2024 · Community
1 comment
Show more Show less

Find hikes in neighboring regions

Ireland

Discover other hikes within United Kingdom

England Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey Northern Ireland Scotland Wales

Similar activities in the United Kingdom

long-distance hikes pilgrim walks nature trails city walks
THE way to start your next outdoor experience!
Sign up now
Travel Guide Hikes & Walks in the United Kingdom
App Store
Google Play Store
Huawei App Gallery
  • Our services
    • Features
    • Subscriptions
    • Pro for Search & Rescue
    • Enjoy benefits and discounts from our partners
    • Vouchers
    • B2B
  • More services
    • Help Center
    • Blog (German only)
    • Shop
    • Newsletter
    • Affiliate Program
    • Contact Us
  • Corporate
    • Discover Outdooractive
    • Outdooractive30
    • Careers
    • Outdooractive Business
Learn more about the apps for Android and iOS
1% for the Planet Digitize the Planet
Choose a language
English
  • Deutsch
  • italiano
  • français
  • español
  • עברית
  • 中文
  • română
  • português (Portugal)
  • português (Brasil)
  • čeština
  • suomi
  • русский
  • magyar
  • norsk bokmål
  • slovenčina
  • Nederlands
  • 日本語
  • українська
  • हिन्दी
  • Türkçe
  • Ελληνικά
  • Mobile version
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cancellation policy
  • Customer information
  • Terms of payment
  • Map information
  • Legal Disclosure