The United Kingdom is a nation which is full of beautiful destinations, serene countryside and a lot of cultures. And one of the best ways to experience the serenity and the true beauty of this huge nation is to go for a walking tour. Walking tours are great to truly experience a destination in its own, rustic beauty. As you walk along the route, you will get to see and learn all about the small towns and destinations on your path which normal tourists miss out on, when someone goes for a normal vacation. There are a ton of scenic routes where you can go for a wonderful walking holiday in the UK. Here are ten of the most beautiful walking routes in the United Kingdom, which you can explore for a scenic vacation.
1. Coast to Coast Walking Route
The Coast to Coast walking route is one of the most travelled routes in the Northern England and one of the most popular walking routes to complete in the whole of UK. The whole route covers a total of 190 miles of distance. The journey starts from the sea cliffs of St Bees, located by the Irish Sea. From there you cover the whole route and your journey will end at the Robin Hood’s Bay, which is located on the North Sea. The whole route takes around 14 to 17 days to cover, and you will get to explore a lot of beautiful towns and places while you walk along the path.
2. Cleveland Way
The Cleveland Way is another popular walking route in the Northern England which a lot of people travel to every year. The route was established in the year of 1969, and since then, it has been gaining popularity with every passing year. The whole route covers over 100 miles. You will start your journey from Helmsley, which is located on the North York Moors National Park. The route will take you through the park until you reach Saltburn by Sea, located by the North Sea. From there you will be walking along the coastline to finally reach Filey, located on the east coast. You will get to view some of the highest sea cliffs and some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Cleveland Hills while you walk on this route.
3. Hadrian’s Wall Walking Route
One of the most well-known walking routes in all of Northern England, in fact, all over the world is the Hadrian’s Wall Walking Route. This walking path is relatively new as it opened to the public in the year 2002. The whole route runs along the Hadrian’s Wall, which was built by the Roman emperor Hadrianus. Built between AD120 and AD128, the Hadrian’s Wall provides a lot of historic destinations and interesting sites along the way to make your journey eventful. The whole route takes a week to ten days to cover, and it takes you on a journey across the whole country, starting from Wallsend near Newcastle and the path ends at the Solway Coast.
4. Tour of the Lake District
Located in North West England, the Lake District offers a lot of beautiful places and walking routes to explore. Among all of them, the Tour of the Lake District walking route is probably the most popular and the most scenic one. It is a 93 miles long circular walking route which will take you through the whole Lake District and you will be able to explore each of the main Tour of the Lake District valleys when you walk through this path. The journey starts from the town of Windermere, and you will get to explore towns like Ambleside, Coniston, Wasdale Head, Keswick and Grasmere along your path.
5. Vale of Lorton
Vale of Lorton is a short yet beautiful walking route in the Lake District National Park which you can walk on if you have a limited number of days. The whole route can be covered in three to five days, and you will get to explore some of the quietest areas of the national park. The route takes you along the quaint and peaceful lakes of Loweswater, Crummock and Buttermere. It is also a route which is really easy to cover, as the path is mostly across flat valley bottoms and you have to cover relatively short distances every day.
6. Westmorland Way
Another really popular walking route in the Lake District National Park is the Westmorland Way. The route is only 95 miles long, but it takes around 7 to 9 days to complete the path. The path takes you through the old county of Westmorland. Your journey begins at Appleby, and you will end your walking tour at the only port of Westmorland, Arnside. Arnside is located on the Morecambe Bay and you will get to explore places like Ullswater, Grasmere, Kendal and Windermere along your path.
7. Great Glen Way
The Great Glen Way is a 73 miles long walking route, and it is one of the most popular walking paths in Scotland. This coast to coast path will take you from Fort William, located on the Atlantic west coast, to the town of Inverness, located by the North Sea. You will follow the loch shore paths, canal towpaths, and forestry tracks along your journey, and discover some of the beautiful towns along the way. You will get to see some of the most breathtaking views of the beautiful Lochs of the Great Glen and the surrounding Highlands while you walk on this path.
8. Arran Coastal Way
The Arran Coastal Way runs along the coastline of one of the most beautiful islands of Scotland, the Arran island. If remote beaches are something that you fancy, then going for a walking tour along this path will surely blow you away. Although Arran is quite a small island, still the varied terrain and landscapes which this island offers are simply astounding. The journey will take somewhere between 5 to 8 days, and you will explore craggy mountains, dense forests and beautiful beaches along your walkway.
9. Cotswold Way
The Cotswold Way, located in southern England, is a 102 mile long walking route which will take you from the town of Chipping Campden, located in the North Cotswolds, to the town of Bath, located in the rolling countryside. The historic town of Bath is known for its 18th-century Georgian architecture and its natural hot springs. The whole journey will take you anywhere between 6 to 11 days, depending on how well do you want to explore the route.
10. Peddars Way and North Norfolk Coast Path
If you want to explore some of the best locations of the Norfolk coastline, then the Peddars Way and North Norfolk Coast Path will be the best walking route for you. You can bring all of your modern walking gears with you, and walk on the historic Peddars Way, which dates back to the Bronze Age. The journey is 93 miles long, and it can be covered in 6 to 9 days.