From quick Lake District scrambles to week-long treks that navigate Britain’s backbone, and limestone geological wonders to mountain hikes designed to put SAS candidates to the test, our round-up of the best countryside walks in the UK is a suitably varied read. Ranging from three-mile round trips to 268-mile epics, there’s something for everyone.
Countryside walks
Malham Cove
Waterfalls, rock-flanked canyons, a natural limestone amphitheatre and some stunning views across the Yorkshire Dales: this seven-mile round trip to Malham Cove delivers like a greatest hits hiking package. Starting in the picture-postcard village of Malham in the Pennines, the walk climbs through a wooded ravine to Janet’s Foss, a magnificent waterfall and rock pool that comes alive in spring with the smell of wild garlic and bluebells. From there, the path rises to Gordale Scar, a breathtaking narrow canyon with yet another waterfall before emerging at Malham Tarn, one of only two natural lakes in the Dales.
West Highland Way
Running from just above Glasgow to Fort William, the West Highland Way takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland including wild mountains, serene lochs and remote, rugged moorland. Most walkers take on the trek from south to north as it eases you into the walking, which gets more mountainous towards the end. The walk climaxes in Fort William where you could either celebrate by going one step further and hiking Ben Nevis or take a well-deserved breather at the distillery at the bottom.
Malham Cove, Yorkshire
- Total Distance: 7.5 miles
- Time to Walk: 4 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Spring/Autumn
- Difficulty: Medium
While that might be enough highlights for most walks, this trail keeps on delivering as the route summits at Malham Cove and its cracked limestone pavement sitting above a vast natural amphitheatre. Created by ice age meltwater 12,000 years ago, the route gets very busy in summer, and some of the climbs – notably around Gordale Scar – can be a bit of a scramble. But come in spring or autumn, and you’ll be greeted by one of the most action-packed walks in the country without the crowds.
West Highland Way, Scotland
- Total Distance: 96 miles
- Time to Walk: 7 days
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Medium
Scotland’s first designated long-distance trail when it opened in 1980, the West Highland Way follows traditional cattle drovers’ trails, meaning the 96-mile hike bypasses a lot of the highest peaks. That said, there’s still a fair degree of climbing involved as it treks across the Loch Lomond, The Trossachs National Park and takes in Glencoe, one of Scotland’s main ski resorts and also the location for James Bond’s memorable drive in Skyfall. Get the timing right and dodge the drizzle and midges, and the West Highland Way could be the finest long-distance hike in the country.
Cat Bells
While many of the hikes in the Lake District are geared towards experienced hill-walkers – and those with a head for heights if you’re tackling Helvellyn and Scafell Pike – Cat Bells is a genuine family-friendly walk. With a relatively short but steep 450-metre climb, the going is fairly easy apart from a scrambled section near the summit, which is made easier by tackling the circular route anticlockwise. And once you’re at the top of one of the Lake District’s most accessible peaks, you’ll be rewarded with views across much of the landscape that inspired Beatrix Potter and her Peter Rabbit adventures, including Derwent Water, Borrowdale and Keswick.
Pennine Way
Dubbed the backbone of England, the Pennine Way runs from the Peak District in Derbyshire to the Scottish borders, taking in – deep breath – three national parks, the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, two national nature reserves and 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The first of the UK’s 15 national trails when it was created in 1965, highlights include walking icons such as Kinder Scout, Hadrian’s Wall, Malham Cove, The Cheviot and Pen-y-ghent.
Pen y Fan
While some might know Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons as the infamous SAS ‘lungbuster,’ there are three other routes up this popular Welsh plateau that don’t require military-grade levels of stamina. Roughly translated as ‘top spot,’ Pen y Fan is the highest point in southern Britain and was a famous burial spot during the Bronze Age. It’s now a popular tourist attraction with nearly 400,000 hikers each year seduced by the glorious views across the Malvern Hills, Snowdonia, the Bristol Channel and – on an especially clear day – even down to Devon’s distant coastline.
Cat Bells, Cumbria
- Total Distance: 4 miles
- Time to Walk: 3 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Any
- Difficulty: Easy/Medium
As it’s one of the easier Lake District routes, it can get busy, and parking spaces can be hard to find – get down early to bag the best spots or try your luck near the Hawse End Centre.
Pennine Way, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Scotland
- Total Distance: 268 miles
- Time to Walk: 3 weeks
- Best Time to Visit: Summer
- Difficulty: Medium
If you’re planning to tackle the monumental trail in one go, you’ll need to book three weeks off work or, alternatively, the hike can easily be broken down into smaller, more manageable segments. Whether you’re attempting the full trek or dipping in and out, we’d recommend hiking between May and September, as nearly three metres of rain falls annually across the Pennines, making it a potentially wet-booted experience.
Pen y Fan, Wales
- Total Distance: 4 miles
- Time to Walk: 3 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Spring/ Summer/Autumn
- Difficulty: Easy
If you want to challenge yourself, take the SAS route along Jacob’s Ladder, a steep and rocky ascent that will test you and your fitness. Or opt for the more sensible – and enjoyable – Storey Arms approach that leaves from the National Trust car park. It has become so popular that it’s been nicknamed ‘The Motorway’ by locals thanks to its wide path.
