10 of The Best Hiking Trails for Self-Guided Walking Holidays in the UK 

Younger generations are now discovering the joys of a walking holiday and millennial adventurer Maja Proescholdt is here to round up 10 of the very best walking holidays in the UK – all of which she has tried and tested.

Thinking about an epic, active outdoors adventure? A multi-day, long-distance walking holiday might be the trip for you. These treks might be more physically tough than a city break or all-inclusive getaway, but the UK is fortunate to have a number of long-distance hiking trails that make for a perfect challenge. Hikers and outdoor lovers will love these – here’s a roundup of the best UK walking holidays.

10 Ideas for Self-Guided Walking Holidays in the UK 

1. West Highland Way, Scotland

Distance: 96 miles, 6-8 days

This magnificent trail in Scotland is one of the most popular in the country – with good reason. Starting outside Glasgow in Milngavie, the route heads towards Loch Lomond and along the bonnie banks before going deep into the Highlands and the remote Rannoch Moor. After passing through Glencoe and Kinlochleven, the trail finishes in Fort William. If you want to experience the jaw-dropping natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands, hike the West Highland Way.

2. Hadrian’s Wall Path, Northumberland

Distance: 84 miles, 5-7 days

History fans will love this trail in Northern England, following the remains of the Roman Empire’s northern border: Hadrian’s Wall. After starting in Wallsend in Newcastle, the route goes across the country, through Northumberland National Park and Carlisle, to finish at Bowness-on-Solway. There are a number of ancient Roman sites you can visit along the trail, such as Chesters Roman Fort and Housesteads Roman Fort. Hadrian’s Wall Path is an excellent choice for first-timers, as the trail is quiet but not remote, and the terrain is fairly manageable for those with reasonable fitness levels.

3. Coast to Coast Trail, Lake District to North Yorkshire

Distance: 192 miles, 12-17 days

The Coast to Coast Trail, made popular by the Lake District’s beloved author Alfred Wainwright, was recently upgraded to official National Trail status in 2022. Starting at St. Bee’s on the western coast, the path heads through epic scenery in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors before finishing on the eastern coast at Robin Hood’s Bay. Dip your feet in the sea at the start and end of your walking holiday for one unbeatable adventure!

4. Cleveland Way, North Yorkshire

Distance: 109 miles, 7-11 days

If you want to experience the beauty of the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Coast, walk the Cleveland Way. This trail starts in the charming village of Helmsley, and passes through some of the most beautiful moorland scenery in Yorkshire at Sutton Bank and Roseberry Topping. After reaching the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the trail follows the sea down to Filey. This route is a fantastic mixture of moorland and coastal walking, all in one walking holiday!

5. Cotswolds Way, Cotswolds

Distance: 102 miles, 6-10 days

Imagine hiking through charming chocolate-box villages and across rolling green fields, dotted with sheep. The Cotswold Way in the south of England is that hiking trail come to life! The Cotswolds is already well-known for its picture-perfect honeycomb villages, and this trail connects some of the best, like Broadway and Painswick. It starts in Chipping Camden and finishes in the beautiful city of Bath.

6. Cotswolds Way, Somerset to Dorset via Cornwall and Devon

Distance: 630 miles, 40-60 days

If you’re after a true long-distance challenge, the South West Coast Path is for you. This UK hiking trail will take at least one month to complete, although you could always break it into smaller sections for a less intense trip. The route starts in Minehead in Somerset and finishes in Poole in Dorset, taking in some of the best coastal areas in Cornwall and Devon along the way.

7. Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland

Distance: 230 miles, 12-20 days

The Cape Wrath Trail is an epic route, and one for serious, experienced hikers. This is an unofficial, unmarked long-distance trail, starting in Glenfinnan and traversing some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland to finish at Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on mainland Britain. Hikers will need excellent navigation skills to manage the pathless terrain, and should be confident hiking in extremely remote areas. The trail passes through Ministry of Defense land in Cape Wrath, so walkers will need to look up firing times, too.

8. Arran Coastal Way, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Distance: 65 miles, 5-8 days

The Isle of Arran is often dubbed “Scotland in miniature” for its mix of landscapes: mountainous highlands in the north, pastoral lowlands in the south. It’s a short ferry ride from Ardrossan, which is easily accessible from Glasgow. The Arran Coastal Way follows the coastline of the island – highlights include King’s Cave, Machrie Moor Standing Stones, Lochranza Distillery and Brodick Castle. If you want a coastal walk with historic sites, scenery, whisky and wildlife, the Arran Coastal Way is for you.

9. Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, Wales

Distance: 186 miles, 10-15 days

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is one of the finest long-distance trails in Wales, starting in St Dogmaels in the north and finishing at Amroth in the south. You can soak up the spectacular Welsh coastal views, with beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs and wildlife-spotting opportunities. The trail passes through St Davids, the smallest city in the UK.

10. Causeway Coast Way, Northern Ireland

Distance: 32 miles, 2-3 days

This trail may be shorter than other multi-day walks, but makes up for it with impressive scenery along the coast in Northern Ireland. The trail starts in Ballycastle and finishes in Portstewart – the main highlight is undoubtedly the Giant’s Causeway, a unique promontory of hexagonal basalt columns. If you’re after a shorter UK walking holiday, the Causeway Coast Way is a top choice!

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While walking holidays offer a unique type of getaway in the great outdoors, planning a trip like this can be challenging. Booking your trip with a walking holiday tour operator is a great option – whether it’s your first walking holiday and you’re overwhelmed with where to start, or you simply don’t want the stress of planning. Orbis Ways offers walking holidays in the UK as well the Camino de Santiago and a number of other destinations in Europe including France, Greece, Montenegro and more. They can not only arrange accommodation and baggage transfers (a lifesaver for your shoulders when hiking long distances), but offer 24/7 customer service and access to walking holiday experts. You can also read reviews from previous customers, for peace of mind that your walking holiday will be seamless from start to finish.

The UK has a diverse range of long-distance trails, from coastal paths to mountainous routes. Whatever type of self-guided walking holiday you’re after – be it a short path or a rugged multi-week challenge – there’s a walking route for you.

Read more from our UK Travel section.