HIKING
BRITAIN’S BEST LONG-DISTANCE WALKS FANCY A
LONG-DISTANCE
ADVENTURE THIS
SUMMER?
SIX
MOST
OF THE
UK’S
Words & Photos James Forrest
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” John Muir’s famous quote says all you need to know about long-distance, multi-day hiking. It will restore your mood, rejuvenate your spirit and help you unplug from the tech-centric buzz of modern life. A therapeutic cocktail of fresh air, big views, escapism and exercise will help you de-stress, while the slow pace of a self-propelled journey will deliver an intimate interaction with your chosen landscape and a wonderful sense of achievement at the finish line. The UK boasts a myriad of world-class long-distance trails.
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England and Wales have 2,500 miles of hiking paths across 16 National Trails (nationaltrail.co.uk), including classic walks such as the Thames Path and South West Coast Path. Scotland has a further 1,900 miles of routes across its 29 Great Trails (scotlandsgreattrails.com). These include the West Highland Way and John Muir Way. On top of these high-profile trails, the Long Distance Walkers Association (ldwa.org.uk) lists a further 1,500 lesser-known trails. From hardcore mountain missions and coast-to-coast odysseys to historical journeys and rural bimbles, there’s a walk for everyone. But, if you’re struggling to decide, here are six of the very best.
HIKING HERE ARE
EPIC TRAILS
