TOP SEVEN LONGDISTANCE WALKS FOR BEGINNERS
Ease yourself into the joys of multi-day hiking on one of these inspiring trails, perfect for beginners, says Phoebe Smith
01 THAMES PATH, SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
When it comes to walking, nothing feels quite as satisfying as following a waterway from source to sea. The 184-mile Thames Path begins at the headwaters of this famous river in the leafy lanes of the Cotswolds and ends at the Thames Barrier in London, just a few miles from the sea. Getting to the start and end is easy with public transport and there are ample places to stay.
02 SNOWDONIA SLATE TRAIL, GWYNEDD
Not only is this 83-miler a walk through prime Welsh mountain country, it’s also an on-foot journey through time, back to when Snowdonia was the epicentre of a thriving slate industry. Beginning at the town of Bangor (easily reached by train), the route loops away from the usual national park honeypots, taking in a host of small villages and narrow-gauge railways.
03 BERWICKSHIRE COASTAL PATH, SCOTTISH BORDERS
When it comes to seaside trails, England’s South West Coast Path steals the headlines, yet the stretch of coast between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Cocksburnpath packs a proper punch, too, minus the summer crowds.
It’s perfect for a long weekend as its 30 miles can be done easily in three days. Highlights include pretty fishing villages, sea stacks, old forts, towering cliffs and the chance to spy myriad seabirds. Plus, if walked south to north you’ll end at the trailhead of the Southern Upland Way where 214 more miles of walking await.
04 GREAT GLEN WAY, SCOTLAND
Dissecting the country, from the city of Inverness on the Moray Firth in the north-east to the town of Fort William in the south-west, Scotland’s Great Glen Way follows a near-straight oblique line. This makes it an obvious route for a walk; a proper coast to coast. The best thing is, it’s only 73 miles long and is very easy to follow, taking between four and seven days. Highlights include Loch Ness, 13th-century Inverlochy Castle and the Caledonian Canal’s impressive Neptune’s Staircase.
05 PEDDARS WAY AND NORFOLK COAST PATH, NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK
For the best of inland and coastal walking in one hit, you can’t do better than this 130-mile National Trail (allow 11 days). The Peddars Way section – a Romanised segment of a prehistoric drove road – combines big skies, Breckland heaths and one of the best-preserved examples of a Cluniac priory in England. The Coast Path offers sweeping sand dunes, multicoloured sea cliffs, windmills and seaside resorts.
06 WANDERLUST WAY, LINCOLNSHIRE
It may be fairly short for a long-distance path being just a 20-mile circuit, but the Wanderlust Way in the Lincolnshire Wolds triumphs in terms of variety. Beginning in Bradley Woods, the well-marked path leads through comely villages complete with thatched cottages, wizened woods and acres of rolling farmland. The route can be done in a single big day or divided into two or three loops.
07 ST PATRICK’S WAY, COUNTY ARMAGH
Forget the Camino de Santiago in Spain – for an uncrowded pilgrimage that few have heard of, head to Navan Centre in Armagh to pick up your special Pilgrim Passport. Then begin the 82-mile walking tour of the key sites associated with St Patrick (with lots of food and shelter stops) before ending at his final resting place. There are 10 sites along the way to get your passport stamped; give yourself a week to complete it.