SIX LONG-DISTANCE WALKS

Here are six of the UK’s best long-distance footpaths – you could take on a short section of one over a weekend or set aside more time and tackle a whole route from start to finish

1 WEST HIGHLAND WAY (96 miles)

Scotland’s most popular long-distance path running from the outskirts of Glasgow to Fort William. The West Highland Way attracts walkers from all over the world and is an exciting and challenging walk that often feels remote but is never too far from a road.

2 SOUTHERN UPLAND WAY (214 miles)

The Southern Upland Way is a coast-tocoast route across southern Scotland. It’s a challenging route, taking in remote terrain, mountains, wild moorland and rough ground.

3 HADRIAN'S WALL PATH (84 miles)

Hadrian’s Wall Path runs from Wallsend on the east coast of England to Bowness-onSolway in the west and it follows the line of the ancient Hadrian’s Wall, which is a World Heritage Site.

4 THE DALES WAY (80 miles)

An ‘unofficial’ route, the Dales Way was the brainchild of guidebook writer, Colin Speakman, and links the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District. It runs from Ilkley in Yorkshire to the shores of Lake Windermere at Bowness in Cumbria, and there are plenty of moorland and remote river sections.

5 THE PENNINE WAY (268 miles)

A rough and tough moorland outing that follows the Pennine spine of England. Expect long days, difficult terrain and bouts of bad weather. A great walk but you will need to be superfit to take it on.

6 THE COAST-TO-COAST PATH (192 miles)

The creation of guidebook writer, the late Alfred Wainwright. Most people walk it west to east from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire. Expect mountain terrain, field walking and even some coastal hiking. It's a popular route that seems to get busier every year.