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List of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom

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There are hundreds of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom designated in publications from public authorities, guidebooks and OS maps.[1] Most are in rural landscapes, in varying terrain, some passing through National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[2] There is no formal definition of a long-distance path, though the British Long Distance Walkers Association defines one as a route "20 miles [32 km] or more in length and mainly off-road."[1] The routes usually follow existing rights of way, often over private land, joined together and sometimes waymarked to make a named route.[3] Generally, the surface is not specially prepared, with rough ground, uneven surfaces and stiles, which can cause accessibility issues for people with disabilities.[4] Exceptions to this can be converted railways, canal towpaths and some popular fell walking routes where stone-pitching and slabs have been laid to prevent erosion.[5] Many long-distance footpaths are arranged around a particular theme such a particular range of hills, historical or geographical connection.[3]

England and Wales: National Trails

Main article: National Trails

National Trails are a network of long-distance paths in England and Wales (plus a small stretch of the Pennine Way in Scotland[6]) funded by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales and maintained by local authorities under a Trail Partnership.[7] As of August 2018, there are over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) of trails on sixteen routes. The newest trail, the England Coast Path, is not complete though more sections are planned to open over the coming months, with a planned completion date of 2020.[needs update][7] There are 83 million visits to the National Trails each year and over 80,000 people complete a trail.[8]

Ivinghoe Beacon (the eastern trailhead) seen looking north from the Ridgeway
The paved surface of the Pennine Way on Black Hill
Name Length Region Endpoint one Endpoint two Description
mi km
Cleveland Way 110 180 North Yorkshire, England Helmsley Filey Brigg Runs around the edge of the North York Moors National Park in a horseshoe configuration.
Cotswold Way 102 164 The Cotswolds, Central England Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire Bath, Somerset Runs along the Cotswold Edge escarpment of the Cotswold Hills.
England Coast Path 2,795 4,500† England N/A N/A Will cover the entire coast of England and will be the longest managed and waymarked coastal path in the world.[9]
Glyndŵr's Way 135 217 Powys, mid Wales Knighton Welshpool Runs in an extended loop.
Hadrian's Wall Path 84 135 England: Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Cumbria Wallsend, Tyne and Wear Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria Runs from the east to west coast along the remains of Hadrian's Wall.
North Downs Way 153 246 South Eastern England Farnham, Surrey Dover, Kent Passes through the areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) of the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs.
Offa's Dyke Path 177 285 Wales–England border Sedbury, Gloucestershire Prestatyn, Denbighshire Follows close to the border near the remnants of Offa's Dyke.
Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path‡ 97 156 England in Suffolk and Norfolk Knettishall Heath, Knettishall, Suffolk Cromer, Norfolk The two paths join at Holme-next-the-Sea.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path 186 299 Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales Poppit Sands, near St Dogmaels Amroth Has a total of 35,000 feet (11,000 m) of ascent and descent and lies almost completely within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.[10]
Pennine Bridleway 205 330 Pennines, Northern England Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire Ravenstonedale, Cumbria Runs roughly parallel to the Pennine Way.
Pennine Way 267 430 Pennines, Northern England and Southern Scotland Edale, Derbyshire Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders Spans the length of the Pennines, according to the Ramblers, "one of Britain's best known and toughest" trails.[11]
The Ridgeway 87 140 Berkshire Downs, Southern England Overton Hill, near Avebury, Wiltshire Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire An ancient trackway on a chalk ridge described as Britain's oldest road.
South Downs Way 100 160 South Downs in Southern England Winchester, Hampshire Eastbourne, East Sussex Lies within the South Downs National Park.
South West Coast Path (South West Way) 630 1,010 England: Somerset, Devon, Cornwall & Dorset Minehead, Somerset Poole Harbour, Dorset Originated as a route for the Coastguard to walk from lighthouse to lighthouse patrolling for smugglers.[12]
Thames Path 184 296 Southern England Kemble, Gloucestershire Thames Barrier, Charlton Follows the River Thames from its source to the Thames Barrier in London.
Yorkshire Wolds Way 79 127 Yorkshire, England Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire Filey, North Yorkshire Runs around the Yorkshire Wolds.

† When complete in 2020
‡ Treated as one path by National Trails

Scotland: Great Trails

Main article: Scotland's Great Trails
Fife Coastal Path at West Wemyss
The Devil's Staircase on the West Highland Way
Cliffs from the Berwickshire Coastal Path
A St Cuthbert's Way marker post at the edge of the square between Grubbit Law and Wideopen Hill

Scotland's Great Trails are long-distance "people-powered" trails (predominantly hiking trails but including cycling, horse-riding and canoe routes) in Scotland.[13] Scottish Natural Heritage maintains the official list of Scotland’s Great Trails and is the custodian of the brand, but responsibility for creating and maintaining each route lies with each local authority through which a route passes, although Scottish Natural Heritage provides some of the finance and publicity.[14] There are 29 routes, offering 1,900 miles (3,000 km) of trails in total.[14]

Each of the routes is clearly waymarked with a dedicated symbol, and run largely off-road. They range in length from 24 to 210 miles (40 to 340 km), and are intended to be tackled over several days, either as a combination of day trips or as an end-to-end expedition. They are primarily intended for walkers, but may have sections suitable for cyclists and horse-riders.[15] One of the trails, the Great Glen Canoe Trail, is designed for canoeists and kayakers.[16]

Name Length Region Endpoint one Endpoint two Description
mi km
Annandale Way 55 89 Solway Coast, Dumfries and Galloway Moffat Annan Follows the valley of the River Annan from its source in the Moffat Hills to the sea in the Solway Firth.
Arran Coastal Way 66 106 Isle of Arran N/A N/A A circular route around the coastline of the Isle of Arran.
Ayrshire Coastal Path 100 160 Ayrshire Glenapp, Ballantrae Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire Runs alongside the coast and forms part of the International Appalachian Trail.[17]
Berwickshire Coastal Path 28 45 Scottish Borders and Northen England Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland A coastal path spanning the Anglo-Scottish border.
Borders Abbeys Way 68 109 Scottish Borders N/A N/A A circular route in the Borders passing through the ruins of many Abbeys. The way is as follows: Kelso – Jedburgh – Hawick – Selkirk – Melrose.
Cateran Trail 64 103 Perth and Kinross and Angus Blairgowrie and Rattray N/A A circular route covering many conditions such as farmland, mountains and forest. The trail is as follows: Blairgowrie – Kirkmichael – Spittal of Glenshee – Alyth.
Clyde Walkway 40 64 South Lanarkshire Glasgow New Lanark Runs close to the River Clyde for most of its length.
Cowal Way 57 92 Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute Portavadie Inveruglas on Loch Lomond Connects with the West Highland Way.
Cross Borders Drove Road 52 84 Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders Little Vantage, near Edinburgh Hawick One of the newest trails based on existing routes.[18]
Dava Way 24 39 Moray Grantown-on-Spey Forres Follows the route of the former Highland Railway which closed in 1965.[19]
Fife Coastal Path 117 188 Fife Kincardine Newburgh When opened it originally ran from North Queensferry to Tayport, but was later extended.
Formartine and Buchan Way 53 85 Aberdeenshire Dyce, near Aberdeen Fraserburgh and Peterhead Follows the track of the former railway line the Formartine and Buchan Railway which closed in 1970. The path branches into two sections at Maud.[20]
Forth and Clyde Canal Pathway 66 106 Central Belt Bowling, Dunbartonshire Fountainbridge, Edinburgh Runs between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde.
Great Glen Canoe Trail 60 97 Scottish Highlands Banavie, near Fort William Clachnaharry, near Inverness Coast-to-coast Canoe trail on man-made canals and locks.
Great Glen Way 79 127 Scottish Highlands Fort William Inverness Follows the Great Glen.
Great Trossachs Path 28 45 Trossachs Callander, Stirling Inversnaid on the bank of Loch Lomond Situated in the Trossachs National Park.
John Muir Way 134 216 Central Belt Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute Dunbar, East Lothian Named in honour of the Scottish conservationist John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 and became a founder of the United States National Park Service.[21]
Kintyre Way 100 160 Argyll and Bute, Argyllshire Tarbert Machrihanish Located on the Kintyre peninsula.[22]
Moray Coast Trail 50 80 Moray Forres Cullen Forms part of the North Sea Trail.
Mull of Galloway Trail 37 60 Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire Mull of Galloway Glenapp, Ballantrae The Rotary Club of Stranraer created and maintains the path.[23]
River Ayr Way 44 71 Southern Scotland Glenbuck, East Ayrshire Ayr, South Ayrshire Follows the River Ayr for most of the trail.
Rob Roy Way 92 148 Perthshire and Stirlingshire Drymen, Stirling Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross The way takes its name from Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century.[24]
Romans and Reivers Route 52 84 Southern Uplands Ae Hawick For much of the route it follows former Roman roads.
St Cuthbert's Way 62 100 Scottish Borders and Northen England Melrose, Scottish Borders Lindisfarne, Northumberland The walk is named after Cuthbert, a 7th-century saint, a native of the Borders who spent his life in the service of the church.[25]
Southern Upland Way 212 341 Southern Uplands Portpatrick Cockburnspath, Berwickshire A coast-to-coast walk stretching from east to west.
Speyside Way 80 130 Northern Scotland Aviemore Buckie, Moray Follows the River Spey through some of Banffshire, Morayshire and Inverness-shire.
Three Lochs Way 31 50 Highland Boundary Fault to the Southern Highlands Balloch, West Dunbartonshire Inveruglas, Argyll and Bute For much of the way it passes through the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
West Highland Way 96 154 Scottish Lowlands to the Scottish Highlands Milngavie, near Glasgow Fort William, Highlands Scotland's first and most popular long-distance walking route.[26]
West Island Way 30 48 Isle of Bute Kilchattan Bay Port Bannatyne The first waymarked long-distance route on a Scottish Island.[27]

Other UK long-distance paths

Those included here meet the definition of a long-distance path as being around 50 km (31 miles) or more, particularly that they will take more than one day's walking to complete. Some shorter paths linking between major walks (e.g. Maelor Way) are also included.

Southern England

The 1066 Country Walk near Battle
Monarch's Way looking back at the outskirts of Wolverhampton
Meddows on the West Deane Way
The All Saints Church in West Camel viewed from the Leland Trail
Name Length Region Endpoint one Endpoint two Description
mi km
1066 Country Walk 31 50 East Sussex Pevensey Castle near Pevensey Rye Commemorates the year 1066 and the Battle of Hastings.
Avon Valley Path 34 55 Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset Christchurch Salisbury The path takes its name from the River Avon and passes through the western edge of the New Forest.
Basingstoke Canal Towpath Trail 33 53 Hampshire and Surrey Penny Bridge, Up Nately, Basingstoke Woodham Follows the path of the 200-year-old Basingstoke Canal.
Bournemouth Coast Path 20 32 Dorset and Hampshire Sandbanks Milford on Sea The coastal path connects the South West Coast Path (via the Sandbanks Ferry) to the Solent Way.
Capital Ring 75 121 London N/A N/A Circular route through inner London, crossing the Thames at Richmond and Woolwich.
Celtic Way 725 1,167 Wales and Southwest England Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire St Michael's Mount, Cornwall Visits more than 100 pre-historic sites including Stonehenge.[28]
Channel to Channel Path 50 80 South West Peninsula Seaton, Devon Watchet, Somerset Connects the English Channel with the Bristol Channel.[29]
Chiltern Way 134 216 Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton and Oxfordshire Hemel Hempstead railway station N/A A circular route originaly a 125-mile-long (201 km) Millennium Project.[30]
Coleridge Way 51 82 Somerset and Devon Nether Stowey Lynmouth Starts in the Quantock Hills later moving on to the Brendon Hills, within Exmoor National Park.
Dartmoor Way 95 153 Dartmoor N/A N/A In the Dartmoor National Park in southern Devon.
Devonshire Heartland Way 43 69 Devon Okehampton Stoke Canon, Exeter A west-to-east route across Devon starting in Dartmoor near the Exe Valley.[31]
Downs Link 37 60 Surrey and West Sussex St. Martha's Hill near Guildford Shoreham-by-Sea Heads from the North Downs Way onto the South Downs Way at Steyning.
East Devon Way 38 61 South West England Exmouth, East Devon Lyme Regis, West Dorset Runs inland but links with the South West Coast Path at both ends.
Essex Way 81 130 Essex Epping Harwich Crosses the Dedham Vale and Constable country to finish in the Stour estuary.
Exe Valley Way 45 72 Devon and Somerset River Exe estuary Exford in Exmoor National Park Follows the valley of the River Exe from its source to the coast.[32]
Gordano Round 27 43 North Somerset Roath Road, Portishead N/A The route is around the Gordano Valley in a figure of eight via Clevedon and Abbots Leigh.
Great Stones Way 36 58 Wiltshire Coate Water Country Park, Swindon Salisbury Cathedral Starts Barbury Castle to Old Sarum with optional detours to Avebury and Stonehenge.[33]
Greater Ridgeway 362 583 South and Central England Lyme Regis, Dorset on the English Channel Hunstanton on The Wash Follows the Wessex Ridgeway, The Ridgeway National Trail, the Icknield Way Path and the Peddars Way National Trail.
Greensand Way 108 174 Home counties Haslemere, Surrey Hamstreet, Kent Follows the Greensand Ridge along the Surrey Hills and Chart Hills.
Hampshire Millennium Pilgrims Trail 29 47 Hampshire Winchester Portsmouth Forms part of the historical Pilgrims' Trail is a 155-mile long-distance footpath that connects Winchester Cathedral to Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy.[34]
Hardy Way 220 350 West Country Hardy's Cottage, Higher Bockhampton Stinsford, Dorset The route is almost circular with the endpoints being a mile apart and is named after the writer Thomas Hardy.[35]
High Weald Landscape Trail 90 140 West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent Horsham Rye Passes through the landscapes of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Isle of Wight Coastal Path 70 110 Isle of Wight Ryde N/A Circular coastal route mainly following public footpaths.
Itchen Way 32 51 Hampshire Hinton Ampner near Alresford Sholing Follows the River Itchen from its source.
Jubilee Trail 88 142 Dorset Forde Abbey Bokerley Dyke Created to celebrate The Ramblers' Association's Diamond Jubilee and passes through many historical sites.[36]
King's Way 45 72 Hampshire Winchester Portchester Created by the Ramblers' Association as a memorial to the late Allan King (who formed many local groups in Hampshire).
Land's End Trail 303 488 South West Peninsula Land's End, Cornwall Avebury, Wiltshire Links Land's End with many of England's central long-distance trails.[37]
Leland Trail 28 45 Somerset King Alfred's Tower, Brewham Ham Hill Named after the antiquary and poet John Leland.[38]
Liberty Trail 28 45 Somerset and Dorset Ham Hill Lyme Regis The trail is based on the route rebels travelled to join the Monmouth Rebellion.[39]
Limestone Link 36 58 South West England Mendip Hills, Somerset Cold Aston, Gloucestershire The footpath connects with the Mendip Way and the Cotswold Way.
London Outer Orbital Path (The LOOP) 150 240 London Erith Rainham A circular route around the edge of Outer London.
Mendip Way 50 80 Somerset Uphill near Weston-super-Mare Frome The route is on the Mendip Hills giving views over the Somerset Levels.
Monarch's Way 615 990 Southern England Worcester Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex The route approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester.[40]
New Lipchis Way 40 64 Hampshire and West Sussex Liphook West Wittering The path passes through Midhurst and Chichester crossing the Western Weald and South Downs.
Orange Way 350 560 Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Brixham, Devon London Follows the march in 1688 of Prince William of Orange and his army from Brixham to London.[41]
Oxford Canal Walk 82 132 Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands Oxford Coventry Follows the Towpath of the Oxford Canal.[42]
Oxford Green Belt Way 52 84 Oxfordshire N/A N/A Circular route through the Oxford Green Belt.
Oxfordshire Way 62 100 Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire Bourton-on-the-Water Henley-on-Thames Passes from the Cotswolds to the Chiltern Hills.
Pilgrims' Way 120 190 South Eastern England Winchester Shrine of Thomas Becket, Canterbury Historical route taken by pilgrims from to the shrine of Thomas Becket. It is an ancient trail of which perhaps two-thirds is still identifiable, much of it now incorporated into the North Downs Way National Trail.[43]
Quantock Greenway 37 60 Somerset N/A N/A The path is a figure-of-eight centred on Triscombe in the Quantock Hills.
River Parrett Trail 50 80 Dorset & Somerset Chedington Bridgwater Bay, Bristol Channel Follows the River Parrett to the coast.
Royal Military Canal Path 27 43 Kent and East Sussex Seabrook Pett Level Follows the Royal Military Canal and touches the northern edge of Romney Marsh.
Samaritans Way South West 103 166 South West England Clifton Suspension Bridge Lynmouth Opened by the Rambler and the Samaritans in part to help local farmers. Only the section from Bristol to Goathurst is waymarked.[44]
Sarum Way 32 51 Wiltshire N/A N/A A circular route around the city of Salisbury, only part of it is waymarked.
Saxon Shore Way 163 262 South East England Gravesend, Kent Hastings, East Sussex, Traces the shoreline as it was in Roman times and visiting many historical sites of the period.[45]
Serpent Trail 64 103 Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex Haslemere Petersfield Designed to join up the many of the heathland areas in the western Weald.
Severn Way 210 340 Mid Wales and Western England Plynlimon, the Cambrian Mountains Bristol Follows the course of the River Severn from its source to the Severn Estuary.
Shipwrights Way 50 80 Hampshire Alice Holt Forest Portsmouth Traces in the route that might have been taken by timber from forest to shipyards for the constriction of warships.[46]
Solent Way 60 97 Hampshire Milford on Sea Emsworth Follows the coast of the Solent.
Stour Valley Walk 52 84 Kent Pegwell Bay Lenham Follows the River Stour, through the Low Weald and Kent Downs, from its source to its estuary.
Stour Valley Way 64 103 Dorset and Wiltshire Stourton with Gasper Hengistbury Head Follows the River Stour as it winds through the Dorset countryside.
St. Swithun's Way 34 55 Hampshire and Surrey Winchester Cathedral Farnham Named after Swithun, a 9th-century Bishop of Winchester, and roughly follows a short stretch of the Pilgrims' Way.
Sussex Border Path 138 222 West & East Sussex Thorney Island Rye Follows the Sussex border with Hampshire, Surrey and Kent.
Sussex Ouse Valley Way 42 68 West & East Sussex Lower Beeding Seaford Follows the River Ouse from its source to the English Channel.
Tarka Trail 180 290 Devon Barnstaple N/A Consists of two separate circular routes based of the fictional route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of the same name.
Test Way 49 79 Berkshire and Hampshire Walbury Hill Totton and Eling Passes through the towns of Romsey and Totton and starts in the Test Valley.
Thames Down Link 15 24 London and Surrey Kingston Bridge Box Hill Station Links the Thames Path and the North Downs Way.
Three Castles Path 60 97 Hampshire and Berkshire Winchester Castle Windsor Castle As well as Winchester Castle and Windsor Castle the path passes through Odiham Castle. The route is unwaymarked.
Two Moors Way 102 164 Devon & Somerset Ivybridge, Dartmoor National Park Lynmouth, North Devon Coast A route across Dartmoor over exposed moorland.
Vanguard Way 66 106 Surrey, Kent and East Sussex East Croydon Newhaven Connects Central London with the Wandle Trail along the River Wandle from Croydon.
Wayfarers Walk 70 110 Berkshire and Hampshire Walbury Hill Emsworth Approximates an ancient route that might have been used by drovers taking cattle to market.
Wealdway 83 134 Kent and East Sussex Gravesend Eastbourne Connects the Thames Estuary with the English Channel and also traverses the Ashdown Forest.
Wessex Ridgeway 136 219 Wiltshire and Dorset Marlborough Lyme Regis One of the four long-distance footpaths which are referred to as the Greater Ridgeway.
West Deane Way 45 72 Taunton Deane area of Somerset Taunton N/A Circular walk in the Vale of Taunton Deane.
West Devon Way 36 58 Devon Okehampton Radford Castle, Hooe Lake, Plymouth Links with the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail and the Two Castles Trail to form the 'West Devon Triangle', a 90-mile circuit.[47]
Wey South Path 32 51 Surrey and West Sussex Guildford Houghton Bridge The path follows the banks of the River Wey and the Wey and Arun Canal.

Thames to Mersey

The Derwent Valley Heritage Way along Whitewells Road
A view of the former High Marnham power station on the Trent Valley Way
The Derwent Valley Heritage Way next to the Cromford Canal
A field of rapeseed on the Viking Way
Name Length Region Endpoint one Endpoint two Description
mi km
Angles Way 92 148 Norfolk and Suffolk Great Yarmouth Barnhamcross Common, Thetford Much of the path follows the county border, originally it was 15 miles shorter and ended in Knettishall Heath.
Bishop Bennet Way 34 55 Southwest Cheshire Beeston Wirswall Named after William Bennet who carried out detailed surveys of Roman roads in the area.
Boudica's Way 36 58 East Anglia Diss railway station, Diss Norwich railway station, Norwich Parallel to the old Roman Pye Road, now the A140 road.
Centenary Way 99 159 Warwickshire Kingsbury Water Park Lower Quinton The Way was devised to celebrate one hundred years of Warwickshire County Council.[48]
Cheshire Ring 97 156 Cheshire and Greater Manchester N/A N/A Circular walk alongside six canals, via Dukinfield and Marple
Coventry Way 40 64 Coventry Meriden, West Midlands N/A It forms a circular route around the city of Coventry covering countryside in both the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
D'Arcy Dalton Way 66 106 Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire Wormleighton Reservoir, Warwickshire Wayland's Smithy Long Barrow Links four long-distance footpaths: Oxford Canal Walk, Thames Path, The Ridgeway and Oxfordshire Way. It follows the western boundary of Oxfordshire in unspoilt countryside.[49]
Derwent Valley Heritage Way 55 89 Derbyshire Ladybower Reservoir, north of Bamford Shardlow Runs around the Derbyshire Dales through Chatsworth, Derbyshire and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Fen Rivers Way 50 80 Eastern England Cambridge King's Lynn, Norfolk Runs alongside the River Cam and on to the River Great Ouse.
Geopark Way 109 175 West Midlands and South West England Bridgnorth Castle Gloucester Cathedral Links a series of geologically and historically important sites.[50]
Gloucestershire Way 100 160 Gloucestershire Tutshill Tewkesbury Routes through the Forest of Dean, Cotswolds and the Severn Plain.
Gritstone Trail 35 56 Cheshire East and Staffordshire Disley railway station, Disley Mow Cop, Kidsgrove A large portion of the path routes through the Peak District National Park.
Heart of England Way 100 160 Midlands Milford, Staffordshire Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire Links the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the with the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - it is officially recognised by the four councils it passes through.[51]
Herefordshire Trail 154 248 Herefordshire Ledbury, Herefordshire N/A A circular route designed to link the five market towns: Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Kington. Waymarks are planned but not yet in place.
Hereward Way 110 180 East Anglia Oakham East Harling Travels through Thetford Forest and links the Viking Way and the Peddars Way long-distance footpaths. The Stamford to Peterborough section is not fully waymarked, but walkers travelling between those two places can follow the waymarked Torpel Way.
Hertfordshire Way 194 312 Hertfordshire N/A N/A A circular walk around open countryside, although some parts are within 20 miles of London. It passes through the county town of Hertford and the towns of Royston and Bishop’s Stortford.
Icknield Way Path 110 180 Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk Ivinghoe Beacon Knettishall Heath The path consists of prehistoric pathways passing through many sites of archaeological remains.[52]
Jack Mytton Way 93 150 Shropshire Bridgnorth Much Wenlock The route runs through the Shropshire Hills and the Clee Hills including parts of Wenlock Edge.
Jurassic Way 88 142 The Midlands Banbury, Oxfordshire Stamford, Lincolnshire Most of the route follows a Jurassic limestone ridge, from where its name derives.[53]
Lea Valley Walk 50 80 South East England Leagrave, Bedfordshire Limehouse Basin, Limehouse, East London Follows the River Lea from its source and along the Lee Navigation to the East India Docks in London.
Limestone Way 50 80 Derbyshire, Staffordshire Castleton Rocester A route through the limestone Derbyshire Dales finishing in Dove Valley.
Limey Way 40 64 Derbyshire Castleton Dovedale The route is in the White Peak area on limestone countryside visiting twenty dales.
Maelor Way 24 39 Shropshire, Cheshire and into Wrexham, Wales Grindley Brook Bronygarth Links six long-distance footpaths, the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail, while travelling through meadows and woodland.[54]
Mercian Way 230 370 The Midlands and Northern England Salisbury Chester Part of National Cycle Route 4, but also well used by walkers.
Midshires Way 230 370 South-East England, the Midlands and Northern England Chiltern Hills near Bledlow, Buckinghamshire Stockport, Greater Manchester A footpath and bridleway that links the Ridgeway National Trail with the Pennine Way across Middle England.
Mortimer Trail 30 48 Shropshire and Herefordshire Ludlow Kington Runs through the Welsh Marches on the English side of the Anglo-Welsh border and is named after the Mortimer family of ruling Marcher Lords.[55]
Nar Valley Way 34 55 Norfolk King's Lynn Gressenhall A route through the watershed of the River Nar.[56]
Nene Way 110 180 Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire Badby Lincolnshire Follows the course of the River Nene.
New River Path 28 45 Hertfordshire and North London New Gauge, Hertford New River Head, Islington Follows the course of the New River aqueduct.
North Worcestershire Path 35 56 Worcestershire Kinver Major's Green Links four country parks in the north-east area of the historic county.
Ouse Valley Way 150 240 The Midlands and the East of England Syresham, Northamptonshire The Wash Follows the River Great Ouse from its source to the sea.
Pathfinder March 46 74 Cambridgeshire N/A N/A An annual circular route around former RAF Pathfinder Airfields in Cambridgeshire, held on the Saturday closest to Midsummers Day.
Robin Hood Way 104 167 The Midlands Nottingham Castle Edwinstowe, Sherwood Forest Commemorates the folklore of Robin Hood.
Sabrina Way 203 327 The Midlands and Central England Hartington, Derbyshire Great Barrington, Gloucestershire A bridleway providing a link between the Ridgeway and the Pennine Bridleway.
Saffron Trail 70 110 Essex Southend on Sea Saffron Walden Traverses the county from the south-east to the north-west.[57][58]
Sandlings Walk 60 97 Suffolk Ipswich Southwold Has eleven sculptures along the route and passes through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.[59]
Sandstone Trail 32 51 Cheshire and Shropshire Frodsham Whitchurch Much of the route follows the Mid Cheshire Ridge but in places, the trail also passes through the Cheshire Plain.
Shakespeare's Way 146 235 Southern England Stratford-Upon-Avon Globe Theatre on the South Bank, London Replicates the route William Shakespeare would take from his home and playhouse.
Sheffield Country Walk 53 85 City of Sheffield Eckington N/A A circular walk around the city boundary.[60]
Shropshire Way 140 230 Shropshire Shrewsbury Wem Routes through the Ironbridge World Heritage Site, with a further 12-mile (19 km) northern spur to Grindley Brook.
South Cheshire Way 32 51 Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire Grindley Brook Mow Cop The path connects with several other long-distance paths, including the Maelor Way, the Staffordshire Way and the Sandstone and Gritstone Trails.
Staffordshire Way 92 148 Staffordshire Mow Cop Kinver Edge Opened in three stages by Staffordshire County Council between 1977 and 1983.[61]
Stour Valley Path 60 97 East Anglia Newmarket Cattawade, Manningtree The path follows the catchment area of the River Stour and the majority of the route forms part of European Path E2.
St Edmund Way 79 127 Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk Manningtree Brandon Follows Stour Valley Path, is not waymarked but is on OS mapping.[62]
St. Kenelm's Trail 95 153 Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Clent Hills Winchcombe Originally devised by John Price, which links the two places most commonly associated with the legend of St Kenelm.
St. Peter's Way 45 72 Essex Chipping Ongar Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall Runs across the agricultural land of Essex passing the Hanningfield Reservoir and the inlets of the Blackwater Estuary going on to reach the coast.[63]
Suffolk Coast Path 50 80 Suffolk Felixstowe Lowestoft Follows the Heritage coast.
Swan's Way 65 105 Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Salcey Forest, Milton Keynes Goring-on-Thames A bridleway that forms the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way.
Tas Valley Way 25 40 Norfolk Cringleford Attleborough Follows the course of the River Tas to the source near to New Buckenham.[64]
Three Forests Way 60 97 Essex and Hertfordshire Harlow N/A A circular route through Epping, Hainault and Hatfield forests on the borders of Essex and Greater London.[65]
Three Shires Way 49 79 East Anglia Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire Tathall End, Milton Keynes A bridleway running through rural landscape and ancient woodland. It originally ended in Salcey Forest but the Grafham Water Circular Ride, of 12.4 miles around the reservoir, has now been added to the route.[66]
Trent Valley Way 116 187 Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Trent Lock Alkborough Follows the River Trent originally created in 1998.
Viking Way 147 237 Lincolnshire and Rutland Barton-upon-Humber Oakham It links other major routes including the Macmillan Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way, most of the route is designated as part of the European E2 footpath.
Way for the Millennium 41 66 Staffordshire Newport, Shropshire Burton upon Trent An east-west route across the county designed for easy walking.
Weavers Way 61 98 Norfolk Cromer Great Yarmouth Combined with the Peddars Way the trails make a circuit around Norfolk and links with the North Norfolk Coastal Path and the Angles Way.[67]
Wherryman's Way 35 56 Norfolk Norwich Great Yarmouth Follows the River Yare for the most part.
Wild Edric's Way 49 79 Shropshire Church Stretton Ludlow Shares much of its route with the Shropshire Way.
Worcestershire Way 31 50 Worcestershire Bewdley Malvern When created it was partly into Herefordshire being 48-miles-long (77 km).
Wychavon Way 40 64 Worcestershire and Gloucestershire Droitwich Spa Winchcombe The route was originally opened in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[68]
Wychwood Way 37 60 Oxfordshire Market Street, Woodstock N/A Circular walk around the heart of the ancient royal forest of Wychwood.
Wysis Way 55 89 Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Monmouth Kemble station Runs from the Offa's Dyke Path National Trail at Monmouth to the Thames Path National Trail at Kemble.

Northern England

Wales

Scotland

See also: Long-distance footpaths in Scotland
  • Cape Wrath Trail, runs around 300 km (186 mi) from Fort William to Cape Wrath; as the route is unwaymarked, different guides to it suggest slightly different routes. See here.
  • Central Scottish Way, 251 km (156 mi) from Milngavie to Byrness (just over the border in Northumberland, England)
  • Coast to Coast, 205 km (128 mi), Oban to St Andrews[80] 128 miles, ISBN 978-0-9526900-8-5
  • The East Highland Way, runs from Fort William to Aviemore
  • John o' Groats Trail, 231 km (145 mi) from Inverness to John o'Groats
  • Sir Walter Scott Way from Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway to Cockburnspath, Scottish Borders

Northern Ireland

The Macmillan Ways

See also: Macmillan Ways

The Macmillan Ways are a set of paths that promotes and raises money for the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity.

Name Length Region Endpoint one Endpoint two Description
mi km
Macmillan Way 290 470 Southern England Abbotsbury in Dorset Boston, Lincolnshire For the first 30 miles it crosses open fen then it folows the oolitic limestone belt. It is the longest of the Macmillan Ways.
Macmillan Way West 102 164 Somerset and Devon Castle Cary Barnstaple Follows the River Cary and then onto the Quantock Hills and to Exmoor.
Cross Britain Way 280 450 England and Wales Boston, Lincolnshire Barmouth, Gwynedd The terrain varies from the flat land of The Fens to the Welsh Berwyn Mountains.
Macmillan Abbotsbury Langport Link 40 64 South West England Abbotsbury Langport Allows walkers to go 126 miles (203 km) coast-to-coast from Abbotsbury to Barnstaple, using the Macmillan Way West.
Macmillan Cross Cotswold Pathway 36 58 Cotswolds Banbury Cross Bath, Somerset Provides links from much of Oxfordshire to the Macmillan Way.[81]
Cotswold Link 21 34 Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire Chipping Campden Banbury Cross Links to the Cotswold Way National Trail.[82]

European walking routes

Several European walking routes pass through the United Kingdom. They all use sections of UK long-distance paths.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "What is an LDP? [long-distance footpath]". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  2. ^ "Walking". National Parks. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Out in the country". Natural England. 29 November 2007: 12-13. Retrieved 22 August 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "Out in the country". Natural England. 29 November 2007: 10. Retrieved 22 August 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "Path Repair Techniques". www.fixthefells.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  6. ^ "The Pennine Way - Route Description & Downloads". National Trails.
  7. ^ a b "The National Trails". National Trails website. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. ^ National Trails Website
  9. ^ "England Coast Path". National Trails.
  10. ^ "Pembrokeshire Coast Path Statistics". National Trails. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  11. ^ Ramblers' Association. "Pennine Way National Trail". Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Heritage". South West Coast Path.
  13. ^ "Scotland's Great Trails: the official guide". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. ^ a b "About Scotland's Great Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  15. ^ "FAQs". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Great Glen Canoe Trail". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Scottish walking at its best!". ayrshirecoastalpath.org.
  18. ^ "The Cross Borders Drove Road". Walk Across Scotland.
  19. ^ "Walking and cycling along the Dava Way". www.davaway.org.uk/. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  20. ^ "The Formartine and Buchan Way". www.walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  21. ^ "The John Muir Way". walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Route information and maps". Kintyre Way.
  23. ^ "Walk the beautiful south-west corner of Scotland". Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  24. ^ "The Rob Roy Way". www.walkhighlands.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  25. ^ "St Cuthbert's Way". www.walkhighlands.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Scotland's Great Trails - The West Highland Way". www.walkhighlands.co.uk.
  27. ^ West Island Way
  28. ^ "Celtic Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  29. ^ "Channel to Channel Path". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  30. ^ "Chiltern Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  31. ^ "Devonshire Heartland Way". LDWA. Retrieved 2012
  32. ^ "Exe Valley Way". Explore Devon.
  33. ^ "Great Stones Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  34. ^ "Pilgrim's Trail". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  35. ^ "Hardy Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  36. ^ "Jubilee Trail (Dorset)". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  37. ^ "Land's End Trail". LDWA webpage. Retrieved 26 February 2012
  38. ^ "Leland Trail". LDWA.
  39. ^ Liberty Trail
  40. ^ "Monarch's Way". LDWA.
  41. ^ "Orange Way". LDWA website. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  42. ^ Oxford Canal Walk
  43. ^ "Pilgrims Way". LDWA.
  44. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link),
  45. ^ Saxon Shore Way, Visit Kent
  46. ^ Shipwrights Way, Hampshire County Council
  47. ^ "West Devon Way". The Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  48. ^ Ramblers Charity Archived 4 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 February 2012
  49. ^ "Darcydalton". The Ramblers. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Geopark Way". LDWA. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  51. ^ "About the Route". www.heartofenglandway.org. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  52. ^ Icknield Way Path
  53. ^ "Jurassic Way". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  54. ^ "The Guide to the Maelor Way". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  55. ^ "Mortimer Trail". LDWA.
  56. ^ Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk Archived 15 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 February 2012
  57. ^ "Saffron Trail". www.essexwalks.com.
  58. ^ "LDWA Saffron Trail". Long Distance Walker's Association.
  59. ^ "Sandlings Walk". LDWA.
  60. ^ [1][2]
  61. ^ "The Staffordshire Way - Official Guide" (PDF). Staffordshire County Council.
  62. ^ "St Edmund Way". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  63. ^ "The St Peter's Way" (PDF). Essex Highways. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  64. ^ | Tas Valley Way, LDWA
  65. ^ Three Forests Way, LDWA
  66. ^ [3]
  67. ^ "About Weavers' Way and points of interest". Norfolk County Council.
  68. ^ Wychavon Way, LDWA
  69. ^ LDWA webpage Retrieved 26 February 2012
  70. ^ "Howardian Way". LDWA. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  71. ^ Hyndburn Borough Council retrieved 26 February 2012
  72. ^ Gordon, Sheila (2015). "Lady Anne's Way". Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  73. ^ LDWA webpage Retrieved 26 February 2012
  74. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  75. ^ Ramblers Charity Archived 25 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 February 2012
  76. ^ LDWA webpage Retrieved 28 February 2012
  77. ^ "Oldham Way". LDWA website. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  78. ^ [4][permanent dead link]
  79. ^ [5]
  80. ^ "Coast to Coast (Scotland)". Long Distance Walker's Association. Retrieved 17 July 2009. – includes links to guidebooks
  81. ^ "Macmillan Way - Cross Cotswold Pathway". Long Distance Walkers Association.
  82. ^ "Macmillan Way - Cotswold Link - Chipping Campden to Banbury". Long Distance Walkers Association.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trails in the United Kingdom.
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