The 10 best hikes in the UK 2026

Where is it? St. Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire 

Length of hike: 306 km

How long does it take? 12-14 days

The trek: Wayfarers have been taking on the Coast to Coast Path (C2C) since 1973 when it was first mapped by fellwalking guru Alfred Wainwright. But, following a three-year-long £5.8 million spruce-up, it was only granted official National Trail status in March 2026. It was about time, really – Wainwright wrote that the route traverses the ‘grandest territory in the north of England’ and it’s hard to disagree. The new designation has meant that it's more accessible than ever, with fresh paving, clearer signage and sturdier bridges. 

The sights: The C2C flaunts not one, not two but three of Britain’s splendid national parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. That means that you’ll be treated to pine forests, glacial lakes, winding valleys and dramatic ridges alongside pretty little villages and medieval fortresses.

Trip tip: If you’ve only got one day to hike the C2C spend it on the Wordsworth Way, the 14-mile section that runs between Glenridding (on Ullswater) and Ambleside. The route officially launched in 2025 on the 225th birthday of Mr William Wordsworth and follows his footsteps across the Lakes landscape that inspired so much of his writing.

Where is it? Isle of Skye

Length of hike: 6.8km 

How long does it take?  2 hours 

The trek: The Quiraing is a gothic jumble of sharp, looming rock columns and sheer cliffs on the eastern face of Skye’s Meall na Suiramach. Those formations are the result of historic lava flows and landslides and they’re widely believed to be where islanders once hid their cattle from Viking raiders. The loop begins in the car park below and follows a clear, fairly smooth path before reaching a rockier slope towards the summit. Crowds tend to dissipate as the trail gets more sketchy but stick with it and you’ll be duly rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views over the island and beyond.  

The sights: The major rock monuments are the 120ft-tall Needle, the fortress-like Prison and the Table, a hidden plateau the size of a football field. Look out to the horizon and (if the weather’s on your side) you’ll spot the Islands of Raasay and Rona and the hills of Torridon on the mainland. 

Trip tip: If you finish this walk wanting more, combine it with a hike up to the Old Man of Storr which is just a 25-minute drive away and takes roughly two hours up and down.

Where is it? Queensferry to Chepstow 

Length of hike: 1,400km

How long does it take? 7-12 weeks 

The trek: Wales was the very first country in the world to create a walking trail that spans its entire coastline uninterrupted. And for those still unfamiliar with the small nation’s quiet beauty, this game changing path is by far the best way to get acquainted with it. The route crosses over the sprawling cliffs of the Gower in the south, the wildlife-rich waters of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in the west and the rugged Llŷn Peninsula in the north. Doing it all in one go is a mammoth task that would require weeks upon weeks of walking and, obviously, most of us don't have the time for that. But that doesn’t matter. Pick any small chunk of the trail and you’re guaranteed to be in for a treat. 

The sights: Castles, seal and dolphin hotspots, lighthouses, abbeys, pastel-hued towns, a one-of-a-kind Italian folly village, this path has got it all. It should go without saying, but pack a swimsuit whatever section you intend to take on. This path stops by some of the finest beaches in the UK and there’s nothing more soothing for worn-out feet than getting in the water.

Trip tip: For those exploring the Pembrokeshire portion of the path, the Puffin Shuttle bus exists to let you do one-way hikes without worrying about walking all the way back.

Where is it? The Peak District

Length of hike: 12.8km

How long does it take? 4.5-6 hours 

The trek: Setting off from the adorable chocolate-box village of Edale, this circular walk takes you to the Kinder plateau, the highest point in the Peak District. It involves a fun (not too gruelling, I promise) clamber up Grindsbrook Clough in which you’ll need to cling onto rocks, cross the stream and navigate uneven ground. As you rove Kinder Scout, remember that it occupies a special place in British hiking history. In 1932, when it was privately owned, it was where 400 young working class ramblers from the surrounding areas staged a ‘mass trespass’ to campaign for access rights. That protest paved the way for the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949 and our right to roam the nation’s glorious open land.

The sights: Along the plateau, you’ll encounter a maze of bemusing, otherworldly boulders. They’re 320-million-year-old millstone grit formations, sculpted and smoothed down by wind, ice and ancient sediment. The densest cluster of these huge stones is called the Woolpacks, named for their resemblance to a flock of sheep. 

Trip tip: If you’d prefer to avoid the scramble up the clough, you can get to the Kinder plateau via the less intimidating Jacob’s Ladder instead.

Where is it? Minehead to Poole

Length of hike: 630 miles 

How long does it take? 7-8 weeks

The trek: The newly designated King Charles III Coastal Path winds around the entire English coast, connecting sea-facing paths that ramblers have roamed for centuries with areas only recently made accessible to the public. We’d argue that the jewel in its crown is the South West Coast Path. Wrapping all the way around Britain’s westerly tail, it connects Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset, via jagged cliffs, quaint fishing villages, world-renowned surfing spots and England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The sights: There’s an absolute abundance of ’em. As if the splendid views across the Channel aren’t good enough, this trail boasts vistas over abandoned 18th-century engine houses, St Michael’s Mount, Durdle Door and the Jurassic Coast, historic harbours, lovely seaside villages and tremendous pubs to hunker down in once your walk’s over. 

Trip tip: There’s plenty of close competition, but Porthcurno to Land’s End (or vice versa) in Cornwall is one of the most rewarding sections of the South West Coast Path, and it only takes a few hours to cover. It goes by the beautiful Minack Theatre, the atmospheric Song of the Sea Cave, herds of wild ponies and countless seabirds, from gannets to guillemots to cormorants.

Where is it? Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) 

Length of hike: 16km 

How long does it take? 4.5-6 hours 

The trek:  When deciding to visit Bannau Brycheiniog, most people make a beeline for the Storey Arms car park, from which it’s a swift hour or so up to the mountain range’s highest peak, Pen y Fan. But that route gets so busy it’s been dubbed the ‘motorway’ of the mountain, and it only scratches the surface of Bannau Brycheiniog’s good looks. My personal favourite trek starts at Blaen Y Glyn on the edge of Talybont Forest and traverses the curving ridgeline towards Fan Y Big (that means ‘beacon of the beak’, before you try to guess). Once you’ve conquered the steep climb up the waterfall at the start of the walk, the hardest part is over and done with – the rest of the walk, for the most part, is nice and flat. 

The sights: From the ridge, you get to admire a majestic parade of peaks made up of Fan y Big, Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Corn Du. At Fan Y Big, you’ll find the ‘Diving Board’, a protruding slab of rock that makes for a particularly dramatic photo opportunity. 

Trip tip: There are two car parks at Blaen Y Glyn – go for the bottom one if you want an extra bit of woodland walking and go for the top one if you want to start hiking up the waterfall right away.

Where is it? London and the Home Counties.

Length of hike: 150 miles (242 kilometres).

How long does it take? If you do it all in one, the Loop will take just over a week (perhaps longer, depending on your miles-per-day). However, it’s designed to be taken at leisure: the route is split into 24 sections (ranging from four to 10 miles), each of which is accessible by public transport.

The trek: The London Outer Orbital Path (Loop, for short) starts in the Thameside town of Erith in east London and follows the boundaries of the capital, weaving in and out of Home Counties and ending in Purfleet on the Thames’ north side. From wartime airfields and storied forests to mighty country houses and awesome cityscape views, it’s an epic, treasure-filled trek that will transform your perspective of London.

The sights: Each leg of the Loop comes with a handy ‘points of interest’ guide by the Ramblers, the charity which upkeeps the trail. Highlights include Coulsdon’s sweeping Farthing Downs, Bushy Park’s deer, Old Bexley’s medieval St Mary’s Church, the Grand Union Canal and countless excellent pubs.

Trip tip: Don’t rush – the Loop is dense with fascinating sights (as detailed by the Ramblers). Oh, and for each leg always pre-plan a pub (or two, for the long ones).

Where is it? Milngavie (near Glasgow) to Fort William 

Length of hike: 96-miles 

How long does it take? 7-8 days

The trek: Unlike most of the multi-day hikes on this list, you can neatly fit a walk from one side of the West Highland Way to the other into one week. The journey begins on the outskirts of Glasgow and meanders through the Highlands to finish in Fort William, showing off all of the scenery that makes Scotland so alluring. One day you’re gently ambling across a glen, another you’re zigzagging up the brutal Devil’s Staircase, the next you’re stomping through a forest under the shadow of Ben Nevis. 

The sights: From start to finish, the West Highland Way serves a feast for the eyes. There’s the ruins of Mugdock Castle, the glimmering Loch Lomond, the hypnotic Falls of Falloch and the brooding Buachaille Etive Mòr. 

Trip tip: There’s no need to haul your luggage with you for every mile of the trail. Luggage services can transport your stuff to and from your accommodation for you.

Where is it? Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Length of hike: 11km

How long does it take? 6 hours

The trek: The shortest of the six official routes (plus the hardcore, unofficial Crib Goch ridge) up Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) is the Pyg Track, and while it’s a consistently steep climb with rugged terrain and more than 700 metres of elevation, it’s well worth the tricky clamber. Along with the Miner’s Track, the Pyg Track begins at Pen y Pass car park and winds its way up the mountain’s south-facing side, morphing from stair-master style but stable rock faces to broad gravel paths and a dizzying final incline with staggeringly beautiful views over Llyn Llydaw. 

The sights: Yr Wyddfa is the highest mountain in England and Wales, and if you’re lucky enough to climb it on a crystal clear day, you’ll be able to see all the way to Anglesey. Tired legs? The Snowdon Mountain Railway traverses the peak’s north face, and carts people up and down the slopes between the spring and autumn. This year, it’s in operation until October 25.

Trip tip: Pen y Pass car park fills up early – and we mean really early. It’s unlikely you’ll get a spot after 7.30am if you’re hiking in the April-October season, but bring £10 in cash and you can use a space at the Pen Y Gwryd Hotel, which is a 20-minute walk back down the hill.

Where is it? Edinburgh 

Length of hike: 4.8km

How long does it take? 1.5-2 hours 

The trek: The route up Arthur’s Seat is quite straightforward. It’s a simple ramble from Holyrood Park, cornered by Holyrood Palace and Scottish Parliament, up to the top of Edinburgh’s ancient volcano, then back down again. The Scottish capital is home to many a mound, but nowhere in the city will you get better panoramic views than from this summit, 822ft above sea level.

The sights: On a clear day, they stretch into the surrounding countryside of Fife, East Lothian and the Pentlands. Veer a little off the path at the start of the trek to get a closer look at the ruins of St. Anthony’s Chapel, which is believed to have been built as a hospital to treat the skin condition that was then known as St. Anthony’s Fire. 

Trip tip: Descend via Dunsapie Loch – it’s a much more gentle slope than the main route down and takes you past three gorgeous lakes that you might otherwise miss.