Last Updated on 11/09/2026 by Louise
The UK is a hiker’s paradise. With rugged coastlines, rolling moors, ancient forests, and towering peaks, there’s something for everyone—from seasoned mountaineers to casual weekend walkers. As a Mountain Leader and keen hiker, I’ve explored trails from Eryri (Snowdonia) to the Scottish Highlands, and I’ve rounded up some of the very best hikes the UK has to offer.
I wanted to include hikes of all different levels, for all different abilities. So, whether you’re after panoramic views, remote tranquility, or a challenge to conquer, here are 20 of the best hikes in the UK to inspire your next outdoor adventure.
Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost or price difference to you. This helps cover the cost of running this blog and keeps all resources free to access 🙂
20 Top UK Hiking Trails
I’ve grouped these hikes by country for ease of reading and I’ve also included quick round up tables for each section.
Wales
From the rugged, jagged ridges of the north to the rolling, grassy expanses of the south, hiking in Wales delivers world-class adventure with a distinctly Celtic soul. Whether you are looking to test your nerve on the knife-edge scrambles of Eryri (Snowdonia) or want to enjoy panoramic, sweeping views across the ancient peaks of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the Welsh landscape offers everything from grueling mountain loops to pristine coastal escapes. Use the comparison table below to find the perfect Welsh trail for your fitness level.
| Welsh Hike & Route Guide | Region | Difficulty | Est. Time | Standout Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pen y Fan Horseshoe | Bannau Brycheiniog | Moderate | 3.5–4.5 hours | Sweeping 4-peak ridgeline traverse (Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn, Fan y Big) |
| The Ultimate Glyderau Loop | Eryri (Snowdonia) | Strenuous | 5–6 hours | Scrambling past the famous Cantilever Stone on Glyder Fach |
| Cadair Idris (Minffordd Path) | Eryri (Snowdonia) | Moderate | 4.5–5.5 hours | Ascending alongside the dramatic glacier lake of Llyn Cau |
| Yr Wyddfa (Watkins Path) | Eryri (Snowdonia) | Expert | 6–7 hours | Waterfalls, wild swimming pools and quieter trails |
| Stack Rocks to Barafundle Bay | Pembrokeshire Coast | Moderate | 5–6 hours | Passing Elegug Stacks and the Green Bridge of Wales to reach Caribbean-style sands |
1. Pen y Fan via the Horseshoe Ridge, Bannau Brycheiniog
🗺 Distance: 9 miles (14.5 km)
⏱ Time: 4–6 hours
📍 Start point: Taf Fechan Forest
This circular route takes in several summits, including the highest in South Wales, Pen y Fan. The ridgeline walk offers wide open views over the Beacons, and away from the summit, the path is quieter than the main tourist route.
For information on the Pen y Fan horseshoe see this guide or for all other routes up Pen y Fan click here!
Bonus: It’s an ideal training ground for more mountainous expeditions.
2. The Glyderau, Eryri
🗺 Distance: 6 miles (9.5 km)
⏱ Time: 4–5 hours
📍 Start point: Ogwen Cottage
There are multiple hiking options on the Glyderau range, including exploring the intriguingly named Devil’s kitchen to scrambling up the mighty Tryfan or enjoying valley-long views from Y Garn.
For otherworldly landscapes, hike up Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr. The jagged rocks at the top look like something from a sci-fi film, and the views of Tryfan and Llyn Idwal are sublime.
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: Experienced scramblers can take on the Bochlwyd Horseshoe which takes on Tryfan’s North Ridge, Bristly Ridge and Y Gribin. Not for novices!
3. Cader Idris via the Minffordd Path, Snowdonia, Wales
🗺 Distance: 6 miles (10 km)
⏱ Time: 4–6 hours
📍 Start point: Minffordd car park
Cader Idris, the “Chair of Idris,” is shrouded in Welsh legend—and clouds, more often than not. The Minffordd Path is steep but rewarding, climbing through lush oak woodland to reach a stunning glacial lake and the rocky summit of Penygadair.
Cader Idris is located in Southern Snowdonia which is much quieter than the northern end which is home to ever-popular Snowdon.
Legend says those who sleep on the summit wake up a poet… or a madman. Either way, it’s worth the hike.
4. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via the Watkin Path, Eryri
🗺 Distance: 8 miles (13 km)
⏱ Time: 5–7 hours
📍 Start point: Nant Gwynant
If you’re heading to Wales, Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon is a must—but skip the crowds of the Llanberis Path or Pyg Track and take the Watkin Path instead. It’s the most scenic (and most challenging) way up Yr Wyddfa, offering waterfalls, dramatic ridge lines, and fewer hikers. You’ll feel like you’ve earned every step of the summit view.
If you’re an experienced hiker and have got a head for heights you could also try Crib Goch for incredible views and a hit of adrenaline!
Check out this guide for more information on the Watkins Path or for all the other routes up Yr Wyddfa.
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: Pack layers—it can be sunny in the valley and snowing on the summit, even in spring!
5. Stack Rocks to Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
🗺 Distance: 8 miles (13 km) out and back
⏱ Time: 3–4 hours
📍 Start point: Stack Rocks car park (near Bosherston)
This Pembrokeshire hike is coastal Wales at its most dramatic. Start at Stack Rocks, where sea-carved arches and the iconic Green Bridge of Wales stand tall against Atlantic swells. Follow the Pembrokeshire Coast Path east to reach Barafundle Bay, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the UK (and even Europe!).
Along the way, you’ll pass clifftop wildflowers, secret coves, a chapel carved into the cliffs and the surreal limestone chasms of the Elegug Stacks, home to nesting seabirds in spring and summer.
Why it’s special: It blends jaw-dropping coastal scenery with a secluded beach paradise—perfect for a post-hike dip if you’re brave!
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: Bring a picnic—Barafundle Bay has no facilities, and you’ll want to linger a while here.
England
England’s diverse landscapes hide an incredible network of trails, ranging from vertigo-inducing mountain arêtes to epic, cross-country historical routes. The sharp glacial edges of the Lake District offer technical challenges for experienced mountaineers, while the rolling, green-spined ridges of the Peak District and the dramatic drops of the South West Coast Path provide maximum scenic reward with accessible footpaths. Below is a quick overview of England’s absolute best day walks and multi-day challenges to help you plot your next route.
| English Hike & Route Guide | Region | Difficulty | Est. Time | Standout Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helvellyn via Striding Edge | Lake District | Expert | 4.5–5.5 hours | The thrilling, exposed Grade 1 scramble along the famous Striding Edge ridge |
| The Great Ridge | Peak District | Easy–Mod | 2.5–3.5 hours | Panoramic valley views walking the sweeping spine from Mam Tor to Lose Hill |
| South West Coast Path | South West England | Variable | Multi-day / Sections | Rugged Atlantic cliffs, dramatic sea stacks, and secluded sandy coves |
| Scafell Pike (Corridor Route) | Lake District | Strenuous | 6–7 hours | An adventurous, quieter mountain approach winding past dramatic crags and ravines |
| Hadrian’s Wall Path | Northern England | Moderate | Multi-day / Sections | Walking alongside ancient Roman ruins through rugged Northumberland crags |
| Kinder Scout | Peak District | Moderate | 4.5–5.5 hours | Exploring the highest plateau in the Peaks, famous for the Kinder Downfall waterfall |
| Blencathra (Sharp Edge) | Lake District | Expert | 3.5–4.5 hours | Tackling the famously sharp, narrow arête of Sharp Edge leading up to the summit |
| Cheddar Gorge Cliff Top Walk | Somerset (Mendips) | Moderate | 2–3 hours | Stunning, vertigo-inducing views looking straight down into Britain’s largest gorge |
6. Helvellyn via Striding Edge, Lake District
🗺 Distance: 8.5 miles (13.7 km)
⏱ Time: 6–7 hours
📍 Start point: Glenridding
Helvellyn is one of the most iconic peaks in England, and Striding Edge is the most thrilling route to reach it. This narrow arête provides jaw-dropping views and a real adrenaline rush. Not for the faint-hearted, but unforgettable for confident hikers.
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: If you like ridge walking, make this into a loop by descending via Swirral Edge. For more information on this Helvellyn walk, check out this guide!
⚠️ Caution: Only attempt in good conditions and if you’re confident with exposed edges—this edge can be dangerous when wet or icy.
7. Mam Tor and the Great Ridge (Circular), Peak District
🗺 Distance: 8 miles (13 km)
⏱ Time: 4-5 hours
📍 Start point: Castleton
This walk offers one of the best ridge walks in England—with far less effort than many others on this list! Starting from the pretty village of Castleton, you’ll climb Mam Tor (“Mother Hill”) and follow the ridge over Back Tor to Lose Hill, with classic views across the Hope Valley.
Wander back to Castleton along the riverside to complete the loop.
Family-friendly options include an out an back of Mam Tor, ideal for a half-day adventure with big rewards.
8. The South West Coast Path, Cornwall & Devon
🗺 Distance: 630 miles (1,014 km) total
⏱ Time: Choose a small section if you don’t want to commit to the whole thing!
📍 Start point: Minehead or anywhere along the path
You don’t have to hike all 630 miles—unless you’re up for a serious long-distance challenge—but pick a stretch of the South West Coast Path and you’ll be rewarded with some of England’s finest seascapes. Try the section from St Ives to Zennor for wild cliffs and turquoise waters.
9. Scafell Pike via Corridor Route, Lake District
🗺 Distance: 9.5 miles (15 km)
⏱ Time: 6–8 hours
📍 Start point: Seathwaite
As England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike attracts a fair crowd, but the Corridor Route offers a quieter and more scenic alternative to the direct slog. It traverses beneath crags and through dramatic terrain before ascending to the summit, with stunning views of Great Gable and the Borrowdale Valley.
Top Tip: Don’t forget your map and compass—the weather can change rapidly on this one.
10. Hadrian’s Wall Path, Northern England
🗺 Distance: 84 miles (135 km)
⏱ Time: 6–10 days
📍 Start point: Wallsend or Bowness-on-Solway
History buffs will love this long-distance trail following the ancient Roman wall across northern England. It’s a manageable multi-day hike with rolling hills, open countryside, and countless archaeological sites. There are lots of pubs and accommodation options along the route and there are also companies that will transport your bag and put your tent up for you. This is option I went for!
Here’s a video of my friend Erin and I hiking the length of Hadrian’s Wall a few years back!
11. Kinder Scout via Jacob’s Ladder, Peak District
🗺 Distance: 8 miles (13 km)
⏱ Time: 4–6 hours
📍 Start point: Edale
This classic Peak District hike takes you to the Kinder Plateau, site of the famous 1932 Mass Trespass that helped establish public rights to roam. The route via Jacob’s Ladder is a great mix of history, heather moorland, and sweeping views across the Dark Peak. Be prepared for lots of steps which can be slippery when wet.
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: Great for a windy day—you’ll get that wild “top of the world” feeling without being exposed on narrow ridges.
12. Blencathra via Sharp Edge, Lake District
🗺 Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
⏱ Time: 4–5 hours
📍 Start point: Scales
For adrenaline junkies, Sharp Edge offers a thrilling scramble to the summit of Blencathra. It’s one of the Lake District’s most exciting ridges, and once you’re up top, you’ll be rewarded with wide-ranging views over the northern fells.
⚠️ Caution: Only attempt in good conditions and if you’re very confident with exposed edges—this edge can be dangerous when wet or icy.
13. Cheddar Gorge Circular Walk, Somerset
🗺 Distance: 4 miles (6.5 km)
⏱ Time: 2–3 hours
📍 Start point: Cheddar village
England’s deepest natural gorge delivers towering limestone cliffs, dramatic drops, and sweeping views of the Mendip Hills. This circular route takes in both sides of the gorge, plus hidden trails through ancient woodland.
Bonus: Treat yourself to a slab of real Cheddar cheese afterward—because you earned it!
Scotland
For raw, wild, and uncompromising wilderness, nothing in the UK compares to the vast landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. This is a realm of dramatic geological wonders, where you can walk through otherworldly landscapes formed by ancient landslips on the Isle of Skye or climb up onto high arctic plateaus in the Cairngorms. From epic, multi-day backpacking trails to exposed horseshoe ridge scrambles, this curated list covers the definitive bucket-list hikes across Scotland.
| Scottish Hike & Route Guide | Region | Difficulty | Est. Time | Standout Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Highland Way | Lowlands to Highlands | Variable | Multi-day / Sections | 96 miles of changing views, from Loch Lomond’s banks to the vast wilderness of Rannoch Moor |
| The Quiraing | Isle of Skye | Moderate | 2.5–3.5 hours | Winding through otherworldly, alien landscapes, massive rock pinnacles, and hidden plateaus |
| Loch Morlich to Cairn Gorm | Cairngorms National Park | Strenuous | 5.5–7 hours | Climbing from pristine Caledonian pine forests and sandy loch shores up to a dramatic arctic plateau |
| Old Man of Storr | Isle of Skye | Easy–Mod | 1.5–2 hours | Walking right up to the base of the iconic, towering ancient rock monolith created by a massive landslip |
| Ben Nevis via CMD Arête | Fort William (Highlands) | Expert | 7–9 hours | An epic, exposed horseshoe ridge scramble over Càrn Mòr Dearg to the UK’s highest roof |
14. West Highland Way, Scotland
🗺 Distance: 96 miles (154 km)
⏱ Time: 6–10 days
📍 Start point: Milngavie (near Glasgow)
No list of UK hikes is complete without mentioning the legendary West Highland Way. This long-distance trail journeys through lochs, glens, and mountains, finishing in the shadow of Ben Nevis. It’s a rite of passage for UK hikers—and a perfect introduction to multi-day trekking. Be prepared for midges!
Top Tip: Wild camping is legal along much of the route—bring your bivvy for a true Highland adventure.
15. The Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland
🗺 Distance: 4.5 miles (7 km) out and back
⏱ Time: 2–3 hours
📍 Start point: Quiraing car park
A geological wonder, the Quiraing is like stepping into a fantasy novel. Towering rock formations, hidden glens, and ever-changing light make this one of the most photogenic hikes in the UK. It’s relatively short but packed with drama.
This is a very popular spot on the Isle of Skye so be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds.
16. Loch Morlich to Cairn Gorm, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
🗺 Distance: 10 miles (16 km)
⏱ Time: 5–7 hours
📍 Start point: Coire Cas car park
This Highland hike offers a taste of the Arctic without leaving the UK. Starting near the serene Loch Morlich, you’ll ascend into the Cairngorm Plateau, home to wild reindeer and some of the UK’s most remote terrain. A climb to Cairn Gorm’s summit delivers vast views and a real sense of wilderness.
17. Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland
🗺 Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km)
⏱ Time: 1.5–2 hours
📍 Start point: Storr car park
Short but spectacular, this hike climbs to the iconic rock spire of the Old Man of Storr. Come early to beat the crowds—and the mist—for a magical sunrise experience.
18. Ben Nevis via the CMD Arete, Scotland
🗺 Distance: 11 miles (17.5 km)
⏱ Time: 7–9 hours
📍 Start point: North Face car park, Torlundy
The UK’s highest mountain is a bucket-list hike, and the CMD (Carn Mor Dearg) Arete is the most epic way to summit it. A challenging ridge walk with breathtaking views of the north face of Ben Nevis—it’s far superior to the busy tourist path.
This path is for experienced hikers who are happy with easy scrambling
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Northern Ireland
Though compact, Northern Ireland packs a massive punch for hikers, dominated by the moody, granite peaks of the legendary Mourne Mountains. Immortalised in literature and folklore, this compact range rises dramatically out of the Irish Sea, offering everything from technical navigation challenges along historic boundary structures to beautiful ridge walks winding past wind-sculpted stone tors. If you are heading across the water, these are the essential trails you cannot afford to miss.
| Northern Ireland Hike & Route Guide | Region | Difficulty | Est. Time | Standout Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mourne Wall Challenge Walk | Mourne Mountains | Expert | 10–12 hours | A grueling endurance trek following the historic stone boundary over 15 distinct mountain summits |
| Slieve Binnian Loop | Mourne Mountains | Moderate | 3.5–4.5 hours | Passing the dramatic, wind-sculpted granite tors along the spectacular summit ridge line |
19. The Mourne Wall Walk, Northern Ireland
🗺 Distance: 22 miles (35 km)
⏱ Time: 2 days or long day hike
📍 Start point: Donard Park, Newcastle
Follow the historic stone wall that snakes over 15 peaks of the Mourne Mountains. It’s a tough trek, but the rugged beauty of this corner of Northern Ireland makes every mile worth it.
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20. Slieve Binnian, Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland
🗺 Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
⏱ Time: 3–4 hours
📍 Start point: Carrick Little car park
Slieve Binnian is one of the most photogenic peaks in the Mournes, with its crown of granite tors and panoramic views across Silent Valley. The route includes part of the Mourne Wall, giving a taste of history with your hike.
Wandering Welsh Girl Tip: Go late in the day for golden hour magic across the Irish Sea.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking in the UK
What is the single hardest hike in the UK?
Mainland Britain’s most challenging and uncompromising standard trail is the Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe, Scotland. It is a notoriously narrow, exposed Grade 1 scramble that requires absolute confidence with heights, excellent scramble navigation, and perfect weather conditions. In Wales, Crib Goch (on the Snowdon Horseshoe) offers a similarly technical, knife-edge challenge.
What is the most scenic walk in the UK?
While beauty is subjective, The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye is widely considered the most visually striking walk due to its otherworldly rock formations, hidden plateaus, and dramatic coastal vistas.
Which UK National Park is best for beginners?
The Peak District National Park is fantastic for beginner hikers. Trails like The Great Ridge (Mam Tor) offer wide, well-paved, and easily navigable footpaths that reward minimal climbing effort with sweeping, 360-degree panoramic valley views.
When is the best time of year to go hiking in the UK?
The ideal hiking window runs from May to September. May and June generally offer the lowest rainfall and longest daylight hours, while July and August provide the warmest temperatures (though trails are much busier). If you are hiking in Scotland, late spring and early autumn are also great for avoiding the worst of the notorious Scottish midges.
Do I need specialist navigation gear for UK hikes?
Yes. Weather conditions in mountain ranges like Eryri (Snowdonia) or the Scottish Highlands can deteriorate in minutes. While apps like OS Maps or AllTrails are brilliant for day-to-day route tracking, you should always carry a physical Ordnance Survey (OS) map, a traditional compass, and a solid understanding of how to use them if your phone battery fails.
Final Wrap-Up
From legendary peaks to ancient trails and remote ridgelines, these 20 hikes showcase the best of the UK’s wild beauty. Whether you’re after adrenaline, solitude, or just some fresh air and views, there’s a trail here with your name on it.
🌿 Feeling inspired? Bookmark this post, share it with your hiking buddies, and start planning your next escape into the great outdoors.
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