England – Wandering Welsh Girl

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 proud Welsh wanderer, 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 hike 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. 20 Top UK Hiking Trails 1. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via the Watkin Path, Wales 🗺 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 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. 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! 2. 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. 3. 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. Quiraing peaks Nick enjoying views from the Quiraing 4. 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. Spectacular Valley of Rocks on the north Devon coast 5. 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. 4 peaks along the Pen y Fan Horseshoe (Corn Du, Pen y Fan, Cribyn & Fan y Big) 6. 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! https://youtu.be/jDfl1txLsSA?si=LFShsmPaPgtUg4Z_ 7. 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 8. The Glyderau, Eryri, Wales 🗺 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! Don't forget to explore the cantilever stone near the summit of Glyder Fach 9. 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. You Might also like: Healthy meals for hikers Useful apps for hiking in the UK 10. 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. 11. 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. Avoid the Scafell Pike slog by taking the Corridor Route to the summit 12. 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. 13. 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. Enjoying a scramble along Sharp Edge 14. 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. St Govan's Chapel Barafundle Bay - probably the prettiest beach in Pembrokeshire 15. 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. The Great Ridge is a fine UK walk with minimal effort for maximum scenic rewards 16. 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. Llyn Cau, a glacier lake en route to Cadair Idris, which is a beautiful Snowdonia hike 17. 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. 18. 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! 19. 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. 20. 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. Top Tip: Wild camping is legal along much of the route—bring your bivvy for a true Highland adventure. 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.