The UK is a walker’s country, crossed by footpaths and rights of way that let you go almost anywhere on foot. From gentle coastal paths to the highest mountains in the land, there is a walk for every ability. Walking is also one of the best ways to see the country’s landscapes up close.
These ten range from an hour’s stroll to a proper mountain day. Before any walk, check the weather forecast, wear proper boots and waterproofs, carry water, food and a map, and tell someone where you are going. Mountain weather can change very quickly, and conditions at the top are often much colder and windier than at the bottom.
1. Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales
Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales, is a huge curved cliff of limestone, around seventy metres high, rising above a quiet valley. It was carved by water and ice at the end of the last Ice Age. It is one of the most spectacular natural sights in England.
The walk from the village of Malham to the foot of the cove is gentle and takes about half an hour along a valley path. A long flight of steps then climbs up the side of the cove to the top. On top is a limestone pavement, a flat expanse of rock split into blocks by deep cracks, which appeared in one of the Harry Potter films.
In spring and early summer, peregrine falcons often nest on the cliff, and volunteers sometimes set up telescopes so that visitors can watch them. The view from the top down the valley is wonderful. Take care on the pavement, as the gaps between the rocks can be deep.
A popular circular walk of about seven miles links Malham Cove with Janet’s Foss, a pretty waterfall in a wooded glen, and Gordale Scar, a dramatic limestone gorge. The village has pubs and cafés for afterwards. It is a very popular walk, so arrive early at weekends.
2. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
Arthur’s Seat is an extinct volcano in the middle of Edinburgh, rising about two hundred and fifty metres above sea level in Holyrood Park. It is remarkable to find such a wild hill in the heart of a capital city. Climbing it is one of the best things to do in Edinburgh.
Several paths lead to the summit from different sides of the park. The most popular starts near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, at the bottom of the Royal Mile. The walk up takes about an hour, and the final part is rocky, so wear good shoes.
From the top, the whole of Edinburgh is laid out below, with the castle, the Old Town and the New Town, and views across the Firth of Forth to Fife and out to sea. On a clear day you can see for many miles. It is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
The park also has the Salisbury Crags, a line of dramatic cliffs, and the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel above a small loch. It can be very windy at the top, so bring a warm layer. See our Edinburgh guide.
3. The Seven Sisters, East Sussex
The Seven Sisters are a line of white chalk cliffs rising and falling along the coast of East Sussex, between Seaford and Eastbourne. They are part of the South Downs National Park. They are one of the most iconic views in England.
The walk along the top of the cliffs follows the South Downs Way, up and down the rolling chalk hills, with the sea on one side and green downland on the other. It is a walk of about four or five miles from Cuckmere Haven to Birling Gap, with some steep climbs. Birling Gap, halfway along, has a café and steps down to the beach.
The classic view of the Seven Sisters is from the other side of the Cuckmere estuary, at Seaford Head, looking across to the cliffs with the old coastguard cottages in the foreground. The Cuckmere River winds through the valley below in dramatic loops. It is especially lovely at sunset.
The cliffs are made of chalk, which crumbles and falls without warning, so stay well back from the edge, both on top and on the beach below. Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, and its lighthouse are at the eastern end. Buses run along the coast road, so you can walk one way and ride back.
4. Mam Tor, Peak District
Mam Tor, above the village of Castleton in the Peak District, is a hill of about five hundred and seventeen metres with wonderful views over the Hope Valley and Edale. Its name means mother hill. It is known as the shivering mountain, because its slopes of shale and grit are constantly slipping.
The short climb to the top from the car park near the summit takes only about twenty minutes, on a paved path. On the top are the remains of an Iron Age hill fort. The views are some of the best in the Peak District.
From the summit, a ridge walk known as the Great Ridge runs east along the top of the hills to Lose Hill, with views on both sides. It is one of the most popular walks in the Peak District. You can make a circular walk back down to Castleton or Edale.
Below Mam Tor, the old main road was so badly damaged by landslips that it was abandoned in the 1970s, and its broken tarmac can still be seen. Castleton has caves you can explore and pubs for afterwards. The walk is very busy at weekends, so arrive early.
5. Pen y Fan, Bannau Brycheiniog
Pen y Fan, in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, is the highest mountain in southern Britain, at around eight hundred and eighty six metres. Its flat topped summit and steep northern face are distinctive. It is one of the most popular mountain walks in Britain.
The most popular route starts at the Pont ar Daf car park on the A470, and follows a clear, well made path up to the neighbouring summit of Corn Du and then to Pen y Fan. The round trip takes around two to three hours. It is steady rather than technical, but it is steep in places.
From the summit, the views stretch across south Wales, and on a clear day to the Bristol Channel and beyond. The steep northern escarpment drops away dramatically. The mountain is looked after by the National Trust.
Despite its popularity, Pen y Fan should not be underestimated. The weather can change quickly, with cloud, wind and rain, and it can be very cold at the top. The car park fills early on fine weekends.
6. Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman frontier built from AD 122, runs across the north of England from coast to coast. The most dramatic and best preserved section runs along the crags of the Whin Sill in Northumberland. Walking along it is one of the great walks in Britain.
A popular walk runs between Housesteads Roman Fort and Steel Rigg, a distance of about three or four miles, where the wall rides up and down along the tops of the cliffs. The views across the wild countryside are spectacular. You walk right beside the Roman stones.
This stretch passes Sycamore Gap, a dip in the wall that was famous for a single sycamore tree, which was illegally cut down in 2023, causing national outrage. The site still draws visitors. Crag Lough, a small lake below the cliffs, is lovely.
Housesteads Fort, run by English Heritage, has the remains of barracks, a hospital and Roman toilets. The Sill, a visitor centre at Once Brewed, has information about the landscape. A seasonal bus runs along the wall, so you can walk one way and ride back, or be collected at the end.
7. Helvellyn by Striding Edge, Lake District
Helvellyn, at around nine hundred and fifty metres, is the third highest mountain in England, and one of the most popular in the Lake District. The route up by Striding Edge, a narrow rocky ridge, is one of the most famous mountain walks in Britain. It is a classic scramble for experienced walkers.
The walk usually starts in the village of Glenridding, beside Ullswater. The path climbs steadily to the start of Striding Edge, then crosses the narrow ridge, with steep drops on both sides, before a final climb to the summit plateau. Many walkers descend by Swirral Edge, another ridge, making a circular route.
The views from the summit over Red Tarn, a small mountain lake below, and across the Lake District are breathtaking. On the summit, a memorial remembers a man who died on the mountain in 1805 and his dog, which stayed by his body for months. The walk takes around six to seven hours.
Striding Edge is not for anyone with a fear of heights, and it should not be attempted in bad weather, strong winds or snow and ice, when it becomes very dangerous. People have died on it. There are easier routes up Helvellyn for those who prefer them.
8. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Eryri
Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, is the highest mountain in Wales, at one thousand and eighty five metres. It is one of the most climbed mountains in Britain. On a clear day, the views from the summit stretch across Wales and as far as Ireland.
Several routes lead to the summit. The Llanberis Path is the longest but the most gradual, following the line of the mountain railway. The Pyg Track and the Miners’ Track, both starting from Pen-y-Pass, are shorter and steeper, with the Miners’ Track passing beautiful lakes.
The Watkin Path, which starts near Beddgelert, is the hardest, as it begins at the lowest point and climbs the most. The Rhyd Ddu and Snowdon Ranger paths approach from the west and are quieter. Each route takes around five to seven hours up and down.
At the summit, the Hafod Eryri visitor centre has a café in season. The Snowdon Mountain Railway runs from Llanberis to near the summit in the warmer months. Parking at Pen-y-Pass is limited and must usually be booked, and park and ride buses run in season.
9. Scafell Pike, Lake District
Scafell Pike, at nine hundred and seventy eight metres, is the highest mountain in England. It stands in the wild heart of the Lake District, surrounded by other high peaks. It is a proper mountain day, rewarding and demanding.
The shortest route starts at Wasdale Head, at the head of Wast Water, the deepest lake in England. The path climbs steeply to the summit, a rocky plateau of boulders. The round trip usually takes around five to six hours.
A longer route starts at Seathwaite in Borrowdale, passing through beautiful and remote valleys. The summit was given to the nation after the First World War as a memorial to the men of the Lake District who died in the war. A plaque remembers them.
The summit is often in cloud, and the rocky ground makes it easy to lose the path, so good navigation skills are important. Wasdale is remote, and the roads to it are narrow. The Wasdale Head Inn is a famous walkers’ pub.
10. Ben Nevis, Lochaber
Ben Nevis, near Fort William in the western Highlands, is the highest mountain in the UK, at one thousand three hundred and forty five metres. Its summit is often in cloud, and snow can lie on its upper slopes for much of the year. It is a serious mountain.
The main route, known as the Mountain Track or the Pony Track, starts at the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre and zigzags up the mountain. It is a long, steady climb, and the round trip usually takes around seven to nine hours. It is a full and tiring day.
At the summit are the ruins of an observatory, which was staffed all year round in the late nineteenth century, recording the weather. On a clear day, the views across the Highlands are breathtaking. The Carn Mòr Dearg Arête, a narrow ridge, is a more challenging route for experienced mountaineers.
The summit plateau is surrounded by steep cliffs, and in cloud or snow it can be very dangerous, so you need good navigation skills. Start early and turn back if the weather worsens. Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK, has plenty of places to stay and eat.
Linear walks and a car at the end
The best walks often end miles from where they started. Book a car by the hour and your driver can drop you at the start and meet you at the finish, or book two single journeys: one there in the morning, one back at the end.
It also saves hunting for a space at the busiest car parks, which fill early on fine weekends, and it means you can relax in the pub afterwards.
Ride with ZeroLanes. A car booked ahead, at a price fixed before you confirm, with the driver and the car on your journey page before pickup. Book a car by the hour.