From long weekend hikes on northern Ireland’s dramatic coastline to epic multi-week walks around England, the United Kingdom is home to some of the best long-distance hiking trails in the world.
My all-time favorite UK hiking route is the South West Coast Path, a 630-mile hike taking in the best coastal walks between Somerset and Dorset (but given that I live right by the trail, I might be a little biased). I have UK friends who prefer the wilder stretches of the Scottish Highlands and others who love digging into the history on routes like Offa’s Dyke Path or Hadrian’s Wall Path.
With so many amazing hikes in the region, you might not know where to begin. That’s why I’ve compiled my list of the best long-distance hiking trails in the UK for you. Try these fun yet challenging walking routes, and you’ll have an incredible time exploring the UK on foot!
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The 11 Best Long-Distance Hikes in the UK
1. South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is one of the top UK hikes, but at 630 miles, it’s also one of the longest. This waymarked trail first stretches from Minehead, in Somerset, westward along the north coast of Devon and into Cornwall. Walk the Atlantic Coast to Land’s End (the most southwesterly point in the UK), then turn eastwards along Cornwall, Devon, and Dorsets’ long southern coastlines.
Few people have walked the entire route in one go, but attempt it as a thru-hike and you can expect to spend around two months (minimum) on the trail. In reality, it’ll probably take longer, but that’s okay because the real beauty of the South West Coast Path lies in leisurely cliff-top walks and long lunch breaks on isolated beaches.
I’ve personally walked about half of the route, and like many, I’m simply walking different sections when I get the chance. One day, I’ll have all 630 miles under my boots.
2. Offa’s Dyke Path
I love Offa’s Dyke Path for its history. This long-distance trail follows Offa’s Dyke, a mammoth defensive structure built in the 8th century AD to separate warring English and Welsh kingdoms.
The “dyke” consisted of watchtowers, hill forts, and other natural boundaries like the Black Mountains. The path follows the route of the historic dyke in many places, and you’ll see its remains in locations like Knighton, where you can also visit the informative Offa’s Dyke Centre.
The entire path is waymarked, stretching for 177 miles from Chepstow in the south, along the border between England and Wales to Prestatyn, where it ends overlooking the Irish Sea.
3. Hadrian’s Wall Path
Hadrian’s Wall Path is a classic long-distance UK hiking trail. Another one for history lovers, this 84-mile-long hike traces the route of Hadrian’s Wall. Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian during the Roman occupation of Britain, this epic work of engineering dates back to the 2nd century AD.
Originally intended to protect the Romanized provinces in the south from the wilder Picts to the north, Hadrian’s Wall consisted of miles of stone forts and towers, and it was manned by the best Roman Legions from across the empire. The wall stretched from coast to coast, and while it marked the frontier of Rome’s Empire, contrary to popular belief, it no longer marks the modern border between England and Scotland.
Today, you can explore the history of Hadrian’s Wall on your walk from Carlisle to Newcastle, with the Vindolanda Museum and Chesters Roman Fort being two of my favorite stops on the way. The path is a waymarked national trail, and you’ll want to allow a minimum of seven days to enjoy the epic views of Northern England’s countryside.
4. Tamara Coast to Coast Way
One of my top long-distance hikes is also one of the newest trails in the UK. Only opened in 2023, the Tamara Coast to Coast Way is the best place to get off the beaten track in Devon and Cornwall.
At 87 miles, this is hardly the longest hike in the country, and a fast walker could complete the route in a week. The beauty of this trail, though, is that it opens up a part of the southwest that few people see.
Stretching from coast to coast, the trail follows the River Tamar for much of its length. You’ll start on the Rame Peninsula overlooking the English Channel, then follow the river north past Plymouth and to beautiful riverside villages like Calstock and Gunnislake.
The route gets increasingly rural as you approach the Bristol Channel, following remote tracks through farms and woodland, until you emerge on the coast by Morwenstow. Interestingly, the Tamara Coast to Coast Way links up with the South West Coast Path, offering avid hikers the chance to circumnavigate Cornwall if they’re looking for a challenge.
5. Thames Pathway
The Thames Pathway is the best way to explore the River Thames to its greatest extent. Following the route of what I’d say is England’s most famous river, the hike starts at the source of the River Thames just outside Kemble, in Gloucestershire, and ends on the Thames Barrier, southeast of London.
You’ll need at least two weeks to complete this 185-mile-long hike in full, but as you’re closely following the banks of the River Thames, you’ll find it’s refreshingly flat. This is another chance for a long but leisurely hike, and some of my top sights along the way include historic cities like Oxford, as well as regal destinations like Richmond Park.
6. The Wye Valley Walk
The Wye Valley Walk stretches for 136 miles through some of the best riverside landscapes in the UK. The Wye Valley – extending roughly from Chepstow north to Plylimon in the Cambrian Mountains – is the UK’s original tourism destination, and you’ll be following in the footsteps of romantic poets like William Wordsworth, who popularized the “Wye Valley Tour” in the 18th century.
My favorite section of the Wye Valley Walk is from Chepstow to Tintern Abbey, where you’ll find the dramatic ruins of an 11th-century Cistercian monastery perched on the banks of the river. Another fantastic section is the hike to Symonds Yat, a craggy viewpoint offering incredible panoramas of the Wye Valley as the river courses through Gloucestershire.
7. Causeway Coast Way
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast Way is one of the best long-distance hikes in the UK. At 32 miles, it’s not the most challenging of routes, and it’s perfect for a long weekend of walking.
You’ll start in the seaside town of Ballycastle, in County Antrim, following the Causeway Coast to the finish line in Portstewart. Along the way, you’ll pass by some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular attractions, including Dunluce Castle, Dunseverick Castle, Carrick-a-Rede, and the Giants Causeway.
The Causeway Coast Way is just one small section of the much larger Ulster Way, which at 636 miles, takes in all of Northern Ireland’s six counties as part of a long-distance circular walk.
8. West Highland Way
The West Highland Way is one of the most popular long-distance trails in the UK. Stretching for some 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, when the trail first opened in 1980, it was the first of its kind in Scotland.
Now tens of thousands of people complete the route every year, and given the start point is just outside Glasgow, it’s a hugely accessible way to experience the Scottish Highlands. You’ll hike through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, visit Glencoe and Loch Leven, and tackle challenging hill walking routes like the Devil’s Staircase.
9. The Great Glen Way
The Great Glen Way is a superb trail following the Great Glen, a huge valley that cuts through the middle of the Scottish Highlands. Starting in Fort William, Scotland’s adventure capital (you could make a detour to climb Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain), the route takes you through 79 miles of stunning scenery north to Inverness.
The Great Glen Way takes in famous natural attractions like Loch Linnhe and Loch Ness (watch out for the fabled Loch Ness Monster!), as well as the Caledonian Canal and the now defunct Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway. Most walkers take around seven days to complete the route.
10. The Skye Trail
One of the toughest routes in Scotland is the Skye Trail, a challenging hike that takes you across almost the entirety of the Isle of Skye, the largest island in the Inner Hebrides. This one’s much trickier to attempt than other long-distance trails in the UK, largely because it’s unofficial and not waymarked.
You’ll be crossing some of the most remote areas of Skye, so navigation skills, adequate clothing, supplies, and an emergency fallback plan are essential. In many places, there’s not even a path to follow. If you’re an experienced hill walker, though, then the 80-mile route takes you to some of Skye’s most iconic natural landmarks, including Fairy Pools and The Storr.
11. England Coast Path
If you’re looking for an epic, long-distance hiking trail in the UK, you’ll love the England Coast Path. This monstrous route encompasses England’s entire coastline, and you can even fill in the landlocked gaps using other national trails, like Offa’s Dyke Path and the Coast to Coast Way.
This isn’t one to tackle on a whim, but it includes all of England’s best coastal trails, such as the South West Coast Path, the Norfolk Coast Path, and the Saxon Shore Way. In total, it’s a whopping 2,795 miles, and you’ll need several months to walk the entire route.
