Walking holidays in the UK for Beginners: Exploring the best of the UK on foot

Let’s face it, there are many adventures across the globe to fit into your bucket list, but the relatively simple pleasures of the UK walking holiday should certainly make some kind of appearance. From the breathtaking to the genuinely challenging, there’s a UK walking holiday (and route) that suits your level and lust for nature, as well as your budget. Indeed, there’s a choice that can rival the best walking holidays in Europe, if not the world.  

Along the way we’ll look at essential tips on choosing the right gear for your walking holiday, planning your route, and staying safe, as well as whet your appetite for adventure, whether you're a seasoned hiker or a relative novice. 

Your level of walking experience will dictate what’s on offer to some extent, with some of the longer long-distance walking holiday choices demanding serious commitment and no little fitness, although these too vary from the relatively flat Peddars Way across the county of Norfolk, to the ancient South Downs Way, arguably peaking with the West Highland Way, which offers 154km of Highland scenery in a compact, but modern format. However, there are many, many shorter routes to be tackled, as well as the opportunity to dip into sections of these longer long-distance routes too. Let the adventure begin!

Walking Holidays in the UK for Beginners: Why Choose the UK?

The major benefits of the UK walking holiday are multiple and compelling - you’ll reduce personal co2 output by avoiding international travel, as well as getting to know some beautiful - and in some cases wild - parts of the UK. The UK offers many easy walking holidays tailored for beginners. There’s also the attraction of a wide variety of routes and locations, making it one of the best walking holidays, from the almost entirely flat to the significantly hilly, letting you get the level of challenge you’re comfortable with. Great walking experiences across diverse terrains in the UK, such as the Highlands of Scotland and the Lake District, offer breath taking outdoor adventures.

These holidays are often described as 'enjoyable holidays' by participants due to excellent organization, friendly guides, and beautiful locations.

Another major plus point is the range and quality of accommodation on offer, with many routes offering everything from the last word in luxury and boutique hotels, through to wild camping on the trail. Finally, some of the best long-distance routes in the UK have a real sense of history to them too, with prehistoric barrows, Roman infrastructure and more recent history jostling for position.

Although there are hundreds of excellent shorter walks throughout the UK, the main areas to focus on are around the national parks, which vary in size and scope, but all offer their own charm and set of challenges to the keen hiker or walker. UK walking holidays emphasize the diversity and appeal of walking holidays across the UK.

Walking holidays in the UK for Beginners: Destinations

The South Downs Way: Long Distance Paths

The best walking destinations in the UK are a varied lot, and rightly so. In southern England the South Downs provides up to 100 miles of drovers tracks and venerable walking routes along the ridge of this chalk escarpment that offers solitude and escape in an otherwise busy part of the country. Running from Winchester to Eastbourne, the undulating route offers plenty of challenge to the seasoned walker and novice alike. Quick drying thanks to the underlying chalk, and with amazing views out across the English channel, this is visually stunning as well as rich in history. Highlights include the Devils Dyke and Cissbury Ring, which both evoke their own eerie tales of myth and legend, and offer interesting walks enriched by local history and culture.

The South Downs Way is an ideal walking break for those looking to escape and enjoy easy-to-moderate walking routes.

Organised holidays are available, and of course self-supported sections are entirely possible thanks to excellent public transport links and a raft of top-quality B&Bs, pubs and hotels along the route. Many of these accommodations also provide home-cooked evening meals, ensuring a delightful end to your day of walking.

Peddars Way and the North Norfolk Coastal path

The ancient drovers track - thought to be from the Latin “pedester”, which means “on foot” - links in with the more modern but thoroughly scenic North Norfolk coastal path to create a stunning journey through relatively flat vistas of forest, sea, heath and low river valleys. As one of the notable long distance paths, the Peddars Way begins in Knettishall Heath near Thetford, and ends in Holme-next-the-Sea, where it picks up the North Norfolk Coastal path that in turn runs all the way round the coast for 83 miles to Hopton - a journey that can be broken down into much shorter sections if required, with several areas served by mainline rail services and a decent twice-hourly bus service to boot.

Organised walking holidays are also available, where your luggage is ferried on ahead and accommodation is pre-booked, letting you enjoy the walking at your own pace. These walking trips are meticulously planned, providing comprehensive support including guides and detailed itineraries to ensure a memorable adventure. Many participants describe their experience as a memorable holiday due to the beautiful locations and enjoyable activities.

Top tips:

Book accommodation well ahead at busy times, as it’s a popular holiday area.

If you’re a foodie there are plenty of hidden gems to discover.

Take binoculars - several of the coastal wetlands along this route are among the most popular bird-spotting areas in the UK.

Don’t underestimate the walking - although it’s mainly flat, the Norfolk coast packs in a few small ascents and descents that add up over a long day.

Walking holidays in the UK for Beginners: Walking holidays in Wales 

As one of the most accessible mountain areas of the UK, Wales (Cymru) has more than enough walking fodder to keep most hikers happy. From the epic coastal trails such as the Gower and Coast Paths to Offa’s Dyke National Trail, there’s a suitable variety to allow you to pick the walking holiday that suits your fitness and expertise levels best. Wales also offers a range of walking breaks, featuring itineraries that cater to different skill levels, from leisurely walks to more demanding hikes, all set against the backdrop of its stunning natural beauty.

Offa’s Dyke National Trail

Arguably one of the most well-known of the Welsh trails, Offa’s Dyke follows the Wales England border for 177 miles, from Prestatyn to Chepstow, a walking holiday that breaks down into 15 Nights, 14 Days walking, bookable with providers such as Wales Walking Holidays. Named after King Offa of Mercia, the trail traverses parts of the Shropshire AONB and is  generally ‘done’ from south to north, but it’s perfectly possible to do in the opposite direction too.

A full list of holiday providers are here, and baggage transport is also available for those who’d rather book their own accommodation. There are a host of campsites along the route, so mixing B&B’s with nights under canvas is a sensible choice in case the weather isn’t consistently perfect throughout.

Glyndwr’s Way National Trail

Glyndŵr’s Way is an 135 mile (217 Km) long National Trail, named after named after Owain Glyndŵr’, Prince of Wales. Running from Knighton, Powys to Welshpool, Powys, it takes in some of the best Welsh countryside, including the Radnorshire Hills and with views of Cadair Idris and Lake Vyrnwy to boot. The highest point is Foel Fadian (1530ft/510m), from which you can see the sea (on a clear day).

There’s an extensive series of videos bringing the trail to life here: https://www.youtube.com/@llwybrglyndwrsway2376/videos

If that’s not enough for you, then perhaps consider checking out the 870 mile whole Wales Coast Path, which links up several of the coast paths to girdle the coastline of the whole country…

Walking holidays in the UK for Beginners: Walking holidays in Scotland

Scotland offers something of a step up for the bold, with some serious wilderness on offer, as well as serious distance in the shape of the West Highland Way. Guided walking holidays are available in Scotland, offering tailored experiences for solo travelers with small group dynamics and local expertise. The latter may be a relatively recent invention, but the landscapes it tracks through are among the most ancient in the world, certainly in geological terms.

The West Highland Way

The West Highland Way stretches 96 miles (154 Km) from Milngavie to Fort William, showcasing some of the best scenery in the Highlands, from quiet lochs to genuine mountains, this has something for everyone.

Handrailing the shores of Loch Lomond, the route can be broken down into eight sections, although beware of assuming each is an easy days walk!

The terrain varies significantly, with some sections involving steep ascents and rough ground.

Milngavie to Drymen: 12 miles/19 km

Drymen to Rowardennan: 15 miles/24 km

Rowardennan to Inverarnan: 14 miles/22.5 km

Inverarnan to Tyndrum: 12 miles/19.5 km

Tyndrum to Inveroran: 9 miles/14.5 km

Inveroran to Kingshouse : 10 miles/16 km

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven: 9 miles/ 14.5 km

Kinlochleven to Fort William: 15 miles/24 km

The penultimate section, in the shadow of Buachaille Etive Mor takes the Devil’s Staircase up to the highest point on the West Highland Way at 550m, with astonishing views of the Mamores and ‘The Buachaille’ to boot.

Of course, the West Highland Way is far from the only walking holiday experience available in Scotland. There's also the Great Glen Way, the Rob Roy Way and the John Muir Way that are well worth considering, as well as hundreds of hill routes - whether Munroe-bagging or not - and journeys such as the hike through the Lairig Ghru valley. The latter takes in some of the best of the Cairngorms National park over a challenging but rewarding 19-mile hike, with the option to stop off at the Corrour bothy too.

Top tips:

Go properly equipped - Scottish landscapes are stunning, and rugged. Take gear that’s up to the task, and be cautious with more flimsy, ultralight items - highland granite will eat them for breakfast.

Time it right - spring and autumn are arguably the best times to walk in Scotland, avoiding the weather extremes of winter and summer, and crucially avoiding the worst of the midges, which can be an absolute menace.

The West Highland Way is usually walked from South to North, as the northern sections become increasingly mountainous, so bear this in mind when planning.

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