Top 5 Walks in England

There’s something magical about taking a country walk in the UK, from frosty fields and misty lakes to enchanting coastal paths, woodlands, grassy hills and moorlands, Britain has plenty to offer anyone who loves to ramble. So pull on your walking boots and get walking along some of our favourite footpaths in the UK:

Seven Sisters and Birling Gap, Sussex

Make your way to East Dean in Sussex where you can tuck into some hearty pub grub at the 15th century Tiger’s Inn before striding out along the South Downs Way to marvel at the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters. Here you can enjoy big skies and bracing views across the sea while following an easy to follow footpath.

This magnificent part of the coast is one of the most photographed in Britain. Look out for the pretty Belle Tout Lighthouse before looping back to the inn to warm up in front of the roaring fire. For a slightly longer stroll, pick up the South Downs Way over the Seven Sisters hills, or for a more secluded walk head inland to Birling Gap or Crowlink.

The National Trust gives full details on four brilliant Berling Gap walks here.

Brent Tor, Dartmoor

Brent Tor makes for a rocky ramble which rewards walkers with spectacular views of the wilds of Dartmoor.

The rock outcrop looks quite spectacular as it rears up dramatically from the surrounding flat grasslands and is topped by the Church of St Michael of the Rock, which is believed to have been built in 1694. Stand and admire the views of Cornwall to the west and the whole of the western side of Dartmoor to the east.

You might like to start and finish your walk at The Elephant’s Nest Inn in Mary Tavy, a quintessentially Devonshire pub and bed and breakfast inn, with its high quality food and log fires.

Beatrix Potter Walk, Sawrey, Lake District

Whether or not you’re a fan of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny or Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, you will definitely be a fan of the Lake District’s incredible natural scenery. Taking a stroll in Beatrix Potter’s footsteps in some of her favourite haunts is an inspiring way to fill your time in the Lake District.

Explore the fells of Claife Heights, the glittering western shore of Lake Windermere and Cockshott Point, the National Trust property where the great writer once lived. The Beatrix Potter Walk is a 13-mile ramble which takes you around Lake Windermere and over the wooded fells of Claife Heights to the villages of Sawrey and Hawkshead.

Brontë Waterfalls and Top Withens, West Yorkshire

Still on the literary theme, take a wander along the wild hillsides and moors of Haworth, a landscape which inspired the Brontë sisters. Make your way up to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse which, some people believe, provided part of the inspiration for Emily Brontë’s masterpiece ‘Wuthering Heights’. The walk takes you past the Brontë Waterfalls gushing over the rocks and across the Brontë Bridge which was swept away in a flood in 1989, but soon after rebuilt.

If you’d like to stop for food or drinks at a pub along the way, there are a couple in Stanbury plus several in Haworth once you’ve completed the trek.

The South West Coastal Path, Devon

For avid hikers, walking the South West Coastal Path is an epic journey covering 630 miles of stunning coastline – making it the longest National Trail in the UK.

For a challenge like no other, you can do the entire stretch from Somerset’s Minehead to Dorset’s Poole Harbour over several weeks. Alternatively, pick it up for more manageable stretches and take in the beautiful views – there are hundreds of excellent short walks along the route and you can use the official Walk Finder to discover one that suits you.

Find more places to walk in our top 50 most beautiful places to visit in the UK.

Book your UK travel insurance with Staysure.