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Two men walking along the West Highland Way

Hiking Vacations in May

Hiking Vacations in May

May is when the UK and Ireland spring hiking season peaks - long daylight, wildflowers along the trails and paths in prime condition before summer.

Cross England from coast to coast, walk the line of Hadrian's Wall, follow Ireland's Dingle Way or Kerry Way along the Atlantic, or take Cornwall's coast paths in comfort. In Scotland, May is one of the best months for the country's Great Trails - the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way and the Fife Coastal Path - before the midges arrive. Further south, the Dordogne's riverside villages and Tuscany and Umbria are at their best, and it's a classic month for the Camino Francés and the Cotswolds.

20+ years of self-guided hiking expertise - Macs Adventure is a leader in self-guided travel, with luggage transfers and route notes on every trip.

  • A place these routes go

    Lake District, Coast to Coast Walk

  • A place these routes go

    Hadrian's Wall, England

  • Dunquin

    Dunquin, Dingle Way, Ireland

  • Porthcurno beach

    Porthcurno, Cornwall

  • Conic Hill on West Highland Way

    Conic Hill, West Highland Way

  • A place these routes go

    The Cotswolds, England

15 hand-picked routes

  • Scotland

    West Highland Way

    • Walking
    • 5–11 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Moderate - Challenging
    from$1,885CAD pp
    View Route
  • France · Spain

    Camino Frances

    • Walking
    • 7–57 days
    • Easy to Moderate
    from$1,340CAD pp
    View Route
  • England

    Hadrian's Wall Walk

    • Walking
    • 5–10 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Moderate
    from$1,455CAD pp
    View Route
  • Scotland

    Great Glen Way & Loch Ness

    • Walking
    • 5–9 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Moderate
    from$1,720CAD pp
    View Route
  • England

    Coast to Coast Walk

    • Walking
    • 9–18 days
    • Moderate to Challenging
    from$2,795CAD pp
    View Route
  • England

    Cotswold Way

    • Walking
    • 5–12 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Moderate - Challenging
    from$1,675CAD pp
    View Route
  • Republic of Ireland

    The Dingle Way

    • Walking
    • 6–10 days
    • Moderate
    from$1,530CAD pp
    View Route
  • Republic of Ireland

    Best of the Dingle Way

    • Walking
    • 7 days
    • Easy - Moderate
    from$2,595CAD pp
    View Route
  • Scotland

    Fife Coastal Path

    • Walking
    • 5–8 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Moderate
    from$1,645CAD pp
    View Route
  • Italy

    Hill Towns of Tuscany

    • Walking
    • 8 days
    • Easy - Moderate
    from$3,050CAD pp
    View Route
  • France

    Walking in the Dordogne

    • Walking
    • 5–8 days
    • Easy - Moderate
    from$1,745CAD pp
    View Route
  • Italy

    Classic Tuscany

    • Walking
    • 5 days
    • Moderate
    from$1,685CAD pp
    View Route
  • Republic of Ireland

    The Kerry Way

    • Walking
    • 5–12 days
    • Easy - Moderate to Challenging
    from$1,285CAD pp
    View Route
  • France

    Hilltop Villages of the Dordogne

    • Walking
    • 8 days
    • Easy - Moderate
    from$2,695CAD pp
    View Route
  • England

    Highlights of Cornwall in Comfort

    • Walking
    • 8 days
    • Easy - Moderate
    from$3,310CAD pp
    View Route

Real photos, real stories, straight from the trail

Over 26,000 travelers strong, our community shares #MacsMoments, swaps tips and advice, and helps each other plan the perfect trip. Many connect long before they set off - and some even meet up on the trail!

  • Pilgrim standing in front of Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after completing the Portugués Way

    I'm headed back to the states and have a mixture of emotions. So much to process. I feel like a different person!

    October 2026

    Camino de Santiago, Spain

  • A smiling hiker beside a West Highland Way marker post below a mountain

    Thank you Macs for the brilliant adventure! We loved all the accommodations provided

    June 2026

    West Highland Way, Scotland

  • A hiker standing in a pasture amongst horses

    October 2026

    Hadrian's Wall Path, England

  • A hiker beside a wooden signpost by an ivy-covered wall

    June 2026

    Cotswolds to the Cornwall Coast, England

  • A hiker stops on the trail for an interaction with a local cow

    August 2026

    Via Alpina, Switzerland

  • A group selfie in front of a river on a blue sky day

    In fact, if you're looking for sensory magic, give this trip a try

    October 2026

    Walking the Dordogne in Style, France

Join our Macs Community

Get to know Hiking Vacations in May

Why May is one of the best months to hike.

  • What's the best UK route to hike in May?

    The West Highland Way is a standout in May - long daylight, good trail conditions, and the Highland midges aren't yet at their worst. For something quieter, Fife Coastal Path, England's Coast to Coast and Hadrian's Wall are at their best too.

  • What's the weather like in May?

    Scotland, England and Ireland average 50-60°F with a real chance of rain. The Dordogne and Tuscany are warmer, typically 65-75°F.

  • Are Alpine routes open in May?

    Not yet for the high routes - huts on the Tour du Mont Blanc and Walker's Haute Route typically don't open until June or July. See our June and July collections for Alpine hiking.

  • Where will I stay in May?

    Country inns and B&Bs along Hadrian's Wall and the Coast to Coast, coastal guesthouses in Ireland and Cornwall, Highland guesthouses on Scotland's Great Trails, and village hotels in the Dordogne and Tuscany.

  • How fit do I need to be for May hiking?

    Some routes are more difficult, with 15+ mile days on many stages. The Cotswold Way and Dingle Way are gentler, suiting most active adults.

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