As traditional in Britain as a Sunday roast, fish and chips and a cream tea, is a walk in the countryside. In fact, walkers often combine their country outing with a rewarding visit to a pub or a café afterwards.
If a British walking holiday is something you fancy, how about starting with one of the classic long-distance walks? You’ll enjoy days of walking, interspersed with great British food, hospitality, history, heritage and wildlife.
The grand-daddy of trails
The West Highland Way celebrates its 36th year in 2016 and still upholds its status as the original and most popular Scottish long-distance walking route. It might be an old favourite but the waymarked trail always reveals new views and fresh attractions for those who walk the 96 miles from Milngavie, north of Glasgow, to Fort William in the Highlands. If you need further inspiration, read about the Scottish man who has walked the West Highland Way 50 times.
Walk across England Spanning England from the west to east coast, the Coast to Coast trail is on the bucket list of many walkers. “Coast to coasters” enjoy the picturesque landscapes of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales and visit quintessentially British villages. It is possible, if you have the time, to walk the full route of almost 200 miles over a fortnight or you can chose a shorter “east” or “west” walking holiday.
The beautiful south The longest, and some say, the most beautiful, the 630-mile South West Coast Path offers walkers a wealth of heritage, wildlife, geology and spectacular scenery. Few people have the holiday time for walking the entire route in one trip so why not choose a shorter section that can be comfortably completed in three to nine days? The toughest part is choosing which section to walk, including the remote Lizard Peninsula, the fascinating Jurassic Coastline or between the fishing villages en route from Padstow to St Ives.
Pretty as a picture Hailed as “possibly the prettiest” long-distance walk in Britain, the Cotswold Way has walkers oohing and ahhing at almost very turn. The delightfully British countryside on this 100-mile walk is dotted with pretty villages and even finishes at the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath.
If the Cotswold Way isn't your cup of tea then don't worry, our wide range of Cotswold holidays will have you exploring quintessential England in no time.
Showing off in Wales The rugged yet gorgeous Welsh coastline is showcased on the long-distance Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Over 186 miles of walking, you’ll be treated to a treasure trove of gems, such as hidden sandy bays, sleepy fishing villages and amazing wildlife. Did you know that Britain’s smallest city, St David's, is located on this coastline, too?
The answer to America’s Route 66 The new North Coast 500 joins our increasingly popular Drive & Hike collection of holidays. You can combine the classic 500-mile North Coast road trip through breath-taking Scottish scenery with lovely walks, culinary treats, amazing historical attractions and even a trip to Orkney. Find out more about the NC500 highlights.