Travel Weekly asked three UK specialists to select their favourite walking country
Perthshire
Shearings-owned Countrywide sales and marketing director Chris Barnes
“The central highlands of Scotland in Perthshire, around the town of Pitlochry, is ideal for a walking holiday. The region has the nickname of All Scotland, because it has mountains, lochs, valleys and woods – there is a bit of everything.
“Because of the variety of landscape, it offers all types of walking. You can wander off for a short two or three-mile stroll through the woods or you can go into the hills with a guide and walk all day.”
Lake District
HF Holidays chief executive Peter Chapman
“The Lake District between Coniston Water and Derwent Water is my favourite place to walk, because of the great variety of views. While you are walking, the scenery changes at every turn.
“From a patch of woodland you walk into a clearing and catch sight of one of the lakes. Also the walks are exciting for all abilities, ranging from gentle rambles to hill walking. And even on a summer’s day you can find areas where you can walk totally alone or join up with other walkers for a bit of company.”
Isle of Wight
Wallace Arnold project manager Martin Lock
“I recommend the Isle of Wight as it has an excellent range of coastal and inland walks of medium terrain – there is nothing too taxing. The five-mile trail from Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay on the west of the island takes you round the coast along the chalk cliffs.
The cliffs are quite dramatic, you can see the sea below. You can then continue on for several miles to the Needles – with its chalk stacks jutting above the headland, it is the most famous sight on the island. A range of inland walks take you through pretty villages with thatched cottages and churches from the 12th and 14th century. The place has a lot of history with many of former smugglers’ villages.”