From Snowdon to the Cotswolds, Adam Shaw rounds up some of the UK’s best walking routes
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1. Snowdonia, Wales
No walking tour of the UK would be complete without a trip to Snowdonia. Home to Wales’ highest peak, Mount Snowdon, it offers challenging yet manageable hikes. To climb Snowdon, walkers can choose one of two six-hour round routes from Pen-y-Pass – the Miners’ Track (which is slightly easier) or the Pyg Track. An alternative is hiking up Llanberis Path, which starts at Llanberis village at the foot of the mountain.
Book it: The five-day Walking in Snowdonia tour by Intrepid covers several walks, including a trek up Mount Snowdon. Prices start at £1,115 per person and include accommodation and breakfasts.
intrepidtravel.com/uk
2. Western Cornwall, England
Stunning beaches, afternoon teas and a fascinating history from pirates to King Arthur – there are many reasons Cornwall is one of Britain’s most popular holiday spots. It’s also filled with fantastic walks, with charming fishing villages dotted along rugged coastlines featuring golden sands and dramatic cliffs.
Consider hiking to or from Land’s End – England’s most westerly point. Legend has it that the land of Lyonesse, part of King Arthur’s realm, lies beneath the waves.
Book it: Explore offers a six-day Walk West Cornwall trip with the base in Penzance from £1,245 per person. Price includes accommodation and breakfasts.
explore.co.uk
3. The Cotswolds, England
The Cotswolds – the archetypal English landscape that’s inspired poetry and prose for centuries – is perfect for a walking holiday for all ages and abilities. An 11-mile amble takes you from the market town of Stow, past water mills and stone bridges, into quaint Bourton-on-the-Water. Or a 10-mile trek on the Wychavon Way finishes with a testing climb up Bredon Hill.
Book it: Walk the region with Exodus’ self-guided Oxford to Bath trip. The 10-day package starts at £1,599 per person, with accommodation and breakfasts included.
exodus.co.uk
4. Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
Site of the Giant’s Causeway, a geological marvel, this part of Northern Ireland will always attract keen walkers. Other highlights include Rathlin Island, home to numerous species of seabird, and the knee-knocking Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, stretching across a 30-metre-deep chasm. Trips can be combined with Belfast or Derry – two cities steeped in culture and history.
Book it: Seven nights on HF Holidays’ Northern Ireland Causeway Coast tour takes in all the best bits, with guided walks. Prices start at £1,225 including accommodation.
hfholidays.co.uk
5. Edinburgh & Fife, Scotland
A new 43-mile trek around the perimeter of Scotland’s capital takes you through parks and woodland, past lochs and along coastal paths. There’s also the chance to sample the city’s culture, as it starts at Edinburgh Castle and ends at Holyrood Palace. After that, clients can breathe in sea air on the Fife coastal path and at the historic town of St Andrews.
Book it: Inntravel offers a six-night Fife’s Coastal Kingdom self-guided walk, with transfers available from Edinburgh. Prices start at £635 and include accommodation, breakfasts and one dinner. A two-night Edinburgh add-on costs from £160.
inntravel.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Simon Bennett, Ian Woolcock, LC_Captures, VanderWolf Images, Aleksandr Vrublevskiy
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