As part of our Best of Britain series, our expert authors have sought out the best walks and cycle routes to choose to explore Britain's diverse and stunning landscapes. The highlights offer everything from chalk slopes and soaring mountains to rocky bays, waterfalls and white-sand beaches.
The Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Beauty, is criss-crossed by some brilliant cycle trails. One of the best is on the western edge of the forest through Grizedale and Bleasdale. Starting out from the tiny village of Scorton, the route ends in Beacon Fell country park (pictured) with stunning views of the Ribble Valley.
The Peregrine Path is a panoramic route that straddles the border between England and Wales, following the River Wye from the historic market town of Monmouth in southeast Wales to Goodrich in Herefordshire. The route is mainly traffic free, with plenty of pubs and heritage sites to visit along the way.
An Area of Outstanding Beauty in Staffordshire, Cannock Chase district has some short family-friendly cycle trails and two dedicated mountain bike trails that weave through forest and woodland. They all start out from Birches Valley Forest Centre. The popular “Follow the Dog” trail (pictured) is a 6.7-mile mountain bike route with some technical features like rock drop-offs. Needless to say, it's probably not one for beginners.
The 87-mile Ridgeway National Trail starts in the World Heritage Site of Avebury and crosses the rolling hills, woodland and farmland of the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns Areas of Outstanding Beauty, before the final uphill towards Ivinghoe Beacon. You can also take shorter circular loop trails rather than tackle the entire 5,000-year-old road.
The Taff Trail is a 55-mile walk and cycle route from Cardiff waterfront to the rugged Brecon Beacons National Park. Explore the parks and green spaces of the buzzing Welsh capital city, the heritage towns of Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil, and the beautiful mountainous landscape on the final stretch towards Brecon. Read our guide to Cardiff here.
The undulating 100-mile South Downs Way National Trail from Winchester takes at least a week to walk (two to three days if you’re cycling), but it’s worth every step. The spectacular views from its high ridges take in farmland, woods, rolling hills, wide river valleys and eventually, the coast and the white cliffs of Eastbourne. Nearby Bexhill is one of our favourite seaside spots, too.
Explore the idyllic countryside and cute market towns and villages of the Cotswolds on this 100-mile Cotswold Way between Chipping Campden and Bath. Follow traditional dry stone walls past quaint farmhouses and take in sites like the famous Broadway Tower (pictured) with its dramatic views.
The 156-mile Hebridean Way hops between ten beautiful islands in the Outer Hebrides, from Vatersay in the south to the Isle of Lewis in the north. Linked by causeways and ferries, exploring the islands of the Outer Hebrides is an unmissable experience. If you want to explore by bike, there’s a separate 185-mile cycle trail too. We also love cruising around this area – here's why we reckon Scotland's the ultimate cruise destination.
The 163-mile North Devon figure-of-eight Tarka Trail has a north and south loop from Barnstaple. The 30-mile section between Meeth and Braunton is a popular stretch along the line of an old railway, taking in the beautiful countryside.
The full Anglesey Coastal Path loop is an epic 12-day, 130-mile walk, though it is possible to jump on public transport. You might see wildlife like chough, peregrine falcons, porpoises, seals along the way. One thing's for sure, you’ll enjoy sweeping coastal views like the one from Llanddwyn Island (pictured).
Rutland Water is a scenic man-made lake in England’s smallest county. A nice place to start and end the 17-mile family-friendly waterside route is in Oakham where there’s a brewery and pub by the station. If you don’t have your own wheels, you can hire a bike from Oakham or other towns around the lake like Whitwell and Normanton.
The 80 Mile Cycle Route crosses gentle hills and moorland, taking in chocolate-box villages and historic market towns along the way. If you just want to tackle one short section, try Merriott to Montacute through Ham Hill Country Park with its views of the Mendip Hills, the Quantock Hills and the Dorset Downs.
East London is criss-crossed with pretty waterways where you can cycle on the towpath past colourful houseboats. Start at Walthamstow Marshes and follow the River Lea Navigation down to the Olympic Park. From there, follow the parallel River Lea back to the start or head west on the Hertford Union Canal, through Victoria Park and join Regent's Canal up to bustling Broadway Market. A variation of this route can be found on the British Cycling website. Read our guide to London here.
This ride will earn you bragging rights. Spanning the length of mainland Britain from the tip of Cornwall to the far north of Scotland, there are various routes, ranging between around 1,000 and 1,400 miles. One option takes you 1,173 miles along the traffic-free and quiet roads of the signposted National Cycle Network.
The Viking Coastal Trail hugs the coastline from maritime Ramsgate as far as Reculver and most of it sticks to dedicated cycle paths along the clifftops or promenade – though the return leg brings you inland. Stop in pretty seaside town of Broadstairs for an ice cream on the beach and if you’re just after an easy ride, call it a day in Margate. Read our guide to Ramsgate here, and discover more highlights on the Kent coast here.
The Mountain Track (also known as the Tourist or Pony Track) to the peak of Scotland’s Ben Nevis is the most popular ascent. The walking trail is stony and tough in places, but the views across the Nevis Range are magnificent.
This 18-mile cycle route follows the Camel Estuary along a disused railway line from Padstow (pictured), through the woods of the Camel Valley to the edge of Bodmin Moor. The Camel Trail is flat and perfect for families – plus most of it traffic-free. Read our guide to Padstow here.
This 196-mile Lake and Dales cycle route circumnavigates the Lake District National Park on quiet country lanes. You can spend up to six days completing the tour or opt for one of the mini loops. There are plenty of local pubs and tea rooms to break up the days in the saddle and the mountain views of the Lakes and Dales are spectacular.
Around 65 miles of rugged northeast Scotland can be explored on foot via the Speyside Way. From Buckie on the shore of the Moray Firth coast, the route heads southwest towards Aviemore on the edge of the Cairngorm mountains. A couple of sections are great for cyclists too.
The 84-mile coast to coast walk along Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the famous Roman wall and much of it crosses rolling farmland and fields. There are Roman forts and settlements along the way and the whole route from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west should take about a week. The eight-mile circular Steel Rigg and Sycamore Gap walk is one more family friendly option.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path forms part of an 870-mile uninterrupted pathway that navigates the Welsh coastline. The Pembrokeshire section – between St Dogmaels and Amroth – is a challenging but spectacular walking route that twists and turns with the clifftops. Tenby (pictured) is a great place to base yourself, but we also love St David's, the UK's smallest city.
The North York Moors and Cleveland Coast form part of this extraordinary walking trail. The Cleveland Way's 109 miles are packed with ancient monuments, cute fishing villages and epic coastal views. There are plenty of towns like Whitby and Scarborough for accommodation.
Named after the 8th-century Anglo-Saxon king who had the dyke built to keep out the Welsh, Offa’s Dyke meanders between Prestatyn in the north to Sedbury in the south. The 177-mile pathway passes through eight different counties on both sides of the border.
The Pennine Way is an epic 256-mile walk running along the so-called 'backbone of England'. Not for the faint hearted, Britain’s first national trail runs from the Peak District to the Scottish border and is a challenge. On the upside, you can have a pint in the highest pub in England.