Walking Routes in England

England is covered with hundreds of well signed walking paths and trails passing through some of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of the country.
We have organised these routes by county with an overview map also available.

Please use the links below to view the currently mapped routes.

County	No. Routes	County	No. Routes
Bedfordshire	33	Berkshire	35
Buckinghamshire	62	Cambridgeshire	34
Cheshire	63	Cornwall	61
County Durham	32	Cumbria	136
Derbyshire	117	Devon	103
Dorset	82	Essex	60
Gloucestershire	101	Greater London	115
Greater Manchester	61	Hampshire	90
Herefordshire	24	Hertfordshire	45
Isle of Wight	15	Kent	91
Lancashire	74	Leicestershire	36
Lincolnshire	37	Merseyside	21
Norfolk	47	Northamptonshire	38
Northumberland	38	Nottinghamshire	28
Oxfordshire	49	Rutland	8
Shropshire	42	Somerset	88
Staffordshire	57	Suffolk	52
Surrey	76	Sussex	89
Warwickshire	43	West Midlands	35
Wiltshire	69	Worcestershire	43
Yorkshire	256

National Parks, AONB and Other Regions Walking Routes

Park/AONB	No. Routes	Park/AONB	No. Routes
Cheviots	7	Chilterns	23
Dartmoor	36	Exmoor	22
Forest of Bowland	12	Howardian Hills	7
Mendip Hills	20	New Forest	24
Nidderdale	15	North Downs	16
North York Moors	36	Northumberland National Park	12
Peak District	107	Quantocks	12
Shropshire Hills	8	South Downs	38
Surrey Hills	24	Cotswolds	85
Lake District	109	Yorkshire Dales	54

Latest Walking Routes

Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek	2 miles (3.5 km)	Enjoy a walk to the lovely Bowcombe Creek from the popular market town of Kingsbridge in the South Devon AONB. There's much to enjoy in the area with lovely views of the boats in the estuary and nice green lanes with lots of wildflowers and butterflies to look out for. The route starts in the town centre and passes through the town before heading east through the countryside to the Bowcombe Creek. The creek is a great place for bird watching with herons, egrets, redshank and shelduck to look out for. Buzzards and Peregrine Falcon are often seen overhead. After exploring the creek the route then follows other footpaths back through the countryside to the town. You can extend your walking in the area by heading south and enjoying a circular walk along the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary. Here you will find reed beds, mudflats and eelgrass beds supporting an abundance of wildlife�on the estuary. Dolphins, seals and basking sharks can all be seen from the paths.
Dodman Point	2 miles (3.5 km)	This circular walk explores this wonderful headland on the Cornish coast. The area is located near the village of Gorran Haven and is the�highest headland on the south coast of Cornwall. There's splendid coastal views, pretty beaches, lovely countryside and lots of wildlife to look out for. The walk starts from the Penare�car park, about half a mile south of Dodman Point. From here you head west towards Hemmick�Beach with wonderful views across Veryan Bay to the west. You then pick up the South West Coast Path to take you up to Dodman Point. Here you will find a large granite cross, placed here in 1896 as a navigational aid to seafarers. From the elevated headland there are fabulous views towards the Roseland Peninsula. Look out for wildlife including Dartmoor ponies, peregrine falcon, stonechat and gannet. The walk can also be started from the nearby village of Gorran Haven if you prefer. It's about a 2 mile walk from the village along the coast path to the point. It will take you past the lovely Vault Beach and the delightful Gorran Harbour. If you would like to extend your walk you can follow the coast path north to Mevagissey and visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The gardens are a real highlight of the area and include Victorian Productive Gardens, romantic Pleasure Grounds and a lush sub-tropical Jungle.
Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary	2 miles (3 km)	Enjoy a walk along the beautiful Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary Nature Reserve on this walk in Devon. Start your walk from the car park at Lincombe Cross just to the north east of Salcombe. From here you can pick up footpaths along the estuary to Tosnos Point and Snapes Point at the southern end. Reed beds, mudflats and eelgrass beds all help to support an abundance of wildlife�on the estuary. Look out for dolphins, seals, basking sharks�and a variety of wading birds as you make your way along the paths. To continue your walking in the area you could try our Salcombe and Bolt Head Circular Walk which visits some lovely cliff tops and woodland near the town. Heading north will take you to the town of Kingsbridge itself, where there are nice footpaths to follow from the town to the delightful Bowcombe Creek.
Salcombe and Bolt Head Circular Walk	5 miles (8.5 km)	This coastal circular walk takes you from Salcombe to the coastal headland at Bolt Head. There's much to enjoy with pretty bays, exhilarating cliff tops and a peaceful woodland section through Tor Woods towards the end of the route. The walk starts at the North Sands car park near to Salcombe Castle. The ruined castle is located on a rocky outcrop which is easily reached on foot at low tide. From here you pick up the South West Coast Path and follow it south through Collaton Wood to the beach at South Sands and Splatcove Point. Around here you will pass the Overbeck's Museum and Garden. The National Trust owned site includes a colourful subtropical garden, with exotic and rare plants surrounding the seaside home of scientist and inventor Otto Overbeck. There's great views over the estuary and coast�from the gardens and an interesting museum with�Overbeck's art and natural history collection together with a display of items relating to the maritime history of the area. After passing Overbeck's the route then heads through Fir Wood before following the coast path to Sharp Tor with views over Starehole Bay. This is the area where the Herzogin Cecilie ship ran aground in 1936. A dark patch of seaweed marks the site of the wreck. Shortly after Starehole Bay you come to Bolt Head where there are fabulous views along the coast. The area is great for wildlife with Dartmoor Ponies grazing on the cliffs. Also look out for birds including Fulmar, Shag, and Cormorants on the cliffs. From Bolt Head you head north west along the coast path towards Middle Soar where you turn right and head inland. The path then turns right again towards Tor Woods. These pretty woods contain lots of woodland flowers including bluebells, ramsons, wood sorrel and celadines. Look out for wildlife including Sika Deer as you make your way through this lovely area. After exiting the woods you arrive back at the coast where it is a short walk back to the car park. To extend your walking in the area you can continue north west along the coast path to Bolberry Down. This National Trust owned area has good surfaced paths, lots of pretty wildflowers and more great views. Just beyond Bolberry Down you will find Bolt Tail, the sister headland of Bolt Head. Just to the north east of the town you can explore the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary and look out for dolphins, seals, basking sharks�and a variety of wading birds.
Hubbard's Hills	2 miles (4 km)	This area of natural beauty in Louth is a lovely place for an afternoon stroll. You can follow the waymarked Silver Lincs Way long distance trail from the centre of the town to the park. It's only about half a mile away, following roads south west out of the town and through Westgate Fields. At the park you'll find delightful woodland trails along the River Ludd which meanders through the park. It's a great place for a picnic but there's also a nice cafe on site if you prefer. To extend your walk you can continue along the Silver Lincs Way. Following it west and then north takes you through the Lincolnshire Wolds to the woodland of Welton Vale and on to North Elkington. It continues all the way to Grimsby. On the eastern side of Louth you can pick up the Louth Canal and follow the towpath to Tetney Marshes on the Lincolnshire coast.
Louth Canal	11 miles (18 km)	Enjoy a waterside walk along the Louth Canal from Louth to Tetney Marshes. Along the way there's the lovely scenery of the Lincolnshire Wolds countryside and nice views of the River Lud. You can walk the length of the canal along the towpath which runs for about 12 miles. The walk starts from the interesting market town of Louth in the Lincolnshire Wolds. It's a very pretty town with Georgian streets including several fine buildings such as Louth Manor House and many others dating from 17th century onwards. Other highlights include St. James church where you can climb the tower for nice views over the town. You should also visit the interesting Louth Museum, the Greenwich meridian line plaque and the delightful Hubbard's Hills park. You can pick up the canal towpath on the eastern side of the town and follow it north east towards Keddington and Alvingham. On your right hand side around Keddington you can take a short detour to visit the remains of Louth Abbey which dates from 1139. At High Bridge the canal turns towards the North West, passing Conisholme Fen and Covenham Reservoir. The final sections takes you over Thoresby Bridge before passing Tetney Lock and finishing at Tetney Marshes Nature Reserve on the Humber Estuary. The RSPB reserve makes a lovely end to the walk. It's situated on the north Lincolnshire coast and includes coastal mudflats, salt marsh, dunes and saline lagoons. The reserve is a fantastic place for bird watching with brent geese, knots, golden plovers, redshanks and sanderlings to look out for. The Silver Lincs Way long distance trail also starts in Louth and runs all the way to Grimsby. You could pick this up and follow it to the delightful Hubbard's Hills with it's lovely woodland trails along the River Ludd.
Covenham Reservoir	5 miles (8.5 km)	Enjoy a walk around this pretty reservoir and along the Louth Canal on this waterside walk in Lincolnshire. Start your walk from the car park at the north western tip of the reservoir. Then follow the paths around the water to the canal on the eastern side of the water. The route then picks up the towpath following it north before following nice country lanes through the countryside around Fulstow. There's nice paths along the reservoir and views across the water to the lovely Lincolnshire Wolds countryside. The reservoir is close to the villages of Covenham St Bartholomew�and Covenham St Mary. After your walk you can visit the the Grade II�listed�Anglican church of �St Bartholomew. Here you will find a�monumental brass�with an�effigy�of Sir John Skypwyth dated 1415. There's also some 13th century stonework�and delightful churchyard which is also a nature reserve. You can enjoy refreshments at the attractive Mill House restaurant. It is believed to be of 16th century origin, having previously ground corn for the nearby Benedictine Priory. To extend your walking in the area you could continue along the Louth Canal. Continuing north will take you to the Lincolnshire coast and the Tetney Marshes RSPB Nature Reserve. Heading south will take you to the village of Alvingham and then on to the market town of Louth.
Naseby Reservoir	3 miles (5 km)	This walk visits Naseby Reservoir in Northamptonshire. You can start the walk from the village of Naseby and follow Carvells Lane to the water.
Ravensthorpe Reservoir	2 miles (2.5 km)	This walk visits Ravensthorpe Reservoir near Northampton. It's a short stroll from the village of Ravensthorpe to the 100 acre reservoir. There's a footpath along the western edge of the water but please note access is restricted to permit holders only. Bird Watching Permits are available from the nearby Pitsford Fishing Lodge and include access to�Pitsford and Hollowell reservoirs. To extend your walking in the area head to Brixworth Country Park where you can enjoy a walk along Pitsford Reservoir. It's a short walk to Hollowell Reservoir as well.
Hackney Marshes	3 miles (5 km)	This circular walk explores the rivers, woods and nature reserves in the Hackney area of East London. There's nice waterside footpaths to follow along the River Lea and the Lea Canal. You'll also visit the Middlesex Filter Beds�Nature Reserve at the northern end of Hackney Marshes. At the southern end there are woodland trails through the Wick Community Woodland. Along the way there's good views towards the West End, City and Canary Wharf. The walk starts from the car park off Homerton Road at South Marsh. From here you can pick up the waterside path along the River Lea to North Marsh and the Middlesex Filter Beds�Nature Reserve. Here the route turns left and picks up the towpath along the Lea Canal and the Hackney Cut. This leads to the Wick Woodland where you turn left and follow the woodland trails for about a quarter of a mile. Look out for woodland birds and a variety of interesting plants and trees in this area. After leaving the woods you pick up the River Lea again to take you back to the car park. The marshes are located next to the Olympic Park which has good cycling and walking trails in over 500 acres of parkland, waterways, playgrounds and cafes. It's a great place to extend your walk if you have time. Also nearby is Victoria Park with lakes and cycle and walking paths set in 200 acres of parkland. This route uses a section of the Lea Valley Walk. You could follow the river north west to and visit Walthamstow Marshes and the Walthamstow Reservoirs where there are some good waterside cycling and walking trails. The Capital Ring and Jubilee Greenway long distance trails also run through the area.
Ridge Walk Mam Tor to Lose Hill	5 miles (8 km)	Follow the Great Ridge from Mam Tor to Lose Hill on one of the most popular walks in the Peak District. Although the walk reaches a height of well over 1600ft, it is not as challenging as you might think because the start point for walk is already in an elevated position. It's a very beautiful area with the views over the Peak District stunning for the duration of the route. You can see the Hope Valley, the Edale Valley and several of the prominent fells. The area is also geologically fascintating with several 320 million year old Carboniferous�rocks. Start the walk from the National Trust Mam Nick car park. It's located just to the south west of Mam Tor on the Sparrowpit Buxton A623.A6 Road. From here it's a short but steep climb to the 517m (1,696�ft) summit of Mam Tor. The route then passes along the Great Ridge, descending to Hollins Cross before passing Back Tor and finishing on Lose Hill. It's about a 2.5 mile walk so 5 miles in total. This ridge walk is located very close to both Edale and Castleton so you could start your walk from either of these popular Peak District villages. To extend your walk you can visit the nearby Winnats Pass with its towering�limestone�pinnacles. You could also pick up the Pennine Way around Edale and climb towards Kinder Scout. If you head west from the car park you can climb across Rushup Edge and visit Lord's Seat�at 550�m (1,804�ft).
Saffron Walden	5 miles (8.5 km)	This circular walk tours the countryside around the Essex town of Saffron Walden. The trail starts in the centre of town and follows the Harcamlow Way to the splendid Audley End. After exploring the fine gardens you continue south along the Beechy Ride to Brakey Ley Wood before turning east to the Debden Road. Here you turn east and follow public footpaths and minor roads back into the town centre. You can extend the walk by continuing south from Brakey Ley Wood along the Harcamlow Way towards Newport. Around here you can pick up a nice trail along Debden Water to Debden Park. Also of interest is the long distance Saffron Trail which starts in Safron Walden. The Icknield Way Path runs just to the north of the town and can also be easily picked up to explore the area.
Waltham Abbey	6 miles (9 km)	Enjoy a circular walk around Waltham Abbey and Lee Valley Park on this lovely route. The walk passes the interesting historical sites of Waltham Abbey Church and the Royal Gunpowder Mills before a visit to the delightful River Lee Country Park. The walk starts at Waltham Abbey Church where you can explore the remains of the abbey. The present church dates mainly from the early 12th century and is an example of�Norman architecture. The walk heads north from the church along the pretty Cornmill Stream. The slow-moving stream and Old River Lea form a freshwater habitat with one of the most diverse�invertebrate�fauna in Essex. Eighteen species of�dragonflies�and�damselflies�have been recorded including the uncommon and nationally declining�white-legged damselfly. Look out for a variety of birdlife in this area too. Just to the west of the stream you will find the Royal Gunpowder Mills. Set in 175 acres (0.71�km2) of parkland the site consists of 21 buildings of major historical importance with interesting exhibitions and interactive displays. The walk continues north towards Holyfield, passing attractive woodland areas before entering the River Lee Country Park. The lovely 1000 acre park has a series of footpaths and cycle trails running between the numerous lakes and watercourses. It's great for wildlife watching with lots of different water loving birds to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for�Bittern, Smew, Water Rail and Shoveler on the lakes or in the reedbeds. The walk picks up a section of the Lea Valley Walk, heading south through the centre of the park along the River Lea. Around Holdbrook you turn east to return to Waltham Abbey. If you would like to extend your walk you could continue south along the Lea Valley Walk and visit the Walthamstow Reservoirs. The London Loop passes just to the south of Waltham Abbey. You could pick this up and head west to visit Whitewebbs Park which has some nice woodland trails to try. The Pilgrimage Way long distance cycling and walking trail also starts in the town.
Butser Hill	1 miles (1 km)	Climb to the highest point on the�South Downs on this walk near Petersfield. There's a good sized car park off Limekiln Lane just to the west of the hill. From here it is a short climb to the 271 metres (889�ft) high summit of the hill. At the top you can enjoy wonderful views over the South Downs to the Isle of Wight. The area is also a nature reserve with woodland, lowland, chalk grassland habitats. Look out for variety of butterflies including Duke of Burgundy, Chalkhill Blue and Silver-Spotted Skipper. Fans of the comedy Only Fools and Horses may remember a scene with Del Boy reluctantly taking off on a hang glider. This scene was filmed on the western slopes of Butser Hill. The South Downs Way National Trail passes the car park so it's easy to extend your walk. Following it south will take you into Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Here you will find miles of woodland trails and some super mountain bike trails. You can also pick up the Staunton Way and Hangers Way long distance trails in the park.
Glaramara	5 miles (8 km)	This walk climbs to Glaramara, a substantial fell in the Borrowdale area of the Lake District. Start the walk from the car park at Seatoller about 2.5 miles north of the fell. You then follow the Honister Pass east for a short distance before turning south along the path that will take you up to the fell. The path runs along Combe Gill to Thornthwaite Fell before passing Combe Head and arriving at the Glaramara summit. From here there are fantastic views of the Borrowdale Valley, Derwent Water and Skiddaw. To extend your walking in the area you could head to the nearby Seathwaite car park and enjoy a circular walk to Styhead Tarn and Sprinkling Tarn. This includes a visit to the lovely Taylor Gill Force Waterfall. The Allerdale Ramble also passes Seatoller so you could pick this up and explore the woodland and riverside paths along the River Derwent.
Seat Sandal	4 miles (6.5 km)	This circular walk climbs to Seat Sandal fell near Grasmere in the Lake District National Park. You can start the walk from the layby parking just off the A591 at Mill Bridge. Head north from layby, crossing Tongue Gill before picking up the footpaths heading north east. The first section follows Wainwright's Coast to Coast along Tongue Gill to the Farfield Iron Mine. The route continues al the C2C to Grisedale Hause where you turn south west towards the Seat Sandal summit. From the 736�m (2,415�ft) summit you can see the Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges, the Solway Firth, the Scottish mountains and Morecambe Bay to the south. After taking in the views you descend back to the start point on the western side of Great Tongue. You could also descend on a section of the C2C via Little Tongue Gill. To extend your walk you can continue along the C2C to Grisedale Tarn which is just to the north of Seat Sandal. The path will eventually lead you to St Sunday Crag where there's great views over Ullswater. The fell is also very close to the route for the Fairfield Horseshoe which is another popular climb in the area.
Grisedale Pike	7 miles (11.5 km)	Climb to this striking fell on this challenging walk near Keswick. The circular walk climbs to the summit of Grisedale Pike before visiting Hopegill Head and Sand Hill. It's a challenging walk but the path is mostly well defined. Start your walk from the car park on Whinlatter Pass just to the west of the village of Braithwaite. From here you can directly pick up the Grisedale Pike Path heading south west. The popular path climbs to the summit which stands at 791�m (2593�feet). From here there are wonderful views to the Cumbrian coast, the Vale of Keswick, the�Pennines and the head of Derwentwater. On a very clear day you can even see the Belfast Hills and the�Southern Uplands�of Scotland. The route then continues south west to Hopegill Head which stands at a height of 770�m (2,530�ft). The head includes the 130 metre (417ft) high cliff of Hobcarton Crag, which drops precipitously to Hobcarton Gill on the fell's north east side.�From the summit the The�Isle of Man�is seen on clear days, as are the�Scottish Border�hills. To the east you can clearly see the Helvellyn range. From Hopegill Head the walk descends to Sand Hill and Coledale Hause, before turning east towards the Force Crag Mines. The National Trust now own the area which was an important part of the Cumbrian mining industry. For over 200 years men worked the isolated spot digging for lead in the early years and then later barites and zinc. The final section follows the Coledale Beck back to Braithwaite. The village is located near to several other walking atttractions so there is great scope for extending your walk. Just to the north is the splendid Whinlatter Forest Park where there are miles of great walking paths and mountain bike trails. Just to the east you can pick up the Cumbria Way long distance trail and enjoy a walk along Derwent Water and a climb to Catbells.
Win Hill	7 miles (10.5 km)	This is a popular climb to Win Hill in the Derbyshire Peak District. The hill is in a delightful location above Ladybower Reservoir. From the 462�m (1,516�ft) summit there are excellent views of the reservoirs below, the River Derwent, the Hope Valley and the surrounding hills. This loop climbs to the hill summit before descending to Hope Brink and Aston. Start your walk from the Heatherdene car park at the southern end of Ladbybower Reservoir, just off the A6013. From here you can pick up a footpath heading south along the reservoir before crossing the dam and beginning the steep ascent to Win Hill. This takes you through woodland and along Park Clough to the summit. From here you can enjoy one of the best views in the Peak District with the Upper Derwent Valley, Stanage Edge, the Great Ridge, Mam Tor and Kinder Scout all visible on a clear day. After taking in the views the walk descends to Hope Brink. This area has some good bridleways which are popular with mountain bikers. From here you turn south towards the village of Aston where you follow country lanes back to the reservoir. The route finishes with a short section along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way which leads you back to the car park. The hill is located very close to the villages of Bamford and Thornhill. You could start your walk from either of these places if you prefer. There's lots of good options for extending your walk in this beautiful area. Just to the east you can climb to Bamford Edge where there are great views and lots of interesting�gritstone rock formations to look out for. Also nearby is the wonderful gritstone�escarpment of Stanage Edge. It's another geologically fascinating place with more wonderful views to enjoy. Part of this walk uses the Derwent Valley Heritage Way long distance trail. You could follow the trail south along the River Derwent to Hathersage. On the western side of the dam you can pick up the Thornhill Trail. The easy cycling and walking trail runs south along disused railway line from the dam to Bamford station.
Parndon Wood	1 miles (1.5 km)	This lovely nature reserve in Harlow has a 1.5km nature trail to try. It's located on the southern outskirts of the town and consists of ancient woodland, 3 bird watching hides, a large pond and a conservation centre.�It's great for wildlife with deer, squirrels, and various woodland birds to look out for. You can enjoy refreshments in the centre after your walk. Two long distance walking trails run past the reserve. You can pick up the Forest Way and the Stort Valley Way to further explore the area. For example you could follow the trail south west and visit Epping Forest and Waltham Abbey.
Hawkshead	4 miles (6.5 km)	Hawkshead is a lovely little Lakeland village situated at the northern end of Esthwaite Water. It's a great place to visit with pretty streets, lots of nice cafes and an interesting history. Must see attractions include William Wordsworth's Grammar School which was founded in 1585. For a small fee you can tour the school and see the original desks�with William Wordsworth's own carvings on them. The village is also home to the wonderful Beatrix Potter Gallery. The gallery is�run by the�National Trust�and situated in a 17th-century stone-built house. Here you can browse the original sketches and�watercolours�painted by Potter for her children's stories. The area is also great for walkers with lots of trails to try. This is a popular one which will take you to several of the highlights of the area. You'll climb to Latterbarrow Hill and along to Claife Heights before descending to the home of Beatrix Potter at Hill Top. There's much to enjoy on the walk with great views, woodland trails, pretty tarns and the bonus of finishing in Near Sawrey where you can visit Hill Top and enjoy refreshments at the pub. At the end of the walk you can return to Hawkshead on the bus. The walk starts in the centre of the village and follows footpaths past the police station to Crag Wood and onto Loanthwaite Lane. You then climb to Latterbarrow which reaches a height of 803 feet (245�m) with splendid views over Esthwaite Water and Lake Windermere. The route then descends to the woodland trails on Claife Heights before passing Wise Een Tarn and Moss Eccles tarn. Beatrix Potter owned Moss Eccles and donated it to the National Trust after her death. The tarn is stocked with�water lilies�and fish, and surrounded by�pretty rhododendrons. The final section then descends to the little village of Near Sawrey and Hill Top. The fascinating house is the 17th century former home of children's author and illustrator�Beatrix Potter. You can tour the house and gardens where expert guides will tell you all about the life and works of Beatrix Potter. After your walk you can enjoy refeshments at the pub in Near Sawrey before catching the bus back to Hawkshead.