TOP 10 BEAUTIFUL WALKING TRAILS

Planning a major hike this year? We reveal the UK's most beautiful long-distance paths to explore in 2025

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Coast to Coast, Northern England

Alfred Wainwright's breathtaking Coast to Coast trail passes through three of England's greatest national parks. But more than that, it's a chance to slow down, live the simple life and absorb the stories of the land. "Surely there cannot be a finer itinerary for a long-distance walk!" wrote the guidebook author and fellwalker when he devised the Coast to Coast in the 1970s. It's hard to disagree. For 192 miles, this route meanders across northern England's spectacular parks: the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

Most people tackle the route from west to east so they have the prevailing weather at their backs. This means starting the journey at St Bees Head in Cumbria and concluding at the fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire. Whichever way you choose, you're in for a treat. This is some of the finest and most varied scenery in the UK-from Lakeland's gnarly mountains to the heather-clad moors of North Yorkshire.

En route, you'll encounter the medieval ruins of Shap Abbey and Richmond Castle, and walk through landscapes dotted with the remains of our industrial heritage. The towns and villages used as overnight stops form an integral part of the experience, as does the camaraderie that builds as walkers' paths cross time and time again.

The best time to do the trail is between April and October. If walking it in one go, spreading it over 13 days will see daily distances range from about eight to 23 miles. Even if you choose the low-level options, you'll clock up 8,500 metres of ascent (44.3m per mile), just 348 metres short of climbing Everest. Vivienne Crow

2. Glyndwr's Way, Powys