By Phillipa Cherryson | Published – 18 May 2026
Summer in the UK is a magical time, with the long days and warm weather inviting us to go outside and explore. And with such a varied landscape, just a few hours of travel can see us striding along a beach, hiking up a mountain or heading into a forest.
But how do you pick the best walk? It’s a question I’m regularly asked. As a volunteer with the UK’s national mapping agency Ordnance Survey, I’ve walked hundreds of routes across the country.
So, here’s my selection of the best beach, pub, mountain, woodland and circular walks across the UK – and the runners-up!
These include a Cornish coastal walk ending at a pub, a dramatic Lake District waterfalls route, an easy walk through the Cairngorms and a classic South Wales mountain ridge circuit.
Your favourite walk
We’d love to hear what your favourite walk is too, whether it’s a firm family favourite, a stunning day out or one with a special personal meaning for you.
Best beach walk
Rhossili Bay, Gower Peninsula, South Wales
This starts in the pretty village of Rhossili – next to a beach frequently named as one of the top ten in the world – and then takes you up along the ridge line of the downs, to enjoy stunning views over the bay and the Bristol Channel.
You’ll drop down for the return leg and walk back at beach level to the village – watch out for the wreck of the Helvetia, a Norwegian Barque that ran aground in 1887, which is visible at low tide.
At the start of the causeway to the tidal island of Worm’s Head, a board will tell you when it’s safe to cross. If it is, cross to the island (you may spot seals in the coves below you) before returning back to Rhossili to finish.
Distance: 7.68 miles/12.3km
What’s it like: Moderate, steep uphill initially and to finish, then undulating coastal walking. Can be muddy on the return in wet weather.
Runners-up
Portballintrae to Ballintoy, Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
Crasterto Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland
Holkham Beach, Norfolk
Old Harry Rocks circuit, Dorset
Dunnottar Castle walk, Aberdeenshire
Full route details and best beach walks
Best mountain walk
Cat Bells, Lake District
A tough category to choose, but this three hour walk up Cat Bells ticks all the boxes.
Adam Burton / AWL Images
It is short, steep and hugely rewarding with views over Derwentwater. This mini mountain is universally loved and makes a great introduction to hill walking, or a quick treat for the more experienced.
Follow the clear path from the car park at Hawse End steeply uphill. As you climb the views will become more spectacular. There’s a final short but straight forward rocky scramble to reach the summit and you’ll be treated to one of the best views in the Lake District.
Return by following a path heading south and then forking left onto the Cat Bells bridleway. Head back to Hawse End this way
Distance: 3.5miles/5.7km,
What’s it like: Challenging, mountain paths, with some sections that are steep and rocky.
Runners-up
Mam Tor and the Great Ridge,Peak District
Pen y Fan Horseshoe, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
Stac Pollaidh, Scottish Highlands
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Pyg Track
Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland
Full route details and best mountain walks
Best pub walk
Kinder Scout via Edale – The Old Nags Head
Call me old-fashioned, but this classic Peak District walk claims this crown.
Alan Copson / AWL Images
The Old Nags Head pub, dating back to 1577, marks the start (or end) of the iconic 268-mile Pennine Way, which follows the backbone of England from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders.
This is a challenging circular moorland walk, but it will just make that pint taste sweeter at the end.
You head past the pub at the start, so avert your eyes and follow the Pennine Way through fields and valley paths before heading up the former packhorse route of Jacob’s Ladder on to the open moorland.
Come off the Pennine Way here and follow the Kinder Plateau through gritstone rocks and tors until you drop down to the village of Grindstock and then return to Edale and your reward at the pub.
Distance: 7.5miles/12km
What’s it like: Challenging. Moorland paths, some steep sections.
Runners-up
Birling Gap, from the Tiger Inn, Sussex
Cookham Thames Path, with The Bounty, Berkshire
Knoydart Peninsula, The Old Forge, north-west Scotland
Glenariff Forest Park Waterfalls, with the Ponderosa Bar, Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Zennor Head walk with the Gurnard’s Head, Cornwall
Full route details and best pub walks
Best circular walk
Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle Circular
An absolute stunner and I was lucky enough to have wall-to-wall sunshine when I completed it.
© Emily M Wilson 2022
This has a bit of everything – a sweet village, sand dunes, crashing waves and a castle.
Make sure you check the tide times as you could find yourself stranded on Holy Island.
The walk starts in the village and takes you past the ruined priory and along the harbour-front to the castle. From there you join a footpath that follows the east coast of the island north.
Continue past quiet coves (perfect for lunch stops) until you reach a series of sand dunes and then the causeway road.
Cross this and join another footpath, this time along the west coast of the island and continue back to the village to finish.
Distance: 4.3miles/7km
What’s it like: Moderate, mostly level walking, clear coastal paths.
Runners-up
Burford circular, Cotswolds
Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, Yorkshire Dales
Loch Affric, Scottish Highlands
Cwm Idwal, Gwynedd
Hampstead circular walk, London
Full route details and best circular walks
Best woodland or forest walk
Sherwood Forest walk
It may not be the longest walk, but it feels fitting that our winner is Sherwood Forest, especially as this walk takes in the Major Oak.
© 2019 Lyn Randle
According to local legend, this 800-1,000-year-old tree was where Robin Hood and his Merry Men slept. It has a girth of 33ft and a canopy of 92ft.
This is a gentle, level trek for the whole family that begins at the visitors’ centre and follows a gravel track, before joining The Greenwood Trail. You next reach the Major Oak, which is now surrounded by fencing and support struts.
Then continue on a clear path through dense woodland to the other must-see, the Stag’s Head tree. From there it’s a very easy loop back to the visitor’s centre.
Distance: 2.5 miles/4km
What’s it like: Easy and level, along clear tracks, which are often fenced.
Runners-up
Grizedale Forest, Lake District
Fritham Loop, New Forest
Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Kielder Forest, Northumberland
Uath Lochans, near Aviemore
Full route details and best woodland walks
Love walking?
If you love walking why not try one of Saga’s walking holidays?
There’s a choice of destinations, from the mountains of Montenegro and Italy, levadas of Madeira, volcanic terrain of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote or the rugged coastline of Spain.
You can even walk the Santiago trail from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
(Hero image credit: AWL Images)
Written By: Phillipa Cherryson
Senior Digital Editor
Phillipa Cherryson is senior digital editor for Saga Magazine. Phillipa has been a journalist for 30 years, writing for national newspapers, magazines and reporting onscreen for ITV. In her spare time she loves the outdoors and is an Ordnance Survey Champion and trainee mountain leader.