Best walks in Britain

Follow a footpath past bone-filled caves, a romantic ruin and a winding river, down to a beach bathed in sunlight

Wrap up warm and head out across the sands of the Dee Estuary to visit a charming island on the England-Wales border

In its relatively modest 596m, the summit of Sugar Loaf in the Brecon Beacons National Park encompasses much that is magical about mountains, hills and woodland. Here, we reveal two excellent five-mile circular walks to the summit of this Welsh peak.

Explore the Highlands, Scottish Isles, Borders and more with our guide on the best walks in Scotland. Whether you're looking for long-distance Highland hikes, coastal treks or short river walks and loch-side strolls we have walking routes for all abilities.

Discover the beauty of the English countryside on foot, from the quiet country lanes and riversides of South England to the spectacular hills and dales of North England. Here is our guide to England's best walks and hikes.

This four-mile loop walk along the River Wye in the Peak District includes an exhilarating stretch along the Chee Dale's magical stepping stones.

Straddling the western border of the Peak District National Park is a patchwork of wild woods, flowering meadows, deep reservoirs and high crags – explore Tegg's Nose Country Park and Macclesfield Forest on foot with a 7.5-mile hike.

A 4.5-mile walk from Church Stretton train station to the summit of Shropshire's magnificent Caer Caradoc Hill.

Get your heart racing with a 4.5-mile circular walk, ascending from a valley of ancient architecture to the sweeping mountain views of Offa's Dyke Path in the Black Mountains.

Walk the woodland trails and loch-side paths of Scotland’s splendid Balmoral Estate, cherished by the royal family and hikers alike

An astounding variety of landscapes, from marshes and estuaries to chalk downs and limestone cliffs, make the Isle of Wight a walker’s paradise. Delight in the geology, wildlife, history and sheer magnetism of the island with our favourite county walks

Billowing woodland, a rocky chasm and rumbling rapids enliven Lancashire’s industrial heartland threaded by the unsung River Darwen.

Keep your eyes peeled for Shakespeare's Dark Lady and jocular Lord Flame in a secluded village in the Cheshire countryside

Seek out the shades of travellers long-past along old ways high above the Goyt Valley

Discover the delicate tones of the skylark, and many other Dartmoor delights, on this remote ramble through the national park's northern moors and tors.

Nordic walking – somewhere between hiking and running – is a great way to explore the British countryside. Try it for yourself with a ramble through one of the most captivating prehistoric landscapes in Wales: Pembrokeshire's Presell Hills

Often overshadowed by its towering neighbour, Pen y Fan, this verdant mountain in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales is one of Britain's most understated peaks

Walk from the hustle and bustle of Dartmouth through ancient oak woodland and along country lanes to the sail boats and colourful cottages of Dittisham, with lovely ferry rides on the way

This waterside walk along the Ingleborough Nature Trail follows Clapham Beck from the village of Clapham to Ingleborough Cave in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, reconnect with the slow rhythms of the land on this scenic hilltop ramble through the South Downs National Park

Enjoy a moderate circular walk around the village of Horsey in the Norfolk Broads National Park, discovering marshland, wild coast and grey seals

Enjoy this nine-mile mountain walk through open hills and slate quarries in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

This circular walk heads through farmland and woods before emerging on to the towering granite cliffs of Cornwall's north-west coast – a dramatic section of the South West Coast Path, home to seabirds, wildflowers and Atlantic waves.