Walking in England
Free walking routes across 46 English counties — from the Cornish coast and Dartmoor to the Peak District, the Lake District and the Northumberland border.
England has more varied walking than almost anywhere of its size, and every county below has its own routes, from short town and village strolls to full-day hill and coast walks.
Coast. The South West Coast Path runs past the cliffs and coves of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, while the Norfolk, Northumberland and Sussex coasts offer long, open shorelines and clifftop paths.
Hills and moors. The Peak District in Derbyshire, the Lake District in Cumbria, Dartmoor in Devon and the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors in North Yorkshire are the best-known upland areas, with routes for every ability.
Countryside. The Cotswolds, the Chilterns and the North and South Downs offer gentler walking, with footpaths linking villages, woods and historic sites in counties such as Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Kent and West Sussex.
Pick a county to see its starting towns and routes. Take suitable footwear, a map or GPS app and waterproofs, and check the weather before heading onto higher ground.
Where to Walk in England
Lake District
The Lake District in Cumbria is the largest national park in England and holds Scafell Pike, at 978 metres the highest mountain in England. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. Keswick, Ambleside and Grasmere are popular bases for fell and lakeside walks.
Peak District
Britain’s first national park, designated on 17 April 1951, covers much of Derbyshire. Edale is the start of the Pennine Way, while Castleton and Bakewell are good bases for walks across the Dark and White Peak.
The South West
The South West Coast Path runs 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to South Haven Point in Dorset, following the coast of Cornwall and much of Devon and Dorset. Penzance and Swanage are good coastal bases, and Dartmoor rises above Okehampton.
Yorkshire and the Pennines
North Yorkshire is home to the North York Moors and much of the Yorkshire Dales, and the Cleveland Way runs for about 110 miles from Helmsley to Filey. In West Yorkshire, Hebden Bridge and Ilkley are good bases for moorland walks.
South Downs
The South Downs Way runs about 100 miles along the chalk ridge from Winchester to Eastbourne, through Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex. Arundel and the Seven Sisters cliffs near Eastbourne are favourite starting points.
Cotswolds and the North
The Cotswold Way runs 102 miles between Bath and Chipping Campden, much of it in Gloucestershire, passing Winchcombe on the way. In the far north, Hadrian’s Wall Path crosses the country for 84 miles from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.
Popular Starting Towns
Walks by County
South East
East of England
East Midlands
West Midlands
North East
Walking in England: FAQs
What is the highest mountain in England?
Which was the first national park in England?
What are the best-known long-distance walks in England?
Which towns make good bases for walking in England?
Are the walks on Walking Rambler free?
Walking Elsewhere in the UK