The Best Hikes in England

Length: 8 miles / 13km Time: 3–4 hours Difficulty: Moderate. This stretch of the Ridgeway follows Britain's oldest road along the Chiltern escarpment, from Tring station to Ivinghoe Beacon. The path climbs through beechwoods and open chalk grassland, past Ivinghoe's Bronze Age hillfort, with the Vale of Aylesbury unfolding below. Red kites circle overhead - a conservation success story now taken for granted by locals. Spring brings bluebells; fields turn gold with rapeseed in early summer. The final ascent to the Beacon is short but sharp, and the view from the top, on a clear day, reaches as far as the Cotswolds.

Length: 7 miles / 11km Time: 4–5 hours Difficulty: Strenuous. Exmoor meets the sea on this stretch of the South West Coast Path, and the landscape is every bit as dramatic as you’d expect. Starting at Heddon’s Mouth, the path climbs through oak woodland before opening out onto exposed cliffs, with views across the Bristol Channel to Wales on a clear day. The quiet Heddon Valley leads to a shingle beach, before the route continues towards Lynton and the Valley of Rocks - a wild, rugged landscape of rocky outcrops and roaming goats that’s fascinated visitors for centuries.

Length: 3.5 miles / 5.6km (circular) Time: 2 hours Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Mam Tor, known as the Shivering Mountain, gets its nickname from the unstable shale layers that cause parts of the hill to slowly slip. The most famous example is the old A625 road, abandoned in the 1970s and now a walkable stretch of cracked and twisted tarmac. Standing at 517 metres, the summit sits between the Hope and Edale valleys, with views towards Kinder Scout on a clear day. A circular route taking in Hollins Cross and Back Tor follows the ridge, passing the remains of an Iron Age hillfort along the way. It’s one of the Peak District’s most popular walks, and for good reason, with the best views seen almost immediately.

Length: 8.5 miles / 13.7km (circular) Time: 4 hours Difficulty: Moderate. Malham Cove is an 80-metre-high limestone amphitheatre, shaped by a waterfall that stopped flowing after the last Ice Age. Today, the water runs underground instead, emerging at the foot of the cliffs. The circular route climbs the steps beside the Cove, crosses the ancient limestone pavement at the top (recognisable to Harry Potter fans as the Forest of Dean campsite), then continues to Malham Tarn, one of England’s few natural upland lakes. The return route takes in Gordale Scar, a dramatic collapsed cave system with its own waterfall, which is arguably even more impressive than the Cove, and usually much quieter.

Length: 8 miles / 13km (circular) Time: 6 hours Difficulty: Strenuous – some scrambling, unsuitable in poor visibility or high wind. Striding Edge is England’s most famous ridge walk, and it’s earned its reputation. Starting from Glenridding, the route follows a narrow, exposed ridge with steep drops on either side before a final scramble to Helvellyn’s 950-metre summit. The descent via Swirral Edge is shorter but no less dramatic, bringing you back down towards Red Tarn. It’s not a walk to underestimate, especially in poor weather, but on a clear day it’s about as close to mountaineering as England gets. The views across the Lake District, particularly over Ullswater, make every step worth it.

Length: 6 miles / 9.7km (one way, Seaford to Eastbourne) Time: 3 hours Difficulty: Moderate. Repeated short, steep climbs. The Seven Sisters are a stretch of chalk cliffs between Seaford and Eastbourne, less photographed than Beachy Head but just as striking, and usually far quieter. The path rises and falls constantly, with each “sister” bringing its own climb and descent, making the route feel longer than the distance suggests. Below, the Cuckmere River winds through the valley before meeting the sea, while clear days can bring views all the way across the Channel. Finish in Eastbourne, or stop at Birling Gap for tea and a shorter route back. Photo by Tanya Arya.

Length: 6 miles / 9.7km (circular, via Wasdale) Time: 5–6 hours Difficulty: Strenuous. England’s highest peak, at 978 metres, doesn’t look especially dramatic from a distance, but the challenge reveals itself underfoot. Loose scree and boulder fields make the final climb feel much tougher than the distance suggests. The route from Wasdale Head, via Lingmell Col, is the shortest and steepest of the main paths to the summit. Wasdale itself is worth the journey: home to England’s deepest lake, its most remote pub, and a historic churchyard. From the summit cairn, a clear day can reveal views of the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales all at once, although clear days here are a rare treat.