Welcome to our complete guide to the UK and Ireland, a land of ancient paths, dramatic coastlines, and breathtaking scenery.
From the wild, mystical highlands of Scotland, the romantic scenery of the Lake District, Cumbria and the rugged mountains of Wales to the rolling green hills of Ireland, this is a region that begs to be explored on foot.
Here, we’ve gathered all of our first-person travel stories, detailed walking guides, and hidden gems into one place to serve as your ultimate starting point.
Whether you’re planning a challenging multi-day hike or looking for inspiration for your next weekend escape, our guides are here to help you discover the very best of these incredible islands.
The best time for walking is generally from late spring (May) to early autumn (September) when the weather is milder and the days are longer. However, winter walking can be incredibly rewarding, especially on crisp, clear days, but requires more preparation and gear.
While basic hiking gear is similar, the terrain and weather can vary significantly. For the mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales, waterproofs, layers, and sturdy boots are essential year-round. For coastal paths in places like Cornwall, lighter gear might be sufficient in summer, but good footwear is still crucial.
In England and Wales, the “Right to Roam” gives the public access to walk freely on certain areas of open country, like mountains, moors, and heaths. In Scotland, access rights are much broader, allowing walking on most unenclosed land, provided you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
If you ask any walker to sketch the skyline of the Shropshire Hills, they will likely draw the long, flat…
There is a specific kind of joy in unfolding a map of the British Isles and spotting a name that…
We all love a walk that gets the heart pumping, don’t we? Sometimes it’s the steep climb that does it,…
We live on an archipelago of confusing labels. Are we British? English? Citizens of the UK? And why does a…
There is a pervasive myth that Afternoon Tea is a dainty, frivolous affair—a tourist tick-box exercise involving cucumber sandwiches and…
To the modern eye, conditioned by the soft-focus lens of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Georgian Bath is a confection of honey-coloured stone,…
Walk down any high street in Britain, from the cobbles of York to the winding lanes of a Cornish fishing…
Ah, isn’t life marvellous? Aren’t we lucky, dear reader, to live in such a land? A country where there are…
When most people think of Leicestershire, they tend to think of it as being rather flat. Well, let me tell…
When we think of Lincoln, our eyes are naturally drawn upwards. We look to the soaring towers of the Cathedral…
Years ago, I used to go on holiday without making too many plans. would just fly off somewhere I’d never…
There is a unique, brooding atmosphere that clings to the moors above Haworth. It isn’t just the wind—which Emily Brontë…