The Best Summer Hiking Trips in the UK
The Best Summer Hiking Trips in the UK
Summer Hiking Trips in the UK: With the summer sun beginning to shine and green leaves beginning to burst from their buds, our minds naturally turn to pursuits of the outdoor variety.
After months cooped up inside during the chilly winter days, there is nothing more welcomed than feeling the warm sun on your face while taking a long walk through the countryside.
The UK has some of the best country walks in the world, offering an unparalleled combination of natural beauty and ancient history wherever you choose to go.
Whether you are looking for a challenging multi-day hike, or a leisurely coastline stroll, there is a UK walking trail to suit you.
Elie Chain Hike – Fife, Scotland
Sure to be one of the most unique walking trails you’ll come across in the UK is the Elie Chain Walk, one of the few ‘via ferratas’ (roads of iron) to be found in the UK.
On this unusual trail you will grip onto the eight lengths of chain that are fixed to the rocky cliffs, and slither your way along while the icy waves of the Firth of Forth crash below you.
This is country walking at its most exciting!
Coast to Coast Walk
For those looking for a walk that challenges endurance rather than mettle, Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast path is the way to go.
This 192 mile path travels the width of England, from the Irish Sea on the coast of Cumbria, to North Sea on the North Yorkshire Coast, and passes through three of the UK’s beautiful National Parks.
This is not a walk for the faint of heart – it takes an average of 12 days to complete!
The Roaches – Peak District National Park
Don’t be put off by the name; this walk involves no more creepy crawlies than any other.
Roaches, or Roche meaning rock in French, form one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain and offer dazzling views across rocky summits and lush pastures.
Requiring a bit more climbing then the other walks the Roaches requires a certain level of fitness, but taking it slow and steady will get you to the top.
Those who toil will reap the rewards once at the top – a view which can stretch as far as Mount Snowdon in Wales.
The Causeway Coast Path – Northern Ireland
For sheer rugged beauty the Causeway Coast Path tops them all.
Stretching for 33 miles along the jagged Irish coastline this walk treats you to the geological marvels of the Giant’s Causeway, the ruins of Dunluce Castle perched high atop the cliffs, and the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
Add to that three designated areas of natural beauty and lush green fells everywhere you look, there is nothing to disappoint here.
Well, maybe nothing but the notoriously unpredictable weather!
Do you have a favourite hike you enjoy in summer?
Tell us about it in the comments section below.
