Long Distance Footpaths

Walking in Avon The UK is blessed with hundreds of named long distance footpath routes that have been devised and written up by organisations or individuals. Although 'unofficial', many of these recreational paths are created and maintained by county or local councils and are well planned, maintained and waymarked. Others owe their existence to the dedicated work of local ramblers' groups or enterprising individuals and may not be waymarked; but this does not mean they lack merit. Some of these routes are of equal, if not superior quality, to the National Trails, but in our opinion their importance lies in their environmental diversity and their broad geographical distribution, allowing almost everyone the opportunity to sample a path in their locality.

Lake Scene in Cumbria The distances vary as much as the landscapes through which they pass, from under 20km to over 100km. The routes we have chosen all have their own distinctive character and are well worth exploring. Some, like the famous Coast to Coast Walk brilliantly conceived by A.W. Wainwright, are a 'must do' project for any walker. Others offer a pleasurable day or two's walking if you happen to be in their locality, but which you may not make a long journey to visit specifically.

You can find out more about any of these paths by clicking on the links

National Trails

Ridgeway These are the official trails which are routes designated, administered and maintained by Natural England and the Countryside Agency of Wales. Consequently they have excellent waymarking, using the well known acorn symbol, are generally free from any obstructions and are all well documented in a number of guide books. There are currently 15 designated trails in England and Wales, all of which are listed in the navigation bar. The routes have been chosen to give improved access to some of the finest countryside in England and Wales.

South West Coast Path All these trails offer superb walking holidays of varying duration with generally good accommodation facilities along the way. You do not, of course, have to walk the full length of a Trail at one time; day excursions and weekend breaks can be planned along any of them. If you are proposing to walk a complete National Trail good planning is important to ensure an enjoyable, trouble free trip. OS maps and a trail guide are essential. The official guides include OS 1:25,000 mapping which can save expenditure on maps. All of these are listed and can be purchased directly from our online bookshop.