Long Distance Footpaths
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.
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
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.
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.
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