The Best Summer Walks in the UK

We all take the UK for granted sometimes. When we spend too much time stuck inside, it can be easy to forget that you don’t have to go abroad to find fantastic views, stunning street art or areas of outstanding natural beauty. Well, here at Snaptrip, we see it as our mission to remind you just how much Old Blighty has to offer during its glorious Summer months. We’ve scoured our stunning shores to bring you the very best summer walks in the UK.

We’ve racked our brains to come up with walking routes that really come alive during the summer months; ones that are flooded with wildflowers, majestic wildlife, and sweet summer smells. Best of all, we’ve helped you pick the summer stroll that’s perfect for you, by telling you exactly what each unique walk offers, and how long it will take you to complete. So pack a picnic, slather on the sun cream, and get outside to make the most of summertime in the UK.

If anywhere catches your eye, why not make a trip of it, and start your next walking getaway by checking out our selection of incredible holiday cottages. If you’re in the mood for walking but have missed the Summer season there’s no need to worry, just check out our list of the UK’s best winter walks.

The Lizard coastal walk, Cornwall

Best for: Wild flowers and clifftop views

Distance: Seven miles

Time to complete: Three hours

Cornwall is known for its long-distance hiking, so it should come as no surprise that the stunning seaside spot comes top of our list. Sat across from the quaint market town of Marazion, this iconic walking route takes you on a tour of mainland Britain’s most southerly tip. A relatively challenging journey, you’ll encounter a fair share of sandy slopes and rugged clifftop paths.

Of course, good things come to those who try, and you’ll be rewarded for your effort with a breathtaking variety of rare wild flowers and dramatic clifftop views. If you keep your eyes peeled you might even spy a pod of dolphins out to sea. What’s more, the area is maintained by the national trust, meaning it’s guaranteed to be on top form whenever you visit.

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Discover why Cornwall is one the UK’s top holiday destinations.

Badgworthy Archaeology Walk, Exmoor National Park

Best for: Soaking up history

Distance: Six miles

Time to complete: Two hours

Settled in the centre of Exmoor National Park, this Summer walking route takes you on a tour of the area’s astonishing archaeological history. You’ll journey all the way from early prehistory, when Mesolithic hunters roamed the moors, to the mid-20th century, and the marks left by WWII. You’ll come across everything from sacred burial mounds and ancient stone circles to craters left by rocket fire, as you soak up almost nine millennia of human civilisation.

A relatively flat walk, mostly across grassy moors, it’s perfect for those looking for more of a laid back stroll. The warm summer months make this trek across the moorland both more relaxed, and more scenic, as a variety of wild greenery will be in bloom.

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Walla Crag by Ashness Bridge, The Lake District

Best for: Postcard worthy pictures

Distance: Seven miles

Time to complete: Four and a half hours

The Lake District is a stunning spot all year round, but there’s something extraordinary about it in the Summer. Light dancing across crystal clear water, the lush green of woodland in bloom; a stroll across one of its carefully crafted walking routes is a journey through summertime itself.

This particular fell is one of the world heritage site’s most popular walking routes, and we can certainly see why. Starting from the depths of a gorgeous river valley, you’ll journey upward, on a gentle incline, to Walla Crag and Wasdale Head, where you’ll be rewarded for your climb with a truly staggering panoramic view of the surrounding area. For those looking to snap some sensational pics, this route doesn’t disappoint. This route is also available as a guided walk, for those seeking some history with their scenery.

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Read more: the best towns in the Lake District.

Cemaes Head, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Best for: Spotting sea-birds

Distance: Five miles

Time to complete: Three hours

The only coastal national park in Britain, this seaside spot is littered with a spectacular array of castles, forts and old churches. Sat among the highest cliffs in the park, this route shows off the folding rocks and contorting cliff tops that reveal the structure and strata of the earth’s crust.

Best of all, however, is who you’ll be sharing this wonderful walk with. During the Summer months, this track comes alive with an incredible array of wildlife. Home to an assortment stunning seabirds, keep an eye out for fulmars, cormorants, and even chough, a rare breed of crow with vivid red beaks, renowned for their spectacular aerial acrobatics. If you keep an eye out, you may spot bottlenose dolphins out in the bay, or seals breeding in the bay. If you’re in the mood for more wonderful wildlife, one of Pembrokeshire’s national nature reserves is just a short boat ride away.

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Brighstone to Niton, the Isle of Wight

Best for: A simple seaside stroll

Distance: Eight miles

Time to complete: Four hours

A short sail away from Southampton, the Isle of Wight is brimming with walking possibilities. From the Hamstead Heritage Coast to the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there’s no shortage of beautiful countryside to ramble around. Best of all, however, is the Isle’s vast stretches of sublime shoreline.

This leisurely seaside stroll is ideal in the hotter parts of Summer when clear skies warm the sea air, and the crystal blue sea is perfect for paddling. While a relatively long route, it is far from challenging, as you’re treated mile after laid back mile of clean, unspoilt coastline. You’ll pass by formidable rock formations, fantastic cliff tops and more than a few picturesque picnic spots, so make sure you pack your camera and a hefty helping of nibbles.

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Read more: The best beaches in the UK

Harford Bridge, Naunton, Cotswolds

Best for: An evening wander

Distance: Three miles

Time to complete: One hour

The Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in both England and Wales. Needless to say, this means it’s chock full of astounding walking routes. While it’s hard to choose a walking tour in the Cotswolds that won’t be a winner, this short circular route has to be one of region’s best.

Over three, relatively flat miles, you’ll be taken through a range of stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife. You’ll journey through the deserted medieval village Lower Hartford, the area surrounding Nauton Village, and a small section of the Windrush Way, the wood-lined trail linking the Cotswolds to the Oxfordshire way. In the summer months, the greenery is buzzing with local critters, and a stunning selection of wild flowers are in bloom.

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Hartington Walking Route, Peak District National Park

Best for: A peaceful picnic

Distance: Seven and a half miles

Time to complete: Four hours

This relaxed walking route has all the highlights of a leisurely stroll through the UK countryside, as you’re taken through majestic meadows, ancient archaeological structure, quirky street art, and picturesque villages.

You’ll start by strolling through Derbyshire village, a quaint and charming slice of British country life. Home to a range of shops, pubs and one of the finest cheese shops in the county, it’s the perfect place to pick up picnic supplies before setting off toward the Upper Dove Valley. As you pass by the peaceful River Dove, you’ll spot one of the last remaining, and best preserved, examples of a motte and bailey castle, believed to have been built by the Normans in the 11th century.

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So there you have it. While Summer can take a while to come round in the UK, when it does, there’s no shortage of ways to make it truly spectacular, and certainly no shortage of stunning to places to stay while you do. We are home to some of the most jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, photo-worthy walking routes in the world, and now you know where to head to find the very best of them.

From riverside rambles to seaside strolls, wildlife wanders to hilltop hikes, we’ve got it all. So the next time you start collecting the pennies for a pricey sightseeing adventure abroad, why not revisit this list of absolutely unforgettable summer walks, and plan an incredible excursion without ever leaving the UK. If you’ve left it all to the last minute, but still want to whist yourself away on a short-notice staycation, then worry not. Just check out our incredible range of last minute cottages.