Best Walking Holidays in the UK and Europe: 2022
The UK and Europe offer some of the finest hiking routes in the world.
Fresh air, breathtaking mountains, valleys, lochs, lakes and beaches - they all are within your grasp.
So fish out your hiking boots, and take a look at our pick of top walking holiday routes in the UK and Europe with our bitesize walking holiday planner.
South West Coast Path, UK
Covering some 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole harbour in Dorset, the South West Coast Path offers a wonderfully diverse range of coastal views, from secluded, sandy coves to mist-shrouded cattle grazing lush pastures that edge precipitous cliffs.
While the route can get busy in summer, it's still easy enough to find your own empty cove - at least for a while.
If you have the time and inclination to cover the entire path, you'll get to experience some of England's prettiest seaside towns and beaches.
Highlights along the South West Coast Path include the charming fishing town of Ilfracombe in North Devon, the party town of Newquay in Cornwall, and the old-school Victorian charms of Paignton and Torquay.
But what really makes this route special are the rugged cliffs and tranquil beaches you'll encounter along the way.
Note that some stretches of the path can get rather steep.
How long does it take to complete the South West Coast path?
If you're light on your feet, you may be able to hike the path in a month.
If you prefer a more leisurely pace, it could take double this.
South Downs Way, Hampshire to East Sussex
If the South West Coast Path sounds a little too demanding, consider the 100-mile South Downs Way, which can be completed in around eight days.
It kicks off in Winchester - one of England's former capitals - and winds through quintessential English countryside until you reach the bracing sea air of Eastbourne - and those iconic White Cliffs.
Do take care once you reach the Channel, however, since long stretches of cliff are un-fenced - and landslides do occur.
Pencil in time for the Seven Sisters Country Park, and Devil's Dyke - a pretty V-shaped valley and site of Special Scientific Interest.
And of course there are plenty of charming pubs in which to rest your weary feet and sample tasty pub grub and local ales.
The South Downs Way is one of the gentler walking holidays in the UK, but is no less rewarding for being so. And for those researching walking holidays in the UK for beginners, this route should definitely be on your short-list.
West Highland Way, Scotland
Arguably the most dramatic hiking route in the UK, this 96-miler starts north of Glasgow at Milngavie, and concludes in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, passing Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor.
The entire West Highland Way route takes about a week, but many hikers undertake shorter sections - with the most breathtaking being the 22-mile stretch from Kingshouse to Fort William, where the grandeur of Ben Nevis looms into view for the last tough but rewarding slog.
If you’re looking for the best places for walking holidays in the UK, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Scafell Pike, Lake District
There are in fact several routes to the top of England's tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, promising breathtaking views.
The shortest way to reach the 977m summit of Safell Pike is by starting out from Wasdale in the Lake District's west.
However, if you don't fancy following a long line of hikers up the mountain, consider starting from the north side at Seathwaite or Borrowdale. Both are longer, more scenic routes - plus you won't be crowded out by other hikers.
This nine-mile route twists through the valley crossing several ravines before concluding at Scafell Pike's boulder-strewn summit.
Coast to Coast, Cumbria to North Yorkshire
Traversing England, this 192-mile route starts in St Bees Head on the Irish Sea and concludes in Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea (or vice-versa, of course).
But the original route was devised in 1973 by famous British fellwalker Alfred Wainwright, who left a tab at a bar in Whitby for those who completed his hike. Sadly, that tab was used up some time ago!
The route is notable among UK walking holiday makers for many reasons, not least because it covers three national parks.
Other highlights include 12th century Shap Abbey and delightful Grasmere in the Lake District.
Walking Holidays in Europe: Best routes
There's no denying the beauty of the British countryside, but if you want dramatic scenery on a larger scale, Europe has some thrilling options.
Tour du Mont Blanc
Laid out around Europe's highest peak, Tour du Mont Blanc covers 170km and is considered one of the best hiking spots on the planet.
You access these trails from either Switzerland or Italy (the latter being the cheaper of the two!).
Composing beautiful Alpine hamlets, flower-filled meadows and awe-inspiring valleys, the whole trail can be completed in around 12 days.
Cinque Terre, Italy
For a much shorter- but still rewarding - hike, consider Cinque Terre in Italy's north.
Featuring precipitous terraced cliffs, dramatic coastal vistas and picturesque villages, this hike takes around five hours to complete.
You can start the Cinque Terre from either Monterosso or from Riomaggiore, and you'll have spectacular views of the glittering Mediterranean throughout.
Despite being a shorter hike, some stretches are challenging - so make sure you're match fit and have a good pair of hiking boots!
Saalbach to Schmittenhöhe Hike, Austria
Regarded as one of the most breath-taking Eastern Alpine high-altitude hikes, the Saalbach to Schmittenhöhe route requires a good level of fitness and endurance.
Most hikers hop on the Schattberg X-Press gondola lift to the uppermost station, then alight and begin a magical adventure through lush meadows with mighty Alpine peaks all around.
You'll need to bring all the supplies needed for the day, since there are no huts on the route.
At the end of the hike, leave time to enjoy the world-famous views of Zell am See, before taking the lift back down the mountain.
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