There’s no better time than summer to whack on some walking boots and explore Britain’s stunning natural landscapes. But where to start? If you’re in need of some hiking inspo, the UK’s national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, has just revealed the country’s popular walks, based on data from its app between April 2022 and April 2023. Whether you’re a serious hiker or just enjoy a gentle plod, these routes can all be adapted to suit your walking wants and needs.
At the top of the list was the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a 24-mile-long trek with a difficulty rating of ‘severe’. The route takes in aqueducts and lakes, and takes you up to the summits of Ingleborough, Pen-y-ghent and Whernside. You can always choose a shorter section to walk. but if you want to tackle the entire stretch, OS says it will take just over 12 hours.
Next up was Bottom Wood route in the Chilterns – a much easier five-mile stroll. With wide country paths and canopies of ancient trees, OS spokesperson David Jones said this route is ‘great for families wanting to play hide and seek’ and very easy to follow without the help of a map.
A walk in the Lake District followed in third place. The circular route from Grasmere to Langdale Pikes and back is categorised as moderate for difficulty and will take hikers around six hours to complete. With spectacular views the whole way, there is a generous amount of flat at the start of the route but the ascent up to the summit of Pavey Ark offers a decent challenge.
OS found Clocaenog Forest in Ruthin, north Wales, to be the UK’s fourth most popular walking route. Jones described this 7.5-mile path as one that ‘offers a real sense of remoteness with its steady ascents beside towering coniferous trees’. The walk begins and ends at Bod Petryal picnic site where you can refuel by the lake and keep an eye out for the elusive red squirrels that live in the woodlands.
Rounding off the top five was Wanderlust Way, a path near Grimsby that shows off the unspoilt sights of Lincolnshire Wolds, winding through woodlands, arable fields and pretty rural villages. This 20.5-mile route is predicted to take most people up to nine hours if they choose to follow it the whole way.
Feeling inspired yet? Here’s the full list of Britain’s top ten most popular walks, according to OS data:
- The Yorkshire Three Peaks, North Yorkshire
- Bottom Wood route, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire
- Grasmere to the Langdale Pikes, Lake District
- Clocaenog Forest, Ruthin, north Wales
- Wanderlust Way, near Grimsby, Lincolnshire
- The Great Ridge, Castleton, Derbyshire
- Surrey Three Peaks
- Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire
- Carpenter’s Arms Walk, Tonbridge, Kent
- Redbrook, Monmouthshire/Gloucestershire
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