Any walkers/hikers about?

[W0tnow]

I’m travelling to the UK in June and have the opportunity to spend up to a week on my own and I’d love to go somewhere where I can take long walks/hikes. Thinking south west of England. Possibly Wales. I imagine staying somewhere quiet and comfortable, where I can set out each day and just see where I end up. Don’t have a particular preference for coastal or inland, just somewhere peaceful. Where would you go?

The Cotswolds definitely. The most amazing walks, hills, villages, rivers, pubs, historic sites. Winchcombe is known as the hiking capital of the Cotswolds so would be a good place to be based or somewhere nearby. If you want any more recommendations let me know.

Winchcombe even has an annual walking festival www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com/walking-festival/

Abergavenny area, Brecon Beacons is nice. Also Malvern and Herefordshire. Less well known and much quieter in my experience than the Cotswolds. ( though they are lovely too - I know Winchcombe )

For a real 'wild' walking holiday and more of a challenge in terms of terrain you'll need to go further North. Depends what you prefer really !

I’d go for coteswolds

Devon, on the coast path. Somewhere like Dartmouth you can go in both directions, up the river to Totnes or drive inland to the moors. The scenery change from beautiful bleak moors to forest to Mediterranean coast to dramatic cliffs every few km.

The north west - and the Lake District is far far better for walking than the Cotswolds or even Devon/south west. If you like long walks where you can actually get somewhere up a mountain.

The Hope valley in the Peak District.
The Pembrokeshire coast path.

Wales if you want peaceful. You can walk for miles across the Brecon Beacons

I agree @BlueHeelers but horses for courses, I guess!

Pennine Way, starting in Edale, Derbyshire.
Derbyshire has a network of disused railway lines that have been converted into walking and cycle paths.
Northern Ireland’s coastline is amazing scenery, as is Scotland.

I'd base in Abergavenny area. Will you have a car?

Northumberland is beautiful and has amazing walks and castles and coastline, you can train up there. Or, if you have the car, venture off into Yorkshire or the Borders.

Lake District beats everywhere else for me hands down for walking in England, bit of everything - from serious hiking to a bit of a ramble. Ambleside or Keswick are both good bases. Good walking straight from the door - or you can get a taxi or bus and walk back..

Dorset has amazing walking too...

So many opportunities. If walking alone I'd suggest busier routes. Dorset or the lakes would get my vote

Agree with the Lake District recommendations, it's beautiful there and you can base yourself somewhere like Ambleside and not need a car as there are so many walks nearby.
Don't go to the Cotswolds - it's pleasant enough (I live nearby and walk there regularly) but it's scenery is nothing compared to the Lake District, Peak District, Snowdonia or the South West Coast.

Lake District or Snowdonia for proper walking and beautiful landscapes. But the Cotswolds is pretty for pottering about. Depends what you're into.

Previous suggestions are all good, I'll add Exmoor, nice mix of coast path (great cliffs in places), wooded valleys and moorland.

Jurassic coast (south Devon/Dorset) which is a part of SW coast path. Might even bump into you there.

Trail walking is a bit addictive in a nice way. I did half of SW coast path last year and will be continuing again this year.

If you are looking for more organised guided walks, have a look at HF. They have accommodation/houses/hotels in various parts of the country, provide packed lunches and transport to start/finish points. Very friendly atmosphere.

Snowdonia yes. But not Snowdon. There are plenty of mountains which are better and much quieter.

especially in June!

Snowdonia yes. But not Snowdon

Absolutely yes. We go to Snowdonia all the time but I haven't been up Snowdon in 20-odd years. No point, unless you like crowds.

If you are looking for more organised guided walks, have a look at HF. They have accommodation/houses/hotels in various parts of the country, provide packed lunches and transport to start/finish points. Very friendly atmosphere.

I've never tried them, but my parents met on a Holiday Fellowship holiday, Monk Coniston, back in the 1950s!

South West coast path. Pick a section and base yourself there. Check the SWCPA website for suggested itineraries

Welsh national coastal path. Longest coastal path in the world at 870 miles. Pick a spot by the coast and it's well sign posted, I've walked the first 40 miles, lots of people in some area, nobody around for hours in others. Can do continuous days walking and just find a BnB/hotel/hostel along the way! Can't wait to get back on it!

@ErrolTheDragon, wow, how amazing is that! And look, HF are still going strong 🙂

@gillyweed, I have my eye on the Welsh coast path after SW one. Are u hoping to walk it all?

@yogalite I'm hoping so, think it might take me the best part of 10 years but I'm going to try!