Long Distance walk for newly retired solo travealler

[BigDahliaFan]

It looks like I'm going to retire before my husband and I would like to do a long distance walk. I might have company for a the odd weekend if it was in UK/Europe but mostly me on my own.

I wouldn't have the confidence to wild camp I don't think....But am thinking of camping and hostels/hotels.

So far thought of

Cornish Coast Path (busy?)
West Highland Way (midges - ugh)
Camino de Santiago
Japan Shikoku Temples

Any experiences or thoughts?

No experience of those paths, but my main tip is to do a practice weekend to fine tune your packing, and invest in the very lightest weight kit you can afford. Every 10g matters, esp for a hilly one like WHW. Also, try wild camping at least once before ruling it out. Best experience ever.

How long are you looking for? I was going to suggest starting small to see if you like it, with the Cotswolds Way or the Ridgeway?

No idea on thouse, but I know a few people who have done the E5 Alpine crossing.

The trail itself is pretty tough in places, especially when crossing snow / ice fields (depends on timenof year).
But having said that, as it’s in the middle of Europe, the infrastructure around the trail is good and you can book a variety of accommodations.

Doing a trial trip is a good shout - so something like the Cotswold way. Take the point on wild camping!

The Alpine crossing sounds a bit hardcore....

There is an easier route... Tegernsee to Sterzig, but it's only about 5-6 days...

All these are good options. The Pennine way would also be good, and the Coast to Coast. Also Hadrian’s Wall route.

In Europe, look at the Via Francigena - basically the Italian version of the Camino but much less crowded.

Starting small is a good suggestion. In addition to previous suggestions, the South Downs Way would be a good trial route.

And yes, light weight. Get your total pack below 10kg, preferably less.

Lots of the British routes have companies that will carry your luggage.
I can't do long distance walking any more but if I did a cycling route I would either get DH to carry the bags or use a company! I'm possibly thinking of Way of the Roses.

Have a look at some of the French GR routes that crisscross the country. Many are well serviced with gites / mountain refuges or pass near villages so you have access to decent accommodation. The GR5 from Genenva to Nice is superb (3-4 weeks), the GR20 across Corsica (15 days or so), the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt and the Tour du Mont Blanc are tough but amazing.

We walked Hadrian's Wall last year - approx 90 miles end to end.
We had a cottage roughly in the middle and took the 'Hadrians Bus' to different areas on the route and then walked back to another bus stop.
Took us around 6 days all together.

There are lots of places to stay along the route, and also companies that can transport your luggage every day to the next place to stay.

The Cornish (part of the South West) coast path is amazing- I live here, so I'm walking it in bits.
Pros: stunningly beautiful. You'll rarely be far from a decent campsite (and wild camping is quietly tolerated). It's rarely crowded TBH, apart from short sections that lead to a popular beach or something. I've done many stretches where I haven't seen anyone else for hours.

Cons: it has its ups and downs. Lots and lots and LOTS of them!! I think the quote is that if you've walked the entire SWCP you've ascended the equivalent of Everest 3x.
British weather.

Read The Salt Path- it's great!

I fancy the Via Francigena when the DC have grown up.

Isn't the GR20 supposed to be ridiculously hard and scary?! I would love to walk the E6 the length of Crete, but people compare it to the GR20, which gives me serious pause for thought 😬.

There was a great thread on here recently with a woman who had just done a solo walk on the Camino I think... I'll try and find it. Very inspiring!

Here it is: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5032932-2-weeks-to-go-to-my-big-solo-adventure-and-starting-to-lose-my-nerve?reply=135378066

I would love to do this (in 15 years time!... Having done walks in the past I think the luggage service is great. I think in France you can get it almost definitely.

@jamaisjedors thank you!

visitsweden.com/where-to-go/northern-sweden/swedish-lapland/kings-trail-kungsleden/ Sweden?

The great glen way is a good one to start with. Not too challenging and accommodation is plentiful.

It's good to do a shorter walk like the GGW to start with as a shakedown. Camping adds a lot of weight and bulk to your pack.

I like the look of that - especially the cabins. I'd have to check out mosquitos or midge factor.....

My husband happily walks - but wouldn't want to get up every day and walk and camp or overnight.....very low boredom threshold. Whereas I get lost in the walking itself and the rhythm of it.

You need to be fit for sure and comfortable with walking for several hours a day. The first section is tough as it rises from sea level into the mountains but you are rewarded with stunning views and amazing terrain. The path is well marked and has a few steep sections but it is all good. The refuges on the route are basic but comfortable and you can enjoy a glass of wine and a good feed at the end of the day.

Highly recommend the West Highland Way. Its a beautiful trail where the scenery changes dramatically as you move from the edge of Loch Lomond up into the Highlands. There are great accommodation options for all budgets and the camaraderie with other walkers is great. I've just completed it and it was a very special experience. Happy to give you any pointers or tips if you go for it. What time of year are you looking to do it? The start of May is the perfect time for the WHW as there are no midges and its not too hot or cold. Because the trail covers quite remote areas accommodation does get booked up so you need to pre plan and book in advance.

What about something like the Scottish Borders Abbey way? 5 small towns with Abbeys and hotels. Around 15 miles between each of easy walking.

It's not a single marked path - more a stitching together of lots of existing ones - but I have just read a book called 'Between the chalk and the sea' by Gail Simmons in which she walks an old pilgrim route between Southampton and Canterbury. There's no map as such but it was detailed in a medieval document called the Gough map. By reading the book you will be able to work out the route and where to stay. It covers lots of different terrain - South and North Downs, Chichester Harbour area, Romney Marsh, Pett Levels etc. She did it over several years interrupted by covid. I know some of the areas she passed through quite well and it's remarkably rural given it runs through the most crowded part of England.

The Camino is the obvious choice because there's so much accommodation and there's luggage services if you want to pay for it. Spring or autumn is perfect weather

How about the Lycian way in Turkey?
Good weather and superb views.

There is something very special about the Camino ! It's a real adventure and you can do it all your own pace, something between work and retirement to ponder upon your next adventure as you stroll along

Lots of new friends from around the world and a profound sense of achievement