Guide to Holidays near Britain’s National Trails

Planning to take a walking holiday near to one of Britain’s National Trails?  Read our guide on holidaying close to one of the UK’s National Trails, ideal for keen walkers and hikers.

With national trails dotted across England and Wales, if you like long distance walks you have a great choice of footpaths to guide you across some absolutely stunning landscapes.  Many of the national trails traverse the countryside of Britain’s National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so you really get discover some of the best of Britain when you decide to walk along one of the UK’s National Trails.
 

National Trails in England include:

 

The Cotswold Way for Quintessentially English Countryside all the Way to the Spa City of Bath 

Criss crossing across the countryside of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and extending from the charming market town of Chipping Campden all the way to the spa city of Bath, this trail covers just over 100 miles and guides visitors to some of the best scenery to be found in the Cotswold Hills.  Tramp through pastures, woodlands, up hills and enjoy coming across charming Cotswold villages such as Broadway and idyllic Painswick with houses constructed from beautiful honey-coloured stone, ideal for relaxing breaks in country pubs.

Holiday homes along the Cotswold Way

 

Cleveland Way for the Gorgeous Landscapes of the North York Moors & Stunning Yorkshire Coast 

Explore dramatic heather-clad moorlands on foot along this awe inspiring trail.  Running just over 100 miles from the charming market town of Helmsley in the Yorkshire countryside, all the way to Filey Brigg near the seaside resort of Filey.

Traverse the stunning heather moors of the North York Moors National Park, hike up the Cleveland Hills and discover the pretty fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay with its smuggler legends, visit the beautiful coastal town of Whitby with its Dracula legends, and finish up in the charming seaside resort of Filey with its wonderful beach.

At around 109 miles long, if you plan to explore all of the Cleveland Way national trail on holiday, booking two or three holiday homes as stop of points for 2 or 3 nights, along the route can make perfect sense.

Holiday Homes for the Cleveland Way
 

Hadrian’s Wall Path for Roman Paths and Stunning Countryside Views 

Guiding walkers to some of the best scenery across Hadrian’s Wall Country, the Hadrian’s Wall Path is one of the very best ways to see some of the finest of Northumbria’s landscape.

Just over 80 miles in length, this pathway stretches from the coast near Wallsend, all the way through Hadrian’s Wall Country (just south of  Northumberland’s National Park) right across to Bowness on Solway on Cumbria’s west coast.

This is a great trail for those with a fascination and love for history as the trail passes close by many historical attractions such as Roman forts and important Roman archaeological sites enroute.

Rent a holiday cottage for the Hadrian's Wall path

 

North Downs Way for High Chalk Ridges, the Surrey Hills and the White Cliffs of Dover 

Enjoy exploring the North Downs Way, traversing along ancient ways through the lush greenery of the Surrey Hills all the way through Kent and the white cliffs of Dover.  Covering over 150 miles, explore just one section of the walk or book places to stay interspersed along the way and explore it all.

Highlights along the way including passing by Neolithic sites, forts, the fascinating historic city of Canterbury, and ancient bluebell woods.

Search Cottages for the North Downs Way

 

Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path for Following Roman Trails through Norfolk 

Popular for holidays, the Norfolk coast is renowned for its beauty and appeal.  If you love exploring the great outdoors one of the best ways to see some of the best of this area and the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is to walk along the Norfolk Coast footpath.  Covering just over 80 miles, this long distance trail stretches from Hunstanton in West Norfolk all the way to Hopton on Sea along the east coast.  The route has now been joined up with the Suffolk Peddars Way too.

Walk along this scenic route and discover sandy beaches, woodlands, tidal marshes and quaint coastal villages plus bustling seaside towns such as Wells next the Sea, Sheringham and Cromer.

Book a holiday cottage or two along the way to rest your head and call your home from home whilst on your walking break.

Holiday rentals near the Norfolk Coast and Peddars Way

The Ridgeway, Hike along one of the UK’s oldest paths on holiday, through the Chilterns & North Wessex Downs 

Starting near Avebury, close to the mystical wonder of Stonehenge, this walking trail covers almost 90 miles and cross crosses across the landscape of the North Wessex Downs, through delightful villages like riverside Goring on Thames, up in to the Chiltern Hills all the way up to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire.  The views from Ivinghoe Beacon are simply spectacular.

From forests, hills, valleys to riverside walks, the Ridgeway takes in some of England’s finest scenery.

Holiday homes near the Ridgeway Trail

South Downs Way, ramble along the rolling hills of Sussex & Hampshire and marvel at the high chalk cliffs in the Seven Sisters Country Park 

This long distance footpath guides walkers to over 100 miles of stunning scenery from the coast near Eastbourne through the chalk ridges of the South Downs National Park.  Starting in the coastal resort of Eastbourne, this walk passes along the coast, past highlights like the chalk cliffs at Seven Sisters, in to the Seven Sisters Country Park, past the Jack & Jill Windmills, past the beauty spot of Devil’s Dyke and finishes in the splendid historic town of Winchester.

Depending on how much of the walk you intend to do, you may need to book more than one holiday cottage base.
 

•    South West Coastal Path

 

Thames Path National Trail, this path follows the River Thames from its source in the Cotswolds all the way to London 

 

Following the river Thames from the charming English Cotswolds as it cuts across England, the Thames Path National Trail is a wonderful pathway that takes in some stunning river scenery enroute.  Discover picturesque villages like Goring on Thames and stop off at the local pub, visit the stunning historical city of Oxford with its museums, shops and eateries, and pass through elegant highly rated riverside towns like Windsor, Henley on Thames, and Marlow.

Finish the walk near London, through Richmond on Thames, and Greenwich with its fascinating maritime history.
 
Covering around 185 miles, the Thames Path is a long distance walking trail and if you intend to walk it all, booking two or three holiday cottages for a few nights each, as stop off points along the way, can make perfect sense.

Holiday Homes for the Thames Path Trail

Yorkshire Wolds Way, Leads Walkers up from Kingston upon Hull, through the Chalk Landscapes of the Yorkshire Wolds to the Beautiful Seaside Town of Filey 

Covering 80 miles of trail, the Yorkshire Wolds way guides walkers up from Hull and the Cleveland coast, through the stunning Yorkshire countryside and chalky hills of the Yorkshire Wolds, all the way to the cheerful seaside town of Filey with its long stretch of sandy beach.
 
If you love coastal walks, keen walkers can continue walking along the Cleveland Way and head to nearby.

Yorkshire Wolds Way Holiday Cottages

 

National Trails in Wales
•    Glyndwr Way
•    Offa’s Dyke Path
•    Pembrokeshire Coast Path