Ramblers volunteers have a long tradition of developing excellent long-distance walking trails, combining their knowledge of local landscapes and history with their passion for walking and practical maintenance skills. Here are ten great examples, all offering an immensely enjoyable way to explore Britain’s countryside, coastlines and cityscapes.

 

1. John o’Groats Trail, Highland  

The John o’Groats Trail is an ambitious long-term project to create and maintain the first off-road route linking Inverness and John o’Groats. Ramblers volunteers have supported the Association of Northern Trails Scotland with its development, maintenance and waymarking. This largely coastal trail takes walkers along some of Britain’s most spectacular sea-cliff scenery, with sea stacks (including those at Duncansby Head, pictured), arches and caves, as well as medieval castle ruins, expansive sandy beaches and sprawling dunes, plus the chance to spot seals, ospreys and other wildlife.  

Walk it: The 236km/147-mile route takes about a fortnight to complete, with accommodation in attractive towns and villages along the way. Some parts can get overgrown in summer, and there are challenging sections, particularly in the northern half, where remote and rough terrain, steep slopes, unprotected cliff edges and burn crossings make it best suited to experienced walkers.  

Find out more: jogt.org.uk; cicerone.co.uk

 

2. Wold Rangers Way, East Riding of Yorkshire

  

The Wold Rangers were nomadic workers who roamed the Yorkshire Wolds from the 18th to 20th centuries, seeking shelter and food in exchange for agricultural work. A tradition arose among farmers never to refuse help to those who asked for it. East Yorkshire Ramblers worked with East Riding of Yorkshire Council to plan walks around the town of Driffield that capture these colourful characters’ history.  

Walk it: Launched in 2021, the Wold Rangers Way is a challenging circular trail of 71km/44 miles. Five easier trails are named after ‘trods’ (paths) followed by individual rangers. The Tatton Sykes Monument (pictured) dominates the landscape above Driffield.  

Find out more: woldrangersway.org  

 

3. Lady Anne’s Way, North Yorkshire/Cumbria  

 

Ramblers member Sheila Gordon was inspired by 17th-century landowner Lady Anne Clifford to devise the 160km/100-mile Lady Anne’s Way between Skipton and Brougham castles. After a 40-year fight for the right to inherit her father’s vast estates, Lady Anne devoted the remainder of her long life to carefully restoring the castles, churches and monuments on her land. Sheila’s trail traces the route Lady Anne travelled repeatedly between these historic buildings.  

Walk it: This picturesque route goes through the Yorkshire Dales and into the Upper Eden Valley, offering the chance of spotting red kites, peregrine falcons and kingfishers. Devised as a six-day walk, there’s now also a more leisurely nine-day option.  

Find out more: ladyannesway.co.uk   

 

4. The Salford Trail, Greater Manchester

  

From Salford Quays, the 80km/50-mile Salford Trail passes through historic heritage areas, along rivers and canals, through country parks, fields and woods, and along disused railway lines known as ‘loop lines’, all within the City of Salford. It was the brainchild of Ramblers volunteer Roy Bullock who, with fellow volunteer Al Tomlinson, devised the route and created a website, supported by other members of Manchester and Salford Ramblers. 

Walk it: The trail is divided into ten sections, each accessible by public transport. It handsomely achieves Roy’s aim of showing Salford ‘as a city having so much green space and such a rich history’.  

Find out more: manchesterandsalfordramblers

 

5. Herefordshire Trail, Herefordshire  

A scenic 248km/154-mile tour of the county, from the Black Mountains in the west to the Malvern Hills in the east, featuring rolling meadows, ancient orchards and hop yards, steep climbs and wooded river valleys. Historic landmarks include ancient hillforts and castle ruins, while the five market towns of Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye, Kington, Leominster and Bromyard provide pubs, restaurants and accommodation.  

Walk it: The 15-section trail with apple waymarkers was relaunched in 2022 by Hereford Ramblers volunteers. Walking the full circuit takes a fortnight.  

Find out more: herefordshiretrail.com; visitherefordshire. co.uk/see-do/routes-road-trips/herefordshire-trail  

 

6. Teifi Valley Trail, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire

  

This new long-distance trail follows the Teifi River from its source at Teifi Pools in the Cambrian Mountains to the dune-backed beach of Poppit Sands at Cardigan Bay. The tranquil route offers panoramic views and wildlife galore as it traverses nature reserves, woodlands, marshes and estuary. Discover the former abbeys of Strata Florida and St Dogmaels, the castle ruins at Cilgerran and Newcastle Emlyn, and find refreshments and hospitality at the many welcoming towns and villages along the way.  

Walk it: Lampeter & Teifi Valley Ramblers and five Walkers are Welcome groups (Tregaron, Lampeter, Llandysul & Pont-Tyweli, St Dogmaels and Cilgerran) have defined the 121km/75-mile trail, designed to be walked in eight days. There’s a plan to connect it with the Welsh Coast Path and other routes to make a 274km/170-mile ‘Celtic Circle’.  

Find out more: teifivalleytrail.wales   

 

7. Green Link Walk, London

  

Launched in March 2024, London’s newest walking trail stretches 24km/15 miles from Epping Forest to Peckham. It links almost 40 of the capital’s green spaces and several waterways, winding through Walthamstow Wetlands and the parks of east London, over Regent’s Canal, past St Paul’s (pictured) and across the Thames to Tate Modern. The first of six London Greenways, campaigned for by the Ramblers in the 2021 mayoral elections, it was planned by the Ramblers in partnership with Living Streets, Sustrans and CPRE.  

Walk it: The four stages begin and end at bus stops, and the entire route is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.  

Find out more: tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/green-link-walk  

 

8. Wool Towns Walk, Suffolk

West Suffolk was the heart of Britain’s medieval wool and cloth trades, bringing the area tremendous wealth, with which merchants built fine timber-framed houses and grand churches – many of which remain beautifully preserved more than 500 years later. The Wool Towns Walk is a newly waymarked 80km/50-mile, eight-stage circular route linking the five quintessentially English wool towns of Clare, Sudbury, Hadleigh, Lavenham (pictured) and Long Melford, as well as the many pretty villages and valleys in between.  

Walk it: From an original idea by Clare Walkers, the route was further developed in collaboration with Sudbury Ramblers and was first walked as part of the group’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It was then used for the 2023 Suffolk Walking Festival ‘Challenge Walk’. Since then it has been fully waymarked, and is now on OS maps.  

Find out more: wooltownswalk.co.uk – or pick up route guides from local tourist information points in the towns.  

 

9. John Musgrave Heritage Trail, Devon

  

John Musgrave was a keen walker from Torquay and a former chairman of South Devon Ramblers, and he bequeathed a generous legacy to the group when he died in 2003. This money funded the development of the trail that now bears his name – a 56km/35-mile semi-circle between the beautiful coastlines at Maidencombe and Brixham (pictured), passing inland through the rolling hills, woodland, secret combes and charming villages of John’s beloved South Devon.  

Walk it: The trail is divided into four sections to allow you to walk a shorter route if you prefer – these end at Cockington, Totnes, Dittisham and Brixham. It’s accessible by public transport and well signed, with information and interpretation boards to be found along the route.  

Find out more: exploredevon.info/activities/walk/long-walks/john-musgrave-heritage-trail

 

10. Snowdonia Slate Trail, Eryri

  

Slate from North Wales roofed the 19th-century world, and its dramatic slate landscapes are now a Unesco World Heritage Site. This 134km/83-mile trail, launched in 2017, explores the area’s industrial heritage, from abandoned villages to working quarries, the National Slate Museum of Wales and bustling Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed. Often remote and rugged, the route takes in Eryri’s less-explored mountain passes, forests, lakes, rivers and coastline. Volunteers across the Ramblers’ North Wales area played a huge part in securing funding, surveying, clearing vegetation and waymarking.  

Walk it: Route creator Aled Owen devised the 13-section trail to be walked in a week, but you can set a faster or slower pace. Parts are remote, so book accommodation in advance. 

Find out more: snowdoniaslatetrail.org