5 epic UK walks to take on in 2026
National Walking Week is held in May, an annual event designed to get the nation on their feet. It’s designed to encourage people of all ages to enjoy some of the many health benefits of walking, including:
Improving your mood
Helping you sleep better
Boosting your immune system
Easing muscle pain and stiffness
Helping with weight management.
According to the British Heart Foundation, walking can also reduce your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases and cancer.
If you fancy a challenge, spectacular scenery, or simply a nice walk, read on to discover five epic walks across the UK you could try this year.
Epic for: The challenge
Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland
According to Walkhighlands, this route has the reputation of being Britain’s toughest long-distance walk, so only undertake this if you’re an experienced walker.
The route stretches around 350km, from Fort William up to Cape Wrath and along the way you’ll be able to experience wild terrain and beautiful landscapes. As it’s unmarked and such a long walk, you’ll be able to plan your own exact route, although many operators can help you map out and plan the separate stages.
You’ll be backpacking and will need to carry food and a tent, so you do need to be self-sufficient. Although there are plenty of bothies along the way, free, basic, and unlocked shelters which provide four walls and a roof if you want to sleep in something more sheltered than a tent.
It’s undeniably tough, but it’s also a true adventure.
The Pennine Way, England
This 431 km route begins in Edale in the Peak District and ends in the Scottish Borders. The first National Trail in Britain, it’s perhaps one of the UK’s most famous walks.
Although you can walk the trail all year round, it’s at its best from May to September. If you do decide to do the walk during the winter months, just be warned that you might find snow in the more northerly parts of the walk.
Along the route, you’ll take in the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Swaledale Valley, and the North Pennines. Then, you’ll reach, and cross, Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland before you end at Kirk Yetholm in the Borders.
It’s a hilly walk, with some rough and rugged terrain. There are plenty of great places to take rest days, such as Hebden Bridge, Skipton, and the Hadrian’s Wall area.
Epic for: Scenery
Rhossili Headland, Gower, Wales
This walk is just 5.6km, but what it lacks in distance it makes up for with its picturesque views.
At the start of the walk, as you leave the town of Rhossili itself, you get gorgeous views of the 3-mile long beach and Rhossili bay before the path takes you up past the remains of an Iron Age fort and up onto the headland itself where you can get brilliant views of the Worm’s Head, a winding tidal island that you can cross to explore if you time the tides right, after that you follow the headland to get a wonderful view of Fall Bay on the other side of the headland before heading back inland toward Rhossili to finish the walk.
If you take the time to look inland during your walk, you can take in the unusual sight of The Vile, a rare example of a medieval open-field strip system, with each distinctive, individual strip separated by low grassy banks.
Buttermere Circuit, Lake District, England
If you’re looking for a scenic walk without the effort, this is the perfect choice. With flat, well-maintained paths, and one section walking on the B5289 it’s often described as one of the most rewarding short walks in the UK.
The circular loop follows Buttermere Lake, and you’ll experience spectacular scenery and a constantly shifting landscape as you walk, from woodland paths to open lakeside.
Burtness Wood is a peaceful, shaded stretch offering a direct contrast to the open lakeside walks. Take a short detour, and you’ll reach the stunning Sourmilk Gill waterfall, which thunders down nearly 400m of fellside in one headlong cascade through the trees.
The whole route is ideal for beginners, families, or simply if you fancy a low effort walk instead of a demanding hike.
Epic for: History
Hadrian’s Wall Path, England
Step into history as you follow the route of Hadrian’s Wall, built by the Romans from AD 122 under Emperor Hadrian.
The wall was designed to control movement and acted as a physical boundary marking the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire.
Spanning around 135 km, the trail stretches coast to coast across northern England. Along the way, you’ll encounter a variety of terrain and landscapes, including urban areas, rolling farmland, and remote, open countryside.
Plus, there are spectacular views which stretch for miles.
You’ll also see the remains of small Roman forts, turrets, and defensive structures as you walk, with parts of the wall still visible.
Hadrian’s Wall is part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes sites across the UK and connected Roman frontiers in Germany and beyond.