The Best Places in the UK to Hike with the Family
If hiking is an acquired taste, it is one of the most easily acquired tastes on the plate. Hiking is an extremely accessible form of exercise, that can be treated like a sport by those who seek adventure and treated like a holiday by those who crave relaxation. Whatever your preferences, hiking is a phenomenal choice for a low-cost, high-enjoyment break.
This is especially true when it comes to planning the next family holiday. Getting everyone engaged and on board for a walking trip might seem like a tall order, but that order gets a lot smaller when it comes to these truly beautiful walking destinations.
The Lake District
The Lake District National Park is a place that practically needs no introduction. This glorious, vast landscape of craggy mountains, deep valleys and crystal-clear glacier lakes is the perfect hike fodder for the family, particularly as it has a wide variety of different routes for different fitness and ability levels. Whatever trail you pick, good footwear is essential; no one wants muddy socks while trudging up from Lake Windermere! As for the better walks in the Lake District, try the route from Grasmere to Easedale – a stunning hike which will test the thighs and reward the eyes…
Snowdonia
Over the border into Wales, we come to another unforgettable British landscape in the form of Eryri National Park. Mount Eryri, better known to the English by the name Snowdonia, is the largest mountain in Wales, and an absolute must-walk for every household. For one, there’s kudos in climbing the thing; for another, you won’t find another landscape quite like it ever again. For a safer, less-mountain-y walk that still offers some unparalleled views, try Coed-y-Brenin – a forest which also has some phenomenal cycling routes.
The Peak District
England’s other District certainly doesn’t play second fiddle; the Peak District is an astoundingly beautiful national park that encompasses the Pennine Mountains between Manchester and Leeds. This whole area is unparalleled for mountain beauty, whether you’re charting your way across the Howden Dam or looking down on villages and hamlets from Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peaks.
The Cotswolds
For a more lassez-faire approach to the family hike, there is a perfect candidate in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is another huge swathe of land, encompassing hundreds upon hundreds of square miles of rolling hills and charming townships. There are a great deal of amazing places to discover in the Cotswolds, but the best place to start would be the walk that takes its name from the region itself – the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile trail, any part of which is worth the trekking.
The New Forest
Lastly, we come to the New Forest National Park, the most southerly area for a good hike in this list. The New Forest stretches all the way down to the coast, giving you the opportunity to see some sea on your travails. Check out the North Solent National Nature Reserve for some rare faunal action!
