With the cost of living squeezing household budgets ever tighter and jet fuel crisis causing panic over flight prices, more and more people are looking to holiday closer to home. Luckily, England is home to some of the most stunning nature trails and villages, ideal for a walking holiday, and many of them are within easy reach from Manchester.
Pennine Way (Edale to Horton-in-Ribblesdale)
By far the nearest trail, virtually starting in Manchester, is also one of Britain’s most celebrated. The southern stretch of the Pennine Way covers around 94 miles over nine days, beginning in Edale (just 45 minutes by train from Manchester Piccadilly) and finishing in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, deep in the Yorkshire Dales.
It’s a challenging walk that crosses the wild Kinder Scout plateau, the moors of Black Hill, the dramatic limestone landscapes around Malham Cove and the Pen-y-ghent peak. Fans of Wuthering Heights will certainly want to visit the ruins of Top Withins, said to have inspired the world-famous book.
Coast to Coast (St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay)
One of the UK’s most iconic walks, the Coast to Coast crosses the entire width of northern England over just under 190 miles, threading through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors before finishing at the sea. This route is known for its incredible diversity, from glacial lakes and coastal viewpoints to ancient stone villages.
Orbis Ways, the leading walking holiday tour operator, offers various different itineraries for this trail, ranging from 9 to 18 days. The westernmost starting point of St Bees is reachable by train in around 3 hours from Manchester, but shorter variations may start in the Cumbrian town of Kirkby Stephen.
Cleveland Way (Helmsley to Filey)
Spanning 110 miles, the Cleveland Way takes walkers across the purple heather of the North York Moors National Park before bringing them onto some of the highest sea cliffs in England. The route starts in the market town of Helmsley and diminishes at Filey on the Yorkshire coast, passing through the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, Roseberry Topping, Whitby (with its blue flag-winning beaches) and Scarborough (including a visit to the infamous Scarborough Castle).
Manchester to York by train takes under 2 hours and, from there, connections to Helmsley are pretty straightforward. Again, with Orbis Ways, you may choose to complete this route in 9, 10 or 11 days, depending on your chosen pace.
Hadrian’s Wall Path (Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway)
For those interested in history, Hadrian’s Wall Path is a must-do. The trail follows the line of the edge of the ancient Roman Empire for around 85 miles from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway on the Cumbrian coast. Multiple itineraries are available, the shortest being 5-day breaks and the longest – 11 days, extending the walk to 96 miles with additional stopovers.
Along the way, walkers pass numerous well-preserved forts, milecastles, Roman ruins and World Heritage Sites, as well as enjoy the beautiful views across the rolling countryside. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is under 3 hours from Manchester by train, making this route still very accessible.
The local adventure
If you decide to walk one of these iconic trails, you will be pleasantly surprised at what a local holiday can offer. The north of England is, quite simply, one of the finest places for walking holidays in the whole of Europe.
Featured image by David Pickup
