The top walking trails in the UK have been revealed, according to a new travel study based on route type and accommodation metrics.
Worthwhile Walking Routes: The Top UK Trails, created by Peak Cottages, reveals which of the UK’s most popular trails tick all the boxes when it comes to intensity, accessibility and aesthetics, looking at metrics like rest stop frequency, elevation and Instagram worthiness.
The study gathers data on each trail’s duration, length, elevation, type and number of Instagram hashtags, as well as calorie-burning potential, rest stop frequency, average hiking rating and distance from the nearest car park.
With more Brits looking to the UK for staycations than ever, and a surge in interest for outdoor activities and walking routes over the past year, the study looks to name the best routes for a range of abilities and needs.
The research reveals the top trails of the most popular UK walking routes are those which are the most easily accessible from car parks and train stations, the most picturesque, the most intensive and calorie burning, and the most accommodating with rest stops.
The best UK trail can be found in the Lake District, with 9.3km long Scafell Pike taking the top spot. The out and back style route earns itself a hiking rating of 4.5/5 and offers a rest stop every 2.33km, as well as totting up a whopping 82.7K hashtags on Instagram.
The top 5 walking routes in the UK
1 – Scafell Pike – Lake District
2 – Mam Tor and The Great Ridge – Peak District
3 – Malham Cove and Gordale Scar – Yorkshire Dales
4 – Salaire to Skipton – Yorkshire Dales
5 – Tryfan and the Glyders – Snowdonia
The study also compared routes across individual categories to find the best walking routes for different needs and abilities, such as fitness, aesthetic and rest stop frequency
For those looking to push themselves and keep fit, the top trails included Yorkshire’s Saltaire to Skipton on which hikers could burn 2,211kcal, and Scotland’s Ben Macdui: Cairn Gorm’s potential shred 1,446kcal.
Meanwhile, those looking for a more leisurely walk could head for Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay where walkers can find a rest stop every 0.55km or every 0.67km on Snowdonia’s Tryfan and the Glyders trail.
But when it comes to the hotly-disputed North South divide, how do walks in the North fare against those in the South across a range of categories?
It’s the North which comes out on top across most of the board, boasting the most intensive walks (burning an average 1,079 kcals), most accommodating (a rest stop every 5.31km), and most popular walks (an average 4.5/5).
The South proved to be home to the most picturesque trails, where an average 66,000 Instagram hashtags pipped the North’s 64,000 to the post.
Shannon Keary, PR Manager at Peak Cottages, weighed in on the study: “Given the big increase in walking trail interest over the last year and ever fluctuating guidelines, it’s really encouraging to see how many great walking trails are available across the nation.
There truly is a walking route for everyone – whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned hiker – and it’s helpful to see them broken down by key metrics so people can easily find a trail suited to their needs.”
