Best Places for Hill Walking in England
When it comes to hill walking in England certain areas stand out above the rest. Finding higher land in England can be somewhat area specific. England is mostly associated with rolling hills but is home to some peaks and fascinating landscapes. Even in flatter counties there are still some peaks here and there which can be excellent for hill walking.
Many of the best areas for walking can be found within specific National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you can combine challenging walks with awe inspiring scenery.
Hill walking and hiking can be enjoyed locally or further afield on weekend breaks or longer stays. For more information on places to stay we recommend taking a look at these cottages for walkers.
Top 10 Areas in England for Hill Walking
1. Northumberland National Park
Hadrian's Wall Country is an excellent area to put those hiking boots to good use. What's more on route, you can discover some fascinating historical attractions. Many of the Hadrian Wall related heritage sites are protected by English Heritage and members benefit from free entry so if you want to enjoy walking plus visit Hadrian Wall related attractions it may make sense to join.
The Cheviot Hills in the centre of the Northumberland National Park offer a number of valley and moorland walks. If you're interested in walking in this area we recommend that you look up Cheviot Walks which contains useful information on a choice of walks in the area.
2. Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is a Mecca for avid hill-walkers, probably because of the variety and different levels of walks on offer here as well as the inspirational Lake District scenery.
The highest point within the Lake District National Park is Scafell Pike. For gentler hill walking opportunities, the Borrowdale Valley is a great place to head. In the Lake District you will find a huge choice of fells and pikes. It's also possible to enjoy walking around many of the tourist towns such as Windermere and Bowness. Walk up to the heights for example near Latterbarrow and you can see Lake Windermere from a completely different vantage point from those down below. For more information on walks in the Lake District we recommend that you take a look at the Walking Englishman website.
When visiting this part of the world, it's even possible to book a guide who can show you the sights and advise you on the best walks.
3. Peak District National Park
For challenging hill walks and hiking, the Peak District National Park can be a paradise. Keen hikers and hill-walkers will want to head to the White Peak with its valleys and limestone hills. Visitors will find that there are a number of National Trust protected lands within the White Peak including Dovedale, Manifold Valley, Stanton Moor and Miller's Dale. There's a huge variety of walks to choose from in the Peak District National Park from hill walks to dale walks and tor walks. The best resource we found on Peak District Walks is the Walking Englishman.
4. North Yorkshire Moors
Incorporating woodlands and moorlands, the North York Moors are a beautiful place to enjoy bracing walks. The North York Moors National Park authority offer a programme of guided walks from April through to November including a 'over the hills and far away' walk. The Walking Englishman has produced a guide to the top ten highest hills to enjoy hiking up in the North York Moors which include Round Hill, Cringle Moor, Danby Highmoor, Noon Hill, Glaisdale Moor and Lockton Low Moor. More information is available here.
5 Yorkshire Dales National Park
With hills and peaks characteristic of the Dales, this is a fantastic area to explore on foot. There are ample opportunities for hill walking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. One popular hilly walk in the Yorkshire Dales is the James Herriot Way which guides visitors around Swaledale and on to the edge of Wensleydale.
A Yorkshire Dales Walk with a Stunning View:
• Malham Cove
A walk to Malham Cove takes you along a path through National Trust land, past sheep and a meandering stream and up what must be over 300 steps to the peak of this limestone gorge. At the top you reach one of the most photographed places in the Dales, the limestone pavement, an impressive limestone formation from which you can soak up fantastic views of the landscape below. This limestone pavement is a unique place to visit and featured in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film. Don't forget a bottle of water and your camera!
More hilly walks are on offer in the Yorkshire Dales National Park close to Settle where you can discover Attermire Scar, via the scenic Catrigg Force waterfall.
6. The Pennine Hills
The Pennine Hills in England cover a large area of England stretching up from the Peak District in Derbyshire through the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District Fells all the way to the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. Covering a vast area it may make sense to choose sections to walk along the Pennine Way with the aid of car journeys in between chosen sections. The Pennine Way is one of the UK's National Trails, which guides walkers along what is also known as the 'backbone of England'.
7. The Cotswolds Hills
The Cotswolds have to be one of the best areas in England when it comes to quintessentially English countryside. Known for its gently rolling hills, the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a glorious area to discover on foot. Enjoy walks in the sublime Cotswolds countryside and then head in to one of the towns or villages splendid with honey-coloured buildings, to be rewarded with a well deserved drink or pub lunch.
If you enjoy hill walking in particular, then the Cotswolds can accommodate you. A popular walk which covers gentler and hillier aspects is the Cotswold Way National Trail. This trail runs for a total of 102 miles and criss-crosses across the magnificent Cotswolds countryside.
8. Dunstable Downs and the Chiltern Hills
An area of outstanding natural beauty in the South East of England, the Chiltern Hills are an area loved by residents and visitors alike. The Chilterns cover a wide area and stretch from Goring in Oxfordshire, up through Hertfordshire, all the way to Dunstable. With forested hills a feature of these hills, this is a great place for easy to moderate woodland walks.
In terms of following guided paths, there are two trails to choose from. The Ridgeway is undoubtedly the best as this guides visitors right the way through the Chilterns. Some of the best areas to visit along the Ridgeway include Tring and Old Amersham where you will find some lovely hill walks through woodlands and farmlands.
In the very north of the Chiltern Hills, the Dunstable Downs are not to be missed. Offering spectacular views over the landscape below, the Dunstable Downs are a great area for hill walking where you can appreciate fantastic views of the largely flat landscape down below. See if you can spot the National Trust's windmill at Pitstone and don't forget your camera. For a cup of tea or coffee why not head to the National Trust's Gateway Centre where you'll see plenty of people flying kites and even gliding.
The other national trail which cuts through part of the Chilterns is the Thames Path. This trail though only really skirts around the bottom of the Chilterns. If you are after gentle riverside walks then follow the Thames Path along near Goring.
9. Exmoor National Park
With valleys and hills to feast your eyes upon, Exmoor National Park is a great place to enjoy invigorating walks in the great outdoors. Some well-known hill walks within the park include the Haddon Hill Walk near Bampton and the North Hill Walk. The Haddon Hill Walk takes you through woodlands and moorlands then up Haddon Hill where you can marvel at the views below of the Exe Valley. For a free downloadable map and guide. The North Hill Walk can be done to incorporate Selworthy Beacon near to Bossington. On this walk you'll discover moorlands along with stunning hills right by the coast.
10. Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor with its tors and valleys is a great place to enjoy some energetic hill-walking. If you like the idea of a guided walk then check out the Dartmoor National Park Authority's website as they offer some guided walks of this beautiful park. Hill walks in Dartmoor include walks up and around Meldon Hill. Reach the top and you can look down towards Teign Gorge. Another popular hill-walk is up Cosdon Hill.
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