Of course, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are different – as different as pasties, haggis, colcannon and Welsh cakes. As for landscapes, contrast the Scottish Highlands and islands with the Welsh valleys and dramatic coastline. Natural wonders? How about the extraordinary Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland (that’s Game of Thrones country). And England’s variety astonishes visitors, from the romantic Lake District and Cornwall to castles, stately homes and elegant gardens. Follow in the footsteps of Shakespeare and Harry Potter; visit the free, world-class museums and galleries in cities, such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford and Bath, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
TIP: Herefordshire’s Golden Valley looks ‘forever England’. Stroll round picture-postcard villages, such as Peterchurch, Vowchurch and Turnastone. At the 800-year-old Pandy Inn in Dorstone, relax over pints of proper cider produced by Gwatkin’s, just down the valley in Abbey Dore.
Seasoned walkers will enjoy this long distance walking challenge. Starting in the UNESCO Wolrd Heritage site of Saltaire and finishing in Appleby in Cumbria this is a moderate to challenging walk over a combination of open moorland, limestone pavement, prominent hills and valley floors.
The Northumberland Coast is well known for its striking landscape - sweeping beaches, castles, rocky cliffs, sand dunes and isolated islands. The route is a mainly flat walk . It can be completed by those with limited walking experience.
Delight in 15 Seaside Award beaches and a host of charming coves.
Marvel at rock formations, lava flows and fossil sites dating back to a time of active volcanoes and tropical swamps.
Spot grey seals and bottlenose dolphins.
Soak up 5,000 years of history on Britain’s oldest road.
Walk within two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Enjoy easy walking over the North Wessex chalk downs with far reaching views.
Pass through five of the greenest counties in England.
The Cumbria Way starts in the market town of Ulverston in the south of Cumbria, to Carlisle on the Scottish Border in the north. It runs for 72 miles, passing through some of the Lake Districts most spectacular scenery.
Walk in England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Visit Belas Knap, one of Britain’s finest Neolithic long barrows.
Stroll through flower-rich limestone grassland.
A fantastic introduction to long distance walking.
Marvel at the indomitable Humber Bridge, once the world's largest single span bridge.
Soak in the peace and tranquility of the Yorkshire countryside
The Great Glen Way runs from Fort William on the Atlantic west coast to Inverness on the north sea. It is 73 miles long and follows canal towpaths, loch shore paths and forestry tracks.
Enjoy walking in one of the sunniest places in the UK.
The island is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Marvel at the iconic chalk edge ‘The Needles’ with its 33-metre-high lighthouse.
The Speyside Way starts in Buckie on the Moray Coast and passes through the heart of malt whisky country towards the foothills of the Cairngorms. It’s a scenic walk along riverside paths, through woodland and over hills.
