Best UK walks to try this weekend – secluded beaches to beautiful moors

From the West Highland Way to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, there are plenty of stunning walking routes in the UK

In case you didn’t know, May is National Walking Month.

Organised by the charity Living Streets, National Walking Month aims to encourage people to walk for at least 20 minutes of each day this month.

With the temperatures showing signs of perking up and the days getting decidedly longer, now seems like a pretty good time to get seriously into walking if you haven’t already. The potential health benefits of regular walking – both physical and mental – are numerous.

Better still, in the UK we’re very fortunate to have some truly outstanding hiking trails on our doorstep, with spectacular scenery to enjoy.

So if you fancy a walk in the countryside, here are some of the top-rated UK hiking routes according to Tripadvisor users.

Cornish Coastal Path

Cornwall is home to a 300-mile section of the South West Coast Path, which is regarded as one of the world’s most impressive hiking routes. Rated 4.5/5 by Tripadvisor users, the Cornish Coastal Path is perfect for getting up close and personal with Cornwall’s rugged beauty.

The section of the South West Coast Path offers something for all the family, with varied terrain and stunning natural beauty wherever you look.

It has a quirky history, too: many years ago, when Cornwall was notorious for its piracy and smuggling, the Inland Revenue needed walking paths that allowed its agents easy access to key vantage points and harbours.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a National Trail walking path stretching for some 186 miles. Running from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the path is perfect for taking in some genuinely beautiful – and varied – coastal scenery.

A feast for the spirit as well as the eyes, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes you past dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches and mysterious coves. Its unspoilt surroundings makes it a firm favourite among walkers and nature lovers.

West Highland Way

Running for 154 miles from Milngavie – in the northern suburbs of Glasgow – to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, the West Highland Way is a very popular long-distance walking route. Around 35,000 people walk along the route every year.

The West Highland Way is notable for the variety of the scenery it offers, including rugged mountains, picturesque loch shores and rolling moorlands. Most people tackle the route from south to north, with the northern stages considered more taxing than the southern ones.

Monsal Trail

The 8.5-mile Monsal Trail is a popular walking, cycling and horse riding trail in Derbyshire’s Peak District. It follows part of the route of a former railway, passing over old railway viaducts and tunnels for a distinctive walking experience.

Running between the Topley Pike junction in Wye Dale and Bakewell, the Monsal Trail is a gentle route perfect for the less experienced walker who’s just starting out. Four railway tunnels along the route were opened to trail users in 2011.

Birks of Aberfeldy

Rated 5/5 by Tripadvisor users, the Birks of Aberfeldy is a short – only 1.5 mile – circular trail on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, on the River Tay. The trail passes through mixed woodland and offers impressive views of deep chasms and waterfalls.

The area takes its name from a poem written by Robbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet, in 1787. Much of it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its botanical features.

Camel Trail

The 17.3-mile Camel Trail in Cornwall is hugely popular with walkers, runners, horse riders and cyclists. It runs between Padstow and Wenford Bridge, taking in Wadebridge and Bodmin along the way.

Following the paths of two former railway lines, the Camel Trail – rated 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor – takes in pretty villages and stunning woodland. The railways were designed to avoid sharp turns and steep inclines, making the modern-day trail a gentle route for walkers.

Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk

The Coast to Coast Walk, originally devised by fellwalker and author Alfred Wainwright, is a 190-mile route across northern England. It takes in three National Parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.

While the Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk is not a National Trail, it is very popular with walkers exploring the north’s natural beauty. However, the route – which is an unofficial one – isn’t fully signposted, so make sure you research where you’ll be going beforehand.