MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares some of the best UK walks and cheap activities for National Walking Day on April 2
It’s National Walking Day soon and that means getting our hiking boots on and enjoying the great outdoors! But where are the best places to go?
Of course, you can walk anywhere, at any time. But there are some walks which are more enjoyable for the scenery, accessible for prams and walking aids, or challenging for the experienced hiker. Keep reading for some of the best walks in the UK to try on National Walking Day – as well as some kit recommendations to stay comfortable on your walk.
The best accessible walks
Whether you need a tarmac surface for your pushchair or wheelchair, or a flat route for those with limited fitness, these walks are perfect for families and groups of mixed abilities to try for a leisurely day.
For a short walk, try one of Countryfile’s recommended walks under 3 miles, which can be completed in a couple of hours at most. If you’re not sure whether a walk will be accessible, look for features such as reservoirs which tend to have flat, circular routes around them.
For a medium length walk, the Parkland Walk in London is the city’s longest Local Nature Reserve with a 4km route that follows a disused railway line. You could spot animals like muntjac deer or foxes as you go along the line that used to connect Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace.
For an all-day long walk, look for routes which are recommended as ‘child friendly’ as this usually means they are suitable for those with limited mobility or fitness level too. AllTrails.com has a wide range of walks to investigate depending on your local area and how far you want to walk.
For those who want a lift for part of the walk, go to Wales and enjoy Snowdonia’s mountain train. You can choose to go both ways on the train (although travel to the summit doesn’t begin until – hopefully – May 1, weather permitting), or a single route. If you want to get the train up and hike down, you can pre-book your ticket – but if you want to hike up and get the train back, places are on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The best multi-day walks
If you want to make a weekend of it to see as much scenery as possible, consider a multi-day walk. In London, this could be going along the Thames Path – or some of it, at least. The full path is 184 miles long! The full path starts from the Cotswolds source and meanders all the way to central London, past landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Tower of London. You can also plan to do sections of the walk, like central South Bank, for a more leisurely pace.
The Three Peaks is a challenge to set yourself and friends, as it’s not for the faint-hearted! You’ll need some stamina and good knees to hike the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a 24-mile route that takes in, well, three peaks. Climb Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside in one go if you want a real challenge – or tackle just one in a day.
In Scotland, you’re spoiled for choice for beautiful multi-day walks. A favourite is the John Muir Way, the Scottish coast-to-coast at 134 miles will take at least a week for advanced walkers, so if you don’t have all the time in the world for it, choose a section that appeals to you.
Essential kit for National Walking Day
In theory, all you need are some trainers and a motivation to get your steps in! However, if you plan to walk with intention, it’s important to make sure you have the right kit to be comfortable.
Wear layers like a Sherpa Rolpa fleece to keep warm when the spring breezes hit. It’s also a good idea to pack a waterproof layer too – even if the weather forecast is good, because you never know! Light packable waterproof jackets are easy to find and pack into a small space in your bag. It’s better than an umbrella, because the wind can make a brolly useless.
Your feet are the most important part of getting out and about for National Walking Day and beyond. Opt for a light multi-use walking shoe, like the Salomon walking shoe which suits both urban and rural walks, but is incredibly lightweight and water resistant so can be worn all day with comfort. If you’re an under- or over-pronator, it’s worth looking into supportive insoles like the 1000 Mile Advanced F3D Support insole to prevent fatigue and improve your walking gait.
Make sure you take a good water bottle with you, like Sho Reusable or Chilly’s, to keep hydrated on your walk. If it’s a sunny day, take sun cream, sunglasses and a hat, too. For multi-day walks, you’ll need more substantial kit such as walking trousers, moisture wicking undies like Runderwear, hiking socks like Trek REPREVE socks, and a spare outfit in case the heavens open and you get soaked!
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