Enjoy a great walking holiday in the UK

When deciding on where to go on a great singles holiday, sometimes we want to avoid the stress of airport check-in, customs, passports, language barriers and currency exchanges. For those looking to stay closer to home to avoid overseas travel, a holiday in the UK can offer you new experiences, amazing sites, and great memories.

Holidays in the UK offer city tours, vast local history, and enjoyment of vibrant nightlife. But they also offer a beautiful landscape and plenty of great nature walks. For our travellers, we offer the perfect UK-based singles holidays in the north and south of England and access to some of the country’s best walking trails. The distance, terrain and difficulty of the walks are up to you. And you can enjoy stunning landscapes or focus on the great pubs and restaurants along the way.

The choice is all yours.

Yorkshire Walks

Northwest of Leeds, the North Yorkshire Dales offer some idyllic walks to capture your attention. Our guests can stay at the Hilton Leeds City Hotel which is just a short drive to the Dales. Maintained as a national park, the Yorkshire Dales is full of great sights. Rich in limestone, there are a number of underground caves and it is full of wildflower meadows and traditional farm landscapes.

Here are some walks in Yorkshire to get you thinking about your next holiday:

Yockenthwaite to Cray Wildlife Walk

This 6-mile walk starts at the Yockenthwaite Bridge – part of the National Trust. This walk is of moderate difficulty and should take about two hours to complete. Walking on limestone pavements, it will take you through valleys and meadows. Spend the day walking along the River Wharfe and keep an eye out for the various birds and aquatic life that make the Dales their home.

Hawes to Sedbusk

Starting from the Hawes National Park Centre, this more difficult walk will take you past Hardraw Force, England’s highest waterfall. The falling water forms a natural amphitheatre and is accessible by tickets bought at a nearby pub at the site. For more information, visit the falls’ website. After seeing the falls, you can also follow part of the ancient Pennine Way towards Sedbusk through to Wensleydale. The walk then turns back towards Hawes for its marked return journey.

The Upland Farm Walk at Malham Tarn

This walk starts at the Malham Tarn car park and is a distance of seven miles. The trail through limestone pastures, hill farms and up to the Malham Tarn makes this a popular walk through the area. This is a must-try for those who enjoy bird watching. Around the tarn, there are a number of wigeon, pochard, great crested grebe, teal, tufted duck, goosander and hen harriers. The walk will take you through Horsehead Moor and Deepdale. Here is a route map for the walk.

The James Herriot Way

For a true test of fitness and endurance, this 52-mile walk can be spread over four or five days. This circular journey takes walkers from the bottom of the valleys to some of the highest points in the Dales. It goes through parts of Swaledale and Wensleydale including Keld, Grinton, Aysgarth, Askrigg and Hawes. The Herriot Way’s toughest section includes the climb of the Great Shunner Fell. Walkers of the path report it is often very good footing and contains long sections of pavement to protect the local peat bogs.

New Forest Walks

On England’s southern coast along the Channel, the New Forest is famous for its ponies, wildlife and walks through untouched nature. Many of them include a stop or two at variety of local pubs and eateries to create a great holiday experience. Located between Southampton and Bournemouth, the New Forest is a holiday maker’s wonderland. Our travellers can stay at the Beaulieu Hotel whilst visiting the New Forest.

Keyhaven Nature Walk

Near Milford-on-Sea, this easy walk offers perfect views of Keyhaven harbour, as well as the Isle of Wight and Hurst Spit. Again, if you enjoy bird watching, this walk is for you. The Keyhaven Nature Reserve covers over 500 acres of coastal land. There are number of paths that afford walkers to chance to sport local animals, birds and sea life. Click here for more information and route maps.

Bolderwood

In this area, visitors are offered a variety of signposted walks. From a half mile up to 2 miles, the walks in Bolderwood’d ancient woodland are extremely manageable for those new to walking holidays. In Bolderwood, there are number of old-growth Douglas firs, oak trees and Redwoods as well. It is considered to be one of the best places in the New Forest to see local deer and other wildlife too. There is also a large picnic area for you to enjoy a bite or light snack.

Beaulieu

The village was built around a Cistercian abbey built in 1204 right near the forest’s royal hunting lodge. Beaulieu is great place to visit a local farmer’s market, enjoy a nibble at a country pub, or go on a long nature walk. There is a great walk that will take you from Beaulieu to Buckler’s Hard on the coast. Following along the Beaulieu River, it shows off the forest’s amazing wildlife and scenery. The walk is 2.2 miles in either direction.

Solent Way

If you looking for a great coastal challenge, the Solent Way is a 60-mile trek from Milford-on-Sea through and past the various seafronts, yacht-filled harbours, saltings and marshlands. The walk finishes at Emsworth Harbour just past Portsmouth. It includes locations along the way including Lymington, Beaulieu, and Hamble. For those looking for more than just walking, there are also a number of restaurants, pubs, shops and antique stores along the route. The walk is partially supported by the Hampshire Council. Visit their page for more information.

The right equipment for a British walk

With so many great walking routes available, the only thing left to do is get the right equipment to enjoy your UK walking adventure. One way to make sure your holiday is a good is to get the right kind of gear to help you stay dry on any walk in the UK.

A first purchase of yours should be a waterproof backpack. With rain often in forecast throughout the year, you wouldn’t want a walking holiday ruined by a sudden downpour. A packable rain suit is also a great piece of equipment in case it rains. For the best in rainproof gear, visit Trespass to see their most recent offers.

When planning a walk, two vital pieces of equipment are the right boots and right socks for walking. There is a wide range of hiking boots and shoes available – all within a wide range of prices as well. Regardless of your budget, the key to getting the right footwear is getting the right balance of comfort and performance. Take into account the type of terrain for the walk and whether you must deal with deep water or just typically wet conditions. Go Outdoors offers great choice in walking footwear.

A good pair of hiking socks is also key. A comfortable pair of socks will help ensure a nice end of the day and let you enjoy the rest of your holiday when the walking is done.