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The Peak Pilgrimage was set up  2015  to mark the 350th anniversary of the plague that afflicted the villagers of Eyam. The brainchild of a team from Eyam church, the route takes you through some of the best parts of the Peak District.  As you meander from church to church and pub to cafe you can reflect on the glory of nature and creation while collecting stamps and sticky Bible verse from the churches you pass.

You are strongly advised to buy the route’s guidebook which can be purchased from the Peak Pilgrimage website.

The route is 34 miles long and is designed to be walked by everyone.  In fact, walkers from 8 to 80 have enjoyed the walk.  It takes between 2 and 7 days to complete.  There is a great choice of independent hostels to stay in on your pilgrimage.  Nowhere is the walking more inspiring and restorative than in this section of the Peak District National Park.

The Peak Pilgrimage route is almost entirely on footpaths through beautiful but easy walking countryside, popping into occasional villages, visiting churches and passing lots of enticing pubs and cafes.

There are some waymarks along the Peak Pilgrimage route to guide you. These require permissions from landowners so it will take some time to do the whole route and there may be permanent gaps. Please look out for waymarks to help you but don’t rely on them! Read the Guidebook and look at maps in it as your primary navigation aid.

The opening of the Peak Pilgrimage in 2015 arose national interest.  It featured on BBC’s Countryfile on 12 July 2015,  Then on 24th March 2016 Clare Balding walked the last 7 miles from Curbar Gap to Eyam as part of her Radio 4 program, Ramblings.

You can take the route in either direction.  Both Eyam and Ilam are worthy of a day’s visit and both have a choice of independent hostels near by to stay in.

Eyam is famous for the sacrifice of it’s people in 1665. Led by their rector they refused to flea in the face of the plague which was brought to the village from London in some cloth delivered to the village tailor.  You can learn about all about the plague at Eyam Museum and visit Eyam Hall with its courtyard cafe.

Ilam is another idyllic tiny Peak District village, stepped in history and surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Derbyshire Dales.  There’s the National Trust owned Ilam Hall and the picturesque Swiss style cottages.  Ilam is an easy level walk to Dovedale the most famous of all the Derbyshire Dales and the iconic Stepping Stones over the River Dove.

The Tarka Trail is a 180 mile figure of eight route in North Devon. The central crossing point is at the historic river-port town of Barnstaple.  Based on the route travelled by Tarka the Otter in the novel by Henry Williamson, it takes you across unspoiled countryside, dramatic sea cliffs and beautiful beaches.

The first section of the Tarka Trail, the disused railway line between Barnstaple and Bideford was established in 1987. Later sections of the Two Moors Way and the South West Coast path were added and the complete figure of eight was officially opened in 1992 by Prince Charles.

Suitable for walkers, cyclists, families and buggies, the southern loop incorporates a magnificent 30 mile long off-road cycle path.  The longest, continuous off-road cycle path in the UK.

With a selection of independent hostels and bunkhouses along the trail, you will have a choice of great value accommodation.  As well as being flexible, many offering single night stays, independent hostels are geared up for outdoor people.  So muddy boots, wet coats and bikes are all catered for.

Much more detailed information on the Tarka Trail can be found on it’s official website.  There is also very informative guide book on the off road cycle path on the southern route.  More details can be found here.

What is the Pembrokeshire Coast path?

Opened in 1970, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first national trail in Wales. It is an exhilarating and inspirational walk as it passes an incredible 58 beaches and 14 harbours! Handily, the entire length of the route is covered by the Pembrokeshire coastal bus service. This is because, a fair proportion of the route crosses areas that are scarcely populated. This regular bus service is very popular with walkers ferrying them to and from their overnight lodgings and means you are never too far from civilisation.

Why walk the Pembrokeshire Coast path?

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles along the most breath-taking coastline in Britain. Stretching between St Dognaels in the north to Amroth in the South, the route crosses a wonderful variety of coastal landscapes. You will walk along rugged cliff tops, descend to sheltered coves, cross wide open beaches, and meandering estuaries. As well as offering a wonderful variety of breath-taking scenery, the area is rich in bird life and coastal flowers. If you are lucky, you may also spot seals and wild ponies.On avaerge the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes 10 to 15 days to complete.

How long does the Pembrokeshire Coast Path take to complete?

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path (also known as the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path) is quite a challenging route.  It takes on average 10-15 days to walk from end to end.  The ascents and descents amount to 35,000ft, which is roughly equivalent to climbing Everest.  So, a certain amount of pre-walk training is recommended.  The route is very well way marked, but as always it is a good idea to take a guidebook and map.

The Wye Valley Walk is a 136 mile route that takes you from the Welsh border town of  Chepstow to Hafren Forest  in Mid Wales (the nearest town is Llanidloes).   It’s a walk of great interest and contrasts which combines superb river and hill walking.  You will weave through the magnificent scenery of the Wye Valley AONB before crossing the rolling countryside of Herefordshire and heading up into the hills of Mid Wales into Hafren Forest. There are marker posts for the start/finish at Chepstow Castle and Rhyd-y-benwch car park in Hafren Forest.

For most of the route you follow the banks of the river Wye, but at intervals some hill climbing is necessary.  However, these ascents are rewarded with some spectacular views.  As such it is not an extreme route and should be suitable for any reasonably fit walker.  This is not at all a boring route, you will pass through densely wooded gorges; riverside meadows; broadleaved woodland; cider orchards, parkland and farmland; hills, mountains and open moorland.

Along the route there are a number of independent hostels, offering a warm welcome, hot showers and a comfortable bed to weary walkers.  Some may help with luggage transfer, others may serve breakfast and evening meals and send you off with a packed lunch.  Many will have pubs near by serving food or local shops selling provisions.  All will have self-catering facilities for you to prepare your own food or to sit down and devour a take away.   Do read their details and /or talk to them to see what they offer.

As you plan your accommodation remember to leave a little extra time for the many stunning views and highlights along the route. The walk takes you past the historic border towns of Monmouth, Hereford and Hay-on-Wye, as well as the architectural highlights of Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey, Goodrich Castle, Hereford Cathedral (home to the Mappa Mundi) and Gilfach Medieval longhouse.

At Hafren Forest the Wye Valley Walk meets to Severn Way, so you can easily extend your walking holiday if time and energy permit.

For more in formation on the walk try these links:

The official Wye Valley Walk website.

For details of a diversion near Monmouth click here

The Cape Wrath Trail runs through the Scottish Highlands and along the west coast of Scotland. It is approximately 200 miles in length and is considered to be one of the most challenging long distance walks in the UK. It starts in Fort William and finishes at Cape Wrath, the most north- western point of mainland Britain.

The route is unmarked and there is no official line. It is a superb route for very experienced long-distance backpackers. The Cape Wrath trail leads you across most of the north west coast of Scotland via Morar, Knoydart, Torridon and Assynt, winding through its most beautiful glens and mountains. It typically takes between two and three weeks to walk.

There is a selection of hostel/bunkhouse accommodation along the route.  Careful planning  is needed to combine these with, Bothies, B&B’s and maybe even wild camping .

More information can be found on the Cape Wrath Trails Guide’s website  and on their Facebook group

The Snowdonia Way is a long distant route that takes you the entire length of Snowdonia (Eryri). It stretches from Machynlleth in the South to Conwy in the North.  There are two alternative routes.  Snowdonia Way’s main route is 97 mile long and is mainly low level.  It will take you along valley tracks, hillside paths and through forested slopes.  There are some steep ascents and descents but the route avoids the peaks. This means it can be walked by those who want a journey through the landscape, with stunning views of the mountains from the valleys.  This is the only low level long distance route through Snowdonia and it allows you to see Snowdonia is all its magnificence.

If you want to climb some mountains on the way, a high level route has been devised. This route intersects with the standard Snowdonia Way route regularly. So you can switch between routes when you feel like it or when the weather dictates. If you opt to walk the whole high-level route from beginning to end, it is a 122 mile journey.  You will climb some of the area’s  most famous peaks including Snowdon, Cadair Idris, Cnicht and the Glyders.  But you will also go up some lesser known peaks, which you may have all to yourself.

All along the route, including the mountain alternatives, there are independent hostels and bunkhouses offering  friendly, low cost accommodation to walkers. More information about the route can be found at Snowdonia Way’s own website

St Cuthbert’s Way is a 60m route that crosses the border between Scotland and England.  It starts in the Scottish border town Melrose and finishes on Holy Island off the Northumberland coast. The Way was inspired by the life of St Cuthbert, who began his ministry at Melrose in 650 AD, eventually becoming the Bishop of Lindisfarne.  His final resting place and the original pilgrimage shrine is on Holy Island.

St Cuthbert’s Way is not over challenging and takes between 4 and 6 days.  With an ever changing variety of scenery and spectacular views, you won’t be bored.  You will pass Roman hill forts, signal stations and roads, walk along the banks of the beautiful River Tweed and enjoy the fantastic scenery from the Eildon Hills. The Way culminates with a memorable walk along the causeway to Holy Island, which is only passable at low tide.  For a truly unique finale many walkers remove their boots and walk barefoot through the shallows in the footsteps of St Cuthbert along the Pilgrims Way.  Be sure to check tide times when you plan your walk.

The route provides a useful link over the Cheviot Hills between the Southern Upland Way (at Melrose) and the Pennine Way National Trail (at Kirk Yetholm), with  St Oswald’s Way  and the Northumberland Coast Path.

You will find independent hostels and bunkhouses along the route.  In the spirit of a true pilgrimage these offer companionship and comfort to weary walkers at a very reasonable prices.

For more information on the route go to the St Cuthbert’s Way official website.  As it starts in Scotland the route is also featured on Scotland’s Great Trails website.

Don’t forget to check the tide times for your arrival at Holy Islands.

The Pennine Bridleway is a 205 mile (330 Km) long National Trail running through the Pennines.  It stretches from Derbyshire to Cumbria. This relatively new route was officially opened in 2012 by Martin Clunes.  Specifically designed for mountain bikers and horse riders. It is of course also perfect for walkers.

The Pennine Bridleway follows a variety of surfaces including minor roads, aggregate tracks, grassed stone tracks, stone setts and worn flags. While some of these have been newly created specifically for the Pennine Bridleway others are drovers’ roads or packhorse trails that have been in use for centuries.

The route takes you through a wonderful variety of landscapes from open moorland to steep-sided wooded river valleys.  It passes thorough both the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.  You will pass a number of reservoirs which bring another dimension to the route. These were originally constructed to service the canals and the needs of the developing industrial cities of the north. More interest is provided by the evidence of the industrial heritage of the South Pennines.  You will see derelict mills, dismantled railways, soot blackened gritstone walls and tall ivy-covered chimneys.  It’s a route of contrast. It’s an adventure and a challenge and brings a great sense of achievement to those that complete it.  For more details see the Pennine Bridleway’s own website.

All along the route there are a selection of independent hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns offering low cost overnight accommodation.  Many have secure bike storage and drying rooms provide or hire out bed linen.  Some provide breakfast and evening meals, others will point you in the direction of local shops and pubs.  Read each hostel’s feature to be sure they are suitable for you.

Photos kindly supplied by the Pennine National Trails Partnership and Earby Hostel

St Oswald’s Way is a 97 mile long distance walking route. Opened in 2006 it stretches from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in the north down to Heavenfield on Hadrian’s Wall in the south.  The route will take you through some of the finest scenery Northumberland has to offer.  St Oswald’s Way is a walk of variety and history with plenty to keep you interested. From Lindisfarne you follow the coastline as far south as Warkworh passing iconic castles, rugged coastline, spectacular beaches and islands on the way.

The route then takes you inland along Coquet valley to Rothbuy and on to the finish at Heavenfield. On this stretch of the walk you will pass hills and moorland, picturesque villages, forest and rolling farmland.  St Oswald’s Way links three historic sites associated with the early 7^th century Northumbrian King and Saint whose name it takes. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne where he founded a monastery that became the ‘cradle of Christianity in England’, Bamburgh which was his royal capital and Heavenfield where he camped before his victory at the battle that made him King.

The route is well served with independent hostels and bunkhouses offering great value accommodation.  With walkers in mind, one night stop overs are easily booked and packed lunches can often be provided (with a little notice). You can either self cater in the communal kitchens or your hosts will recommend local cafés or pubs for your meals.

Far less touristy than the honeypot destinations, Northumberland and St Oswald’s Way have so much to offer.  Stunning scenery, dark skies and a well signed new route which takes you from the iconic coastline through sheltered river valleys up to the atmospheric high moorland. All this without crowds of fellow walkers.

Much more vital information is available from St Oswald’s Way official guidebook , St Oswald’s Way official website and the Long Distance Walkers website.