Wandering through Borough Market is something most of us love, but occasionally getting away from the daily noise, the crowds, and millions of notifications is a must. Usually a holiday to the beach is more than enough, but sometimes we need something deeper, without the stress of planning every single detail. That’s when a walking holiday is helpful, and the best part is that you don’t need to travel too far, because the UK has some of the best in the world.
How to Prepare for Your First Big Trek
Now, a walking holiday usually sounds like a big thing, and planning can be complicated due to the huge amount of details you need to take care of, like booking all the different places to stay, moving your luggage, managing your gear, and the logistics around daily routes.
Thankfully, there are several specialized tour agencies that focus on walking holidays, like Orbis Ways. They take care of everything for you, including booking your rooms, planning your routes, and moving your luggage for you.
This way you can just focus on actually enjoying the trail. Not only that, you can use the spare time from planning everything yourself and put it into getting ready for the trek.
While you do not need to be a top athlete to enjoy a long walk, I highly recommend that you do some pre-workouts. Nothing big, just start walking around your neighborhood a few times a week, and slowly add more time until you can walk for a few hours at a calm pace without any issues.
The goal is to focus on building stamina instead of speed. After all, a walking holiday is not a race.
If possible, do all the pre-walking with the same shoes you will take on the trip; your footwear will make or break your trip, so treat your feet well. Do not start the trail with brand-new shoes; this will save you a ton of issues down the road.
The Great Glen Way
It’s situated in Scotland, which is home to some of the best views, and honestly, the Great Glen Way is a great way to see them.
The trail runs on a natural fault line that stretches 78 miles straight across the Scottish Highlands from Fort William to Inverness. It stays surprisingly flat most of the way, and you will be able to spot the famous Caledonian Canal, old castles, small towns, and huge lakes like Loch Ness, and more.
The path has almost no elevation gains, which means no sharp hills to climb, which makes it perfect for beginners. Not only that, but it’s also well maintained; the signs are clear, and there are a ton of amenities all along. You also pass ancient towns with great cafes where you can stop for hot tea or soup when you want a break.
Hadrian’s Wall Path
While the Great Glen Way certainly has its fair load of history, nothing compares to this trail. The Hadrian’s Wall Path runs 84 miles across the north side of England, from coast to coast, and the surrounding history is just as incredible. Almost two thousand years ago, the emperor Hadrian told his soldiers to build a huge stone wall to show the edge of the Roman Empire.
Today you can walk right next to the ruins of this incredible old structure. The hike starts near the busy city of Newcastle and finishes on the western coast in Cumbria.
Once there, you will pass old Roman Forts, watchtowers, museums, and castles along the route. The ground is mostly easy to walk, with farmland and a few short hills in the middle.
Despite having hills to climb, it’s perfect for beginners. There are several towns, coffee shops, and places to stay and eat along the way. You can rest your legs at a traditional country pub while enjoying a hot meat pie.
Not only that, but since this route is an established National Trail, the paths stay well-maintained and clearly marked.
The Thames Path
The Thames Path follows England’s longest river from a meadow all the way into central London. You can easily walk just a short section instead of the whole thing. Most beginners pick a small part of the route and spend four or five days walking through the countryside.
Because the path follows the water, the ground stays mostly flat, and you will not find an easier long-distance walk anywhere else in the country.
Watching the river change is the best part of the journey. You get to see the water grow from a tiny stream into a massive river. The landscape looks different every single day; you will find fields, willow trees, grand estates, historic castles like Windsor, and lively boating towns.
Great riverside pubs sit all along the trail, so you can always stop for a cold drink by the water and watch the swans swim past.
Conclusion
Walking across a whole country sounds tough, especially when you consider how complicated planning can be, but the UK makes it effortless. You do not need to figure out confusing maps, sleep in a tent, or eat bad camp food. These trails give you clear paths, great views, and places to stay every night. Especially if you decide to go with a tour agency like Orbis Ways.
