As with any walk, each season has its own unique charm that makes it stand apart from the others. Rain or shine, there is always a pub with a roaring fire, a hot cup of tea or something stronger on the hundreds of walking trails spread all over the UK.
Walking holidays in the UK take place all round the year, albeit with wonderful subtle differences, season by season. Therefore, the best time to do a hike is quite simply when your hiking boots are literally screaming to be donned.
DIY walking holidays are the best and simply taking a self guided walking tour with a good company like Walk with Williams, can be a great experience.
Summer
The Thames Path is gorgeous for walking in summer, especially during April and May. Birding along the river is also very good. This is also the time dragonflies and butterflies can be seen at their active best. Avoid the route in winter as many areas are prone to flooding, especially upstream of Oxford.
Another great, but busy walking route in summer is the Southwest Coast Path. That said, the waters remain comfortably warm even up to early October. Late August and September are excellent for colorful views of the coast when the gorse begins to bloom.
The best time to walk the Pilgrims Trail is however between April and October as the weather is dry. For those interested in sacred experiences, Easter is a good time to visit the Canterbury and Winchester cathedrals on the way.
The Cotswolds have their famous food festival of Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling in May and the Cotswold Food Festival in July and the Cheltenham Drink Festival in June. These are all good months to do the walk.
Nothing can match the beauty of the flower meadows of Swaledale anywhere in the Yorkshire Dales than in summer. When the sun falls on the fields of buttercups, lady’s mantle and cat’s ears, the golden glow is a sight to behold.
The walk starts from Muker village, the highest pub in England and ends at Gunnerside, a hillside settlement, where you can stop for a bite to eat after your six and half mile trek.
A four mile walk in summer across Newborough Forest and Llanddwyn island in Anglesey, Wales has much to offer in terms of views, especially overlooking the Llyn Peninsula and Snowdonia.
The walk leads the rambler through a stunning and diverse landscape that is also rich in wildlife. Songs of the skylark fill the air in summer, while red squirrels clamber up pines in search of food in this little known corner of Wales.
Autumn: Coast to Coast Walk
Come September and most of the walking trails around the UK are less busy with fewer crowds with the peak summer walking season behind them.
Since most walkers have returned back to their daily routine, this is perhaps a good time to have the classic British landscapes all to yourself.
As the temperature gets lower and the summer green turns to Autumn hues of brown, orange and gold, for walkers on the Coast to Coast Path means less humidity and clearer views of the area around you.
One of the UK’s most iconic routes,the beginning of Autumn brings with it a range of experiences that cannot be had in other months and that will add a new dimension to your walking trip.
Autumn is a wonderful time to hike because of crispy and clear mornings followed by a warm afternoon. The Brecon Beacons offer ramblers of all abilities excellent walking trails from gentle strolls to challenging mountain hikes.
The Scottish Highlands is another region which features a range of high mountain hikes over ancient forests and wild glens.
Located in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Ashbridge estate provides walkers with 5000 acres of lush meadows and ancient woodlands to wander in.
Winter
Family reunions take place in December in the Lake District during Christmas, but if you head there just before the public holiday season begins you will have the paths all to yourself.
The weather can vary and temperatures can drop below freezing point, but with proper packing you can have a great time, provided you don’t stray too far off the main route.
Though summer is not so bad, walking in Dartmoor during winter allows you to better explore the muddy landscape as the marshy areas tend to harden up and let walkers wander much further from the footpaths.
The Speyside Way is a nice trek from Buckle to Newtonmore, where walkers are rewarded with surreal views from the Telford Bridge.
One of the great advantages of tackling the long-distance Cumbria Way is that you are likely to have the route to yourself, with plenty of space and if you are lucky, excellent photography opportunities
The West Highland Way is also another option, providing the weather is favorable, as the walking surface tends to be better in winter. Though the route is a bit challenging, the rewards are well worth the effort.
Spring
Spring is the time when the countryside is awash with the sights and sounds of the magnificent meadows and wildflower woodlands and as mammals and other wildlife emerge from their winter hibernation.
You can have the time of your life doing the Hadrian’s Wall Path, a historic Roman landmark built by Emperor Hadrian in the second century AD. Many hikers consider this as the best hike in the UK, especially at this time of the year.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the finest countryside in England, head to South Downs Way in the spring. Rated as the best multi-day hike in the UK, the hike offers a bit of everything.
The lovely Cuthbert’s Way is a walk of repute packed with historical significance. The 30 km walk lets you explore the quiet Northumbrian countryside, with only breathtaking views for company.
For those who have never had the opportunity to set foot on the Lake District of Cumbria, this 14 km walk, which may be challenging in sections, to Helvellyn is a must. Once you reach the summit of Striding Edge, be prepared to be blown away by the views of the surrounding valleys and lakes.
The 11 km long Lizard Coastal Path will surely make your jaws drop with amazement. Walkers on this trail are introduced to the southern coast of Cornwall, beginning from the Lizard Peninsula and ending at Kynance Coast.
Compared to other hiking trails in the UK, the walk is easy and perfect for expert hikers as well as for beginners. Don’t forget to carry a camera because there is every likelihood of spotting seals and dolphins on the walk here.
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