English country walking questions

If you have Netflix watch "Back to the Country". It is mostly about couples who upon retiring or getting married, etc., want a lifestyle change and sell their townhouse and move to the country or small village to start over. Several of the shows feature park lands and country walks. One showed a coastal trail that combined with small ferried boats to the other side looked like a lot of fun. There must be a book or on line site that has a list of favorite walking trails. You can do hikes with B&Bs booked ahead with your bags being ported by van. Check the National Trust Web site for walking Itineraries. The farther North you go the more likely you are to get away from the crowds. Hadrian's Wall is a great walk. If you like the sea the Jurassic Coast has some great walks. Check the National Parks on line.

There are some companies who specialize in the coast to coast walking. They move your bags from Inn to Inn.

Here is one link as an example:

Coast to Coast walking

Classic Wainwright Coast to Coast walk is more typically a two week walk rather than 3 or 4 days. We used Contours Walking Holidays as our booking service that arranged accommodations and daily luggage transfers:
https://www.contours.co.uk/walking-holidays/coast-to-coast-walk.php

Contours suggest walking itineraries as fast as 12 walking days to as slow as 18 walking days. We did the 14 walking day program with a layover day after the first 7 days of walking.

Several stone circles on the Wainwright Coast to Coast route but they be "modern". The Kinniside stone circle encountered on Day 1 is apparently reconstructed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinniside_Stone_Circle

Shap Abby ruins were on the walk between Bampton and Orton.

If you only have a long week, some guided tour services do the Coast to Coast by including bus legs to cut down the walking distance: https://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/europe/england-hiking-vacation.html

I like the South Downs Way https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Downs_Way

Whilst I haven't completed it in one go, because it's local to me I like to dip into various parts now and then. My favourite part being the steeper hike up Old Winchester Hill where there are the remains of an Iron Age fort along with several Bronze Age burial mounds. It also gives me an excuse to stop off for lunch and a pint at the excellent Shoe Inn in Exton.

This article gives a number of ideas for walks along the South Downs that end in some good pubs.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/east-sussex/south-downs/articles/The-South-Downs-pub-walks/

Try and make yourself familiar with the relief of Britain. Note that if bad weather strikes, it will be worse on the high ground / mountainous areas. Click this link for a brilliant map that will show you hiking routes:> http://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/find-a-walk-or-route.aspx

www.yha.org.uk have hostels on various hiking trails - many with private rooms.

When you say “across England” do you mean literally? Because the famous Coast to Coast walk literally does that, but takes more time than you have.

Or do you mean walk partway along one of our many long-distance paths? Or do a number of long walks from one base?

This country is blessed with many long-distance paths - the South West Coast Path, the Cotswolds Way, the South Downs, the Coast to Coast, the Pennine Way... down to lesser known ones like the Leicestershire Round and the Pedlars Way in Norfolk. Plus many areas that are full of good walks - like the Yorkshire Dales.

The first thing is to have a think about the kind of walk you want to do, and how far per day. Then what sort of countryside - coastal? Moorland? Very hilly? Flat?

Also: are you a good map reader? While paths are signposted they’re not necessarily paved or easy to follow...

Then take a look at one of the many walking websites. Here’s one: https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk
All the long distance paths will have good websites too, with advice on how to tackle the walks etc.

You could also look at companies such as Ramblers or HF Holidays, who offer more organised walking breaks.

And make sure you have good stout boots that are well worn in and can cope with MUD.

Hi -

All the above is relevant and should noted, but for a three-four day walk that gives you what you seem to be after I'd suggest the Ridgeway National Trail, or to be precise, half of it! I'd start at Goring and Streatley and walk towards Avebury, which is the reverse of the usual direction, but at least has the advantage of taking in ancient sites - earthworks, ancient settlements, Uffington White Horse, Waylands Smithy, etc. You could detour a little bit at the end of the walk to West Kennet Long Barrow, and Silbury Hill and conclude your walk up the stone avenue into the always stunning Avebury. As a village occupies part of the stone circle by booking well in advance you can spend the night there - wonderfully atmospheric.

There are also a number of pleasant villages and towns that offer accommodation on, or just off route. Although when we stayed in Wantage we rang for a taxi to take us there and back. The main problem is in the event of hot weather (does happen occasionally!) the Ridgeway is above any water sources in the most part, so carrying plenty with you is a must.

As a National Trail the Ridgeway, often dubbed 'England's oldest road' is well signed and maintained, has a dedicated website and any number of guide books and maps. Getting to the start, which is on the Thames is relatively easy from London by train, getting away would be by infrequent bus to and via Swindon for rail links to all points.

As a northerner I am compelled to give a shout out to my local trail The Dales Way (or the Nidderdale Way, or even the Six Dales Trail) but while they offer sometimes strenuous walking in remote areas, they may not offer the Neolithic type of sites I believe you are after.

Wherever you end up walking I'm sure there will be something that you'll enjoy and you have a proliferation of trails, tracks and paths to choose from, one of the great benefits of the U.K. Though I say so myself!

Happy Trails - hope you have a great time!

Ian

PS. You could also do three or four days on the six hundred mile plus South West coastal path (a national trail) which many visitors from across the pond seem to like to do. Although I've not walked it (it's on the list!) a company I used recently seems to specialise in it, Encounter Walking Holidays. They'll supply you with all the necessary maps and guides and will probably recommend which part(s) of the path might best suit your purpose book your accommodation and arrange for your main luggage to be transferred to your digs each day.. You can read plenty of reviews which might also help at www.encounterwalkingholidays.com

An important resource that no one mentioned is Ordnance Survey (Britain’s mapping agency). They produce detailed topographical maps of entire country. The maps (similar to the US USGS maps) show everything in great detail. They have an app for the iOS and Android that allows you to look at the entire country. Excellent for planning or fantazing. Their website has a lot of other walking and hiking resources.

I met someone who was doing part of the South West Coast Path without changing his accommodations at all, so no luggage to relocate. He was able to take a bus from the town where he was staying each morning to a spot near where he wanted to begin his hike. He returned to the B&B each evening/afternoon the same way. There are parts of that coast where buses run fairly near the shore (and thus fairly near the path). I know no further details, but I wanted to mention this option since this seems a lot cheaper than finding a company that will move your luggage around.

I suggest the Cumbria Way. It is an excellent way to see the Lake District but without any real climbs and takes you from the interesting old town of Ulverston to the interesting city of Carlisle. You can do it in 5 days, or 4 if you cut out the boring bit from Caldbeck to Carlisle and get a taxi instead. You can also cut short at Langdale and get a couple of buses to Windermere station. It is a really lovely walk.

OK, we did the Cumbria Way last year, and while it was truly lovely, it was quite difficult in places. (I guess I'm not as fit as Pete! I blame the rainy weather.)
We've also walked along Hadrian's Wall, and I thought that was less difficult, but also very lovely.
You could consider walking Hadrian's Wall (or part of it). It has lots of historical sites along the way--Roman forts, etc., in addition to the wall itself.
Whatever you decide, then search "booking service to walk XX" and you will find a bunch of choices. We've used Celtic Trails and were happy with them. Another service, www.hadrianswall.ltd.uk, are Hadrian's Wall specialists, so consider them if you decide to do that walk. They were great.
Happy walking!

Thanks everyone for the great responses and suggestions! You have given me plenty to think about.

In response to some questions. I wasn't looking to literally go "across" England, as I only have a few days to dedicate to this part of my trip. I was more looking for hiking a section of a longer trail, or do 3 or 4 day trips from a single hub. Either would be great, preferably with some great iron age historical locations to boot.

Also, Jane, I am a cartographer by trade, so reading the map should be the easy bit. If I could only make a decision on which great trail to hike!

I misremembered the title of Netflix series I mentioned in first reply. It is "Escape to the Country"; I enjoyed it because it showed the "real" Britain and not just "tourist" UK.

I highly recommend trying to find a walking festival to get to know locals, hear stories, have a guide, and sometimes do walks that are on private land. I do these in ireland, often, and some are as low as 5 euros per walk! Always fun...

http://www.walksaroundbritain.co.uk/

is a resource that has lots of festivals listed by month!

There's also a BBC2 podcast that i heard while flying British Air recently. It follows Clare Balding (i'm probably spelling that wrong she's a journalist that specializes in sports/horseracing) as she does day hikes around the London area....

Walking is very different than hiking in America. B&B's often have drying rooms; you'll probably need gators (i never used them in the usa). Most of England is very much geared toward walkers, so you'll be pleasantly surprised as you experience it!

I also recommend the book The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. It's a novel about a man who walks....and walks.... in England. Also there is another BBC Radio Play by Stephen Wakelam that he based on a man who walked one of the very long many month journeys in England. I'm sure if you google it you'll find it! For inspiration!

Susan
ExPat in Waterville

Here is the Smithsonian Magazine link to the article that inspired us to do the Coast to Coast walk:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-walk-across-england-89547636/

A Walk Across England

In the 1970s, British accountant Alfred Wainwright linked back roads,
rights-of-way and ancient footpaths to blaze a trail across the
sceptered isle

By Michael Parfit Smithsonian Magazine September 2003

Wherever you walk, if you stop at a pub, take off your boots before entering. Some pubs have a small sign outside asking you to do just that so you don't bring mud inside and dirty the floors. I hiked in and around Snowshill a few weeks ago and saw signs asking people to remove their boots before entering. Please honor that.