When you are thinking about outdoor adventures, walking holidays are often more than just casual trips. These holidays allow you to slow down, breathe deeper and reconnect with the parts of life you miss out. Being in the UK allows you to explore the country on foot and discover a lot more than you expect.

From coastal paths that clear your head to mountain valleys that reset your rhythm, there are ample walking trails that give you space to think, to unwind, to rediscover your own pace.

With Walk With Williams, you can make the most of your walking holidays in the UK, as each walk becomes a story you live and not some random box-ticking adventure. These self-guided walking holidays are meaningful escapes designed for people who want to feel the landscape rather than race through it.

Cross Bucks Way

If you’re looking for a gentle walk that feels like a long exhale, Cross Bucks Way is exactly that. Stretching 28 miles from Linslade in Bedfordshire to Stratton Audley in Oxfordshire, this easy-going route is all soft countryside, quiet lanes, and peaceful farmland.

This is ideal for those who want to unwind and enjoy a light adventure at the same time. This path allows you to walk through villages where life moves at a comfortable pace, cross open fields brushed by the wind, and follow paths that invite slow mornings and unhurried afternoons.

What makes this trail perfect for a lifestyle-focused holiday is its simplicity. No steep climbs, no technical sections, just a steady, restorative journey that lets you switch off from the noise and reconnect with the small pleasures of being outdoors.

St Cuthbert’s Way

Spanning 62 miles from Lindisfarne in Northumberland to Melrose in the Scottish Borders, this moderate trail blends coastline, moorland, riverpaths, and wide-open hills in a way that feels almost cinematic.

What makes St Cuthbert’s special is its rhythm. One moment you’re tracing quiet stretches near the North Sea, the next you’re climbing into rolling borderland with sweeping, horizon-wide views. If you love history, then you are going to love these trails as you pass ancient abbeys, sacred sites, and old pilgrim paths.

Crossing to Holy Island at low tide is easily one of the most memorable moments. There’s something almost otherworldly about that slow approach over sand and shimmering flats, and it sets the tone for the rest of the journey: thoughtful, atmospheric, quietly powerful.

The Dales Way

If you are ready for some long walks in the English countryside, you can opt for The Dales Way. Stretching 80 miles from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, this moderate route follows rivers, valleys, and classic Dales countryside in a way that feels spacious and grounding.

What stands out here is the gentleness of the landscape. You move through green pastures, stone-walled fields, and quaint villages, with long riverside stretches that settle you into an easy, natural rhythm. The views widen gradually as you move north and help you unwind at your own pace. You can also plan a hike and camp holiday on the Dales Way route to make it memorable.

While you walk it, you can find various bridges, quiet churches, cosy inns, and traces of rural history sit naturally along the trail, never demanding attention but always adding texture. The Dales Way is perfect if you prefer landscapes that soothe rather than surprise, and a walk that lets you slow down, settle in, and experience the north of England at its most graceful.

The Norfolk Coast Path

Spanning 84 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea, the Norfolk Coast Path is an easy route that blends big skies, shifting tides, and long, golden stretches that invite you to just keep going. What defines this trail is the simplicity of its scenery.

The route allows you to move through dunes, salt marshes, quiet fishing villages, and wide-open beaches where the wind and light seem to change by the minute. Nothing feels rushed here; the landscape has that slow, elemental rhythm that clears your head without you even noticing.

The path is also incredibly photogenic. The Norfolk Coast Path is ideal if you want a walk that’s serene, spacious, and refreshingly easygoing, the kind of trail where the scenery does the unwinding for you.

The Yorkshire Wolds Way

For walkers who enjoy gentle hills, rolling farmland, and timeless village scenes, The Yorkshire Wolds Way offers a quietly captivating journey. This moderately challenging path spans 79 miles from Hessle in the East Riding of Yorkshire to Filey in North Yorkshire. The path is dotted with undulating chalk hills, hidden valleys, and pastoral landscapes that feel both expansive and intimate.

This route also allows you to stroll along open ridgelines that provide sweeping countryside views, quaint villages and peaceful farmland paths. This is a walk designed to encourage calm observation and a deeper connection with the surroundings.

Finishing at the coastal town of Filey provides a satisfying conclusion to a route that balances quiet effort with rewarding vistas. The Yorkshire Wolds Way is perfect for those seeking a restorative walking holiday, one that blends soft adventure with calm, open-air beauty.

The Northumberland Coast Path

If you are interested in a coastal path in Northern England, the Northumberland Coast Path offers a moderately paced, unforgettable journey. This route spans 62 miles from Cresswell to Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the trail traces sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and open fields that are as varied as they are serene.

The route is moderately challenging and allows you to walk through a diverse set of landscapes, from windswept shores to quiet country lanes. You also enjoy glimpses of historic castles and quaint villages. With plenty of things to do in Northumberland, you can always make this walking holiday memorable the way you prefer.

When you reach Berwick-upon-Tweed, you can enjoy wide estuary views marking the end of a journey that is scenic, contemplative, and quietly powerful. The Northumberland Coast Path is perfect for walkers seeking a coastal experience that balances natural beauty, gentle challenge, and a sense of escape.

The Peddars Way

If you enjoy quiet, expansive paths and a steady, restorative pace, The Peddars Way offers a journey that is both accessible and memorable. This route stretches 46 miles from Knettishall Heath in Suffolk to Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk and snakes through gentle farmland, open heath, and peaceful woodland, giving a perfect balance of variety and calm.

The route is relatively flat and easy, although it occasionally dips into wooded sections or stream crossings, with the landscape opening out to reveal wide skies and distant horizons. The simplicity of the route encourages reflection and allows you to fully immerse yourself in each step.

Ending near the Norfolk coast gives a subtle, rewarding finish, with views over salt marshes and open water that feel expansive and serene. The Peddars Way is ideal for walkers who seek an easygoing, restorative route that balances gentle effort with open-air tranquillity.