Walking Through Time: Why the UK and Ireland Are the World’s Greatest Walking Destinations
Over 100,000 Miles of Footpaths, Legendary Landscapes, and Living History Await Every Step
Few places on earth rival the United Kingdom and Ireland as walking destinations. With more than 100,000 miles of named and marked footpaths crisscrossing landscapes of storybook beauty, these islands offer a walking experience that blends natural splendor, deep history, and a living cultural tapestry found nowhere else.
A Landscape Shaped for Walking
The sheer scale of the UK and Ireland’s footpath network is staggering. In the UK alone, over 100,000 miles of public rights of way are legally protected and meticulously maintained, offering walkers access to coastlines, moorlands, forests, and rolling hills. Ireland, too, boasts thousands of miles of waymarked trails, from the wild Atlantic coast to tranquil greenways connecting villages and towns. This abundance means you’re never far from a well-marked path—whether you’re seeking a gentle ramble or a multi-day adventure.
Walking in the Footsteps of Legends
What sets these paths apart is not just their number, but the stories they hold. The UK and Ireland are lands where history and myth are inseparable from the landscape. Walkers literally follow in the footsteps of iconic figures:
William Wallace once moved stealthily through the Scottish Highlands, leading a nation’s fight for freedom.
Jane Austen strolled the Cotswold hills and the streets of Bath, scenes that inspired the social worlds of her beloved novels.
J.R.R. Tolkien found inspiration for Middle Earth in the Cotswolds’ ancient villages and wild countryside, with local inns and churches rumored to have shaped his legendary tales.
Daphne du Maurier wandered the dramatic cliffs and coves of Cornwall, weaving their atmosphere into classics like Rebecca and Jamaica Inn.
St. Patrick traversed the hills and valleys of Ireland, leaving a legacy celebrated by modern pilgrims along Saint Patrick’s Way, an 89-mile signed trail through some of Northern Ireland’s most evocative scenery.
A Culture of Access and Care
Unlike many countries, the UK and Ireland enshrine the right to roam. In England and Wales, public rights of way are legally protected and mapped, ensuring walkers’ access even across private land. In Scotland, the “right to roam” is even broader, granting freedom to explore most of the countryside. In Ireland, local authorities and communities invest in maintaining and expanding greenways and footpaths, fostering a culture where walking is part of daily life and heritage.
These rights are cherished and fiercely protected by local communities. Volunteers and organizations—like the Ramblers and the South West Coast Path Association—work tirelessly to maintain paths, clear overgrowth, repair stiles, and ensure waymarks are visible. This grassroots stewardship means the paths are not just routes through the countryside, but living threads connecting people to place and past.
Sunrise at Stonehenge: A Classic Journeys Signature
Among the most unforgettable experiences Classic Journeys offers is a sunrise walk through the English countryside to Stonehenge. Imagine setting out before dawn, the world hushed and the air cool, as you make your way along ancient paths across Salisbury Plain. As the first light breaks, you arrive at Stonehenge—one of the world’s most iconic and mysterious sites—where, thanks to exclusive ‘Only with Classic Journeys’ access, you and your fellow travelers are alone among the stones.
There are no ropes, no crowds—just you, your guides, and the monumental sarsens steaming in the dawn. You feel the sun on your face as it begins to warm the night-cooled sandstone, and you’re free to wander, reflect, and absorb the atmosphere in a way few ever experience. Afterward, enjoy a picnic breakfast and a champagne toast right there among the stones, sharing impressions and theories about the monument’s origins. By the time the first public visitors arrive, you’ll be walking away, carrying with you a memory that feels both ancient and uniquely your own.
Walking Through Living History
Every step on these trails is a journey through time. In the Cotswolds, honey-colored villages and rolling meadows evoke centuries of rural tradition. Paths like the Cotswold Way guide you from the Georgian elegance of Bath to the medieval charm of Chipping Campden, passing ancient monuments, market towns, and panoramic viewpoints.
Cornwall’s South West Coast Path hugs rugged cliffs and hidden coves once patrolled by coastguards and haunted by smugglers—a landscape immortalized by du Maurier and others. In the Scottish Highlands, the West Highland Way leads you from the outskirts of Glasgow to the shadow of Ben Nevis, traversing lochs, glens, and moors that have witnessed clan battles and inspired poets.
Along the Fife Coastal Path near St Andrews, walkers discover fishing villages, sandy beaches, and echoes of Scotland’s medieval and golfing heritage. In southwestern Ireland, the Kerry Way and Wicklow Way wind through wild mountains, serene lakes, and ancient monastic sites, offering both solitude and a sense of connection to Ireland’s mythic past.
Why Walk Here?
Unmatched Variety: From gentle village-to-village strolls in the Cotswolds to dramatic coastal hikes in Cornwall and Ireland, there’s a walk for every taste and ability.
Rich Heritage: Every path is layered with history, literature, and legend, letting you experience the worlds of Austen, Tolkien, Wallace, and du Maurier.
Community and Care: The paths are loved and looked after—not just by authorities, but by locals who see them as part of their identity.
Freedom to Roam: The legal framework and culture of access mean you can explore landscapes that are off-limits in many other countries.
Living Landscapes: Walkers are part of a living tradition, sharing the paths with farmers, villagers, and fellow travelers, and discovering that the story of these islands is still being written with every step.
To walk in the UK and Ireland is to move through a landscape that is both timeless and alive, shaped by centuries of human story and natural beauty. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of a literary giant, a national hero, or simply seeking your own adventure, the footpaths of these islands invite you to slow down, look closer, and become part of something enduring. For Classic Journeys travelers, there is nowhere better to lace up your boots, greet the sunrise at Stonehenge, and step into history.
