Herefordshire
A glorious 60-mile loop around Herefordshire’s rivers, hills, historic pubs, ruined castles, holy wells, tiny churches and ancient orchards, the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way may have been designed with pilgrims in mind, but it’s just as rewarding for secular hikers. Beginning and ending at Hereford Cathedral (a shorter, 30-mile circuit is also possible), this week-long path weaves a spectacular course through the Wye Valley, Golden Valley and the lower reaches of the Black Mountains. Choose cosy B&Bs or sleep in atmospheric churches along the way for added adventure. abbeydoredeanery.org
Scottish Borders
Stringing together four great ruined abbeys in southern Scotland – Kelso, Jedburgh, Melrose and Dryburgh – amid five days of walking, the Borders Abbeys Way works as well in winter as it does in summer. Crunching through frost in crisp sunshine, navigating wooded riverbanks and gentle hills, this 68-mile trail is the perfect antidote to days spent guzzling mince pies. Catching sight of the abbeys’ architecture spotlighted against the snow is a highlight but so, too, is its hopping from one pretty border town to another. That last point meaning the route is fringed with cosy inns and hotels. scotborders.gov.uk
Kent & East Sussex
The 153-mile Saxon Shore Way follows the coast from Gravesend to Hastings passing marshes, sea cliffs, lighthouses and the remains of Roman forts along the way. The two-week route traces the coastline as it was towards the end of the Romans’ time in Britain rather than following the current shore. Highlights include scenic coastal towns such as Whitstable, Rye and Deal, and historic landmarks
like Dover Castle. With bus stops, railway stations and even steam trains along the route it’s easily split into shorter weekend sections, or deviated from to visit eerie Dungeness or the galleries of Margate. kentramblers.org.uk
North Yorkshire
Those who’ve trodden many of Britain’s long-distance footpaths already may want to make for Yorkshire. The Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail is a new 41-mile path in the North York Moors. Taking its name from a 12th-century abbot of Rievaulx, who was also a keen walker, the trail begins and ends in Helmsley, passing fields, woods, moors, riverbanks, ruined abbeys and ancient churches. Split into nine stages (though these can be strung together to make a three-or four-day circuit), high points include a Viking gravestone, historic market towns and villages and mighty Rievaulx Abbey. saintaelredspilgrimtrail.com
Pembrokeshire
Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndŵr’s Way are fabulous inland routes through Wales, but there’s nothing like a coastal hike to blow away the old year, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path promises that. Hugging one of Britain’s most scenic shorelines, this 186-mile trail spans beaches, historic fishing villages, Norman castles, cliffside chapels and Iron Age forts along its 12-day route. Running from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the exposed, coastal route means this is better suited to more experienced winter walkers, but sections such as Martin’s Haven to Dale offer gentler pub-to-pub rambles. pembrokeshirecoast.wales
Derbyshire
Taking the Derwent river as its lead, the 55-mile Derwent Valley Heritage Way meanders scenically from Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District National Park to Derwent Mouth, its confluence with the River Trent. Heritage highlights include Chatsworth and the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, as well as the well-preserved canal village of Shardlow, an 18th-century inland port once dubbed ‘rural Rotterdam’. Combining city, town and countryside, the roughly week-long route is easily shortened or extended, passing museums, steam railways and plenty of open-fired pubs. derwentvalleytrust.org.uk
