In the development of these E-routes within the UK no new footpaths have been created: all three routes (E2, E8 and E9) use existing, often well-established long distance paths that have been linked together along with a few relatively short linking sections to create the final route. The best walking destination in Europe for: otherworldly scenery. The route follows the range of limestone hills known as the Cotswolds, running from Bath to Chipping Campden, averaging 600ft in height and peaking at … The Wild Atlantic Way in north-west Ireland is the longest signed coastal route in the world extending to a total of 1,700 miles – and it was once a popular pilgrims’ route. Walking the path is a fantastic mix of Italian architecture and outstanding natural beauty, which makes for one heck of an adventure. I would like to receive competitions, exclusive offers and other promotional emails from Wired for Adventure, I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. Britain’s best long-distance footpaths. If you want to walk any of these fantastic hiking paths, you’ll need to keep your self protected from the sun with appropriate head wear that can keep up with your adventures. Running for about 540 kilometres along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, from Fethiye to Antalya, the Lycian Way is an extraordinary trail that combines several shorter ancient trails. 10 of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, Pen y Fan: Everything you need to know about hiking this popular peak. 30 miles in 10 hours, it is NOT a race. This trail is now an official part of the so-calledE9 European long-distance trail orEuropean Coastal Path. A Challenge event is a longer, organised, walk mostly on footpaths and other Public Rights of Way, across open fields and moors, avoiding tarmac as much as possible. Entire Length: 309 km / 192 miles Country: England Best time to go: late spring until early autumn Why is this one of the best long-distance walks in the UK? The E9, the 'Atlantic and Baltic Path' from Portugal to Estonia, includes a section along the South Coast of England giving a total distance of 3418 miles (5500 km). E2 (Eastern Variant: Stranraer - Harwich). The E8is a 2728-mile (4390 km) route from East Cor… There is a common entry website for these routes at www.nationaltrail.co.uk that links to the sites for each trail, where publication and accommodation information can be found. I have included in this section a list of my favourite Long Distance Walks (or Trails as they are increasingly referred to). The following sections summarise the development of the three E-Routes (E2, E8 and E9) that include sections in the UK, listing the constituent paths that make up these UK sections. Information about getting there, trail accommodations, route maps, and information about the trail itself from folks who've walked them. The links on our paths pages take you to useful sites that provide one or more of the following: outline route information, sources of leaflets or guides, maps – sectional or route schematics. The European long-distance paths (E-paths) are a network of long-distance footpaths that … For the more active traveller, Europe provides excellent opportunities for long distance walking, where you can follow long-distance walking trails and take in some of Europe's finest scenery, while getting fit at the same time.Whether going on a trans-continental odyssey or a leisurely weekend stroll, you will find a trail to suit you. Your data is completely safe and we do not record any personally identifiable information. The Lycian Way, dubbed as the ‘trail of ghosts’, is a stunning 335-mile coastal path that twists and stretches along the coastal cliffs of the ancient coast of Lycia, in Turkey. There are currently 45 local groups and being a member of one of these is great fun! Registered Office: Bellevue, Princes Street, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7NB. Want to find out about a long distance path? The challenge of walking day after day is enticing. They link together established routes in member countries/regions to form international routes, with the aim of encouraging cross-border walking, thereby furthering contacts and understanding among the peoples of Europe. I agreeI do not agree, I consent to allow Wired for Adventure to collect my contact information (required). From walking a rarely travelled section of Nepal’s Great Himalayan Trail to collecting stamps in your Pilgrim’s Passport on Spain’s Camino de Santiago, we have rounded up our Top 10 favourite walking holidays which take you to the best sections of famous long-distance trails. This enchanting long-distance trail is soaked in fascinating history, idyllic temperatures, challenging sections, breathtaking viewpoints and vibrant Turkish culture – so make sure you bring your camera. Photo by Didier Weemaels, licensed under CC BYUsually referred as the TMB, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the best hiking trails in Europe. E-Routes are marked, in part, on new editions of OS maps. How to climb Mount Ararat in Eastern Turkey, 40 adventurous things to do in the UK and Ireland this summer, Why you need to go cycling in Aspromonte National Park, Italy. The 186-mile path snakes and bends through magically rugged clifftops, intimate coves and impressively vast beaches. The ERA itself and many of its member organisations in mainland Europe are largely run by unpaid volunteers and this should be borne in mind when contacting them. An extraordinary journey for anyone wanting to explore one of t… IoW variant: Lymington to Yarmouth Ferry; Isle of Wight Coastal Path: Yarmouth to Needles; Tennyson Trail: Needles to Carisbrooke; local route: Carisbrooke to Newport; Bembridge Trail: Newport to Bembridge; Isle of Wight Coastal Path: Bembridge to Ryde; Ryde to Portsmouth Ferry. The LDWA informs its members about updates as new publications are produced for the constituent routes, through the LDP News features that appear regularly three times a year in its members' journal, Strider. Besides the famous GR 20 there are five other major routes -- three coast to coast walks (Mare a Mare) and two mostly coastal ones (Mare e Monti) -- and a couple of minor ones.Paths overview I consent to allow Wired for Adventure to collect my contact information (required) The Irish section is currently non-existent. Currently three E-Routes, E2, E8 and E9, go through Britain. Overview map for Long Distance Paths and Walks The map below shows a general overview of the location of the Long Distance Paths recorded in the LDWA database, updated approximately every 3-6 months Click the relevant icon on the map for more information about the walk/path We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Destinations. These routes have an ancient Christian history and were created after the discovery of St James’ tomb in the north-west of Spain in 814 AD. The E-Routes currently total over 63,000 km in some 28 countries, extending from Portugal to Cyprus and from Norway to Greece. Apt, then, that this coast-to-coast hike – the Caribbean’s first long-distance trail – bears that name, as it snakes across Dominica’s profusely green and volcanically craggy land. Many long distance paths pass through a variety of different landscapes. All 15 trails can be found in England and Wales, cover a total 4,000 km or so and each are looked after by individual Trail Partnerships. Interview: Walking 1,000 miles around Wales… with a donkey! The Lycian Way, dubbed as the ‘trail of ghosts’, is a stunning 335-mile coastal path that twists and stretches along the coastal cliffs of the ancient coast of Lycia, in Turkey. South West Coast Path National Trail: Plymouth to Studland; Sandbanks Ferry; Bournemouth Coast Path: Sandbanks to Lymington. Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7NB. Indeed, without them the LDWA would not exist. One of its first tasks was to link member countries together by means of a series of long distance footpaths, designated as E-Routes. Please click the button to acknowledge and approve our use of cookies during your visit. To comply with EU Directives we are informing you that our website uses cookies for services such as memberships and Google Analytics. Hiking trails in Europe, long distance hiking trails offers reports of long-distance hiking trails in many European countries, mostly still undiscovered, but beautiful hiking areas. Bringing things back to the UK borders, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of Wales’s most spectacular walking routes. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. When the sun shines on this fantastic coastal route, it is often easy to forget that you’re walking in Britain at all, and not in the likes of some of Europe’s milder countries. © Copyright 2020 - The Long Distance Walkers Association. Recognised Long Distance Walks in excess of 100km in Great Britain are eligible for IVV Awards. Solent Way: Portsmouth to Havent; Staunton Way: Havent to Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP); South Downs Way National Trail: QECP to Jevington; 1066 Country Walk: Jevington to Rye; Saxon Shore Way: Rye to Dover. Translating in English as the ‘five lands’, the Cinque Terre trail stitches together a rich tapestry of five picturesque towns on the western Italian coast. Registered in England, number: 3719756. It includes schematic maps of the full European network and of each route individually, indicating which sections are completed. Design and Development by. The path itself is nestled within the borders of Cinque Terre National Park, and the entire area is laced with exceptional views and landscapes. Find the most amazing coastal walks in Europe. With so many beautiful options to choose from, we sought the help of our friends at Sunday Afternoons, a brand that manufactures fashionable hats that are suitable for adventuring, to help us find five of the best coastal hikes in Europe. In continental Europe, routes are linked via a border crossing; with countries like the UK, where there are no land borders, the links are via ferry ports. Mallorca – Deia to Valldemossa. Long distance walks can be undertaken anywhere, even in a city (though few would want to do this). The European Ramblers Association (ERA) was founded in 1969 to act as an international umbrella organisation for all the major national walking organisations throughout Europe. It also takes in some of the tallest marine cliffs in Europe. The Scottish Highlands are home to some of the best UK walks.There’s the famed West Highland Way – a 96-mile long-distance trek that takes walkers through varied landscapes from Milngavie to Fort William – but for a shorter, concentrated hit of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery hikers should make a beeline for Glen … These E-Paths are waymarked and maintained by the members of the European Ramblers Association (ERA – EWV – FERP). Long distance walks are becoming increasingly popular in Britain. So, you can look good and feel comfortable on the trails! BWF LONG DISTANCE WALKS. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. From the bay of Mont Saint-Michel to the pink granite coast, there are plenty of landmarks along the way to make this one fascinating hike. This is without question one of the greatest historic long distance hikes in Europe. Sunday Afternoons have an incredibly vast range of hats and head wear suitable for many different adventures, and the best bit, their product range is also fashionable and stylish. All these wonders are married together with a fantastic climate to make this a hiking trail that’ll stay in your memory for a lifetime. Southern Upland Way and St Cuthbert's Way (as above); Pennine Way National Trail: Kirk Yetholm to Middleton in Teesdale; Teesdale Way: Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough; Tees Link: Middlesbrough to Guisborough; Cleveland Way National Trail: Guisborough to Filey; Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail: Filey to Hessle, Humber Bridge, Hessle to Barton-upon-Humber; Viking Way: Barton-upon-Humber to Rutland Water; Hereward Way: Rutland Water to Ely; Fen Rivers Way: Ely to Cambridge; Fleam Dyke and Roman Road Walk: Cambridge to Linton; Icknield Way Trail: Linton to Stetchworth; Stour Valley Path: Stetchworth to Dedham; Essex Way: Dedham to Harwich. This website includes a searchable database of over 1,500 UK paths and trails covering more than 88,000 miles. Anyone who feels that LDWA has gone the extra mile to provide exceptional service is particularly encouraged to use this facility. Latest News: Change to election of Officers for 2021 Read more. The extensive network of walking paths in France is overseen by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (), an organisation which maintains, with the assistance of an army of dedicated volunteers, all walking paths throughout the country.Long-distance paths, or Grand Randonnée, are referred to as GR paths and use a system of red and white blazes to mark the way. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. E-Paths are the European long distance paths which link the countries from North Cape to Crete and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Carpathians and the Black Sea.There are 12 E-Paths, bearing the name of E1 to E12. It is one of the European long-distance hiking trails, which is well known to coastal hiking lovers. The famous The Kings Trail, or Kungsleden as it is locally known, is one of the long-distance hikes Europe offers, at about 270 miles (440 km) long and traversing the Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve. Alpine classic treks, coastal delights like walking the Lycian Way, island pleasures in Corsica and Corfu, off-the-beaten-track treks in Albania, Romania and Armenia, snowshoe walking in Finland; Europe possibly has more variety and choice of … Understand [] The 3014-mile (4850 km) route starts in Stranraer, then goes through Southern Scotland, with variants through Eastern England and the Netherlands or Central and Southern England and Flanders to Antwerp, then Ardennes, Luxembourg, Vosges, Jura, Grande Traversée des Alpes (this section is the well-known GR5) to Nice. The E2 runs from Galway to Nice. It traverses 170km (110 mi) passing through the countries of France, Italy and Switzerland to circumnavigate the entire Mount Blanc Massif in the Western Alps. Currently 12 European Long Distance Paths have been established that cross several countries and are each several thousand miles in length. There are long distance paths everywhere from canal towpaths and lowland farmland to coastlines and hills. It has been agreed by the ERA to also identify the routes with a blue shield, the yellow stars of Europe and the corresponding number of the E-route. There are 75 tours to choose from, that range in length from 5 days up to 15 days. Some short linking sections are not yet waymarked. The challenge is to the individual, e.g. Mallorca boasts incredible undulating coastal walks, secluded coves, the smell of citrus everywhere, and remarkable hotels in unforgettable settings. This form collects your contact information. The E2runs from Galway to Nice. There are lots of epic hikes in the UK, including some awesome long-distance trails and multi-day hikes too!If you’re up for a challenge here are the best long-distance walks in the UK.. Also included are a few difficult hiking challenges too, who doesn’t like a long-distance walking challenge!. The paths that make up the two E2 main variants, and the E8 and E9 sections comprise: E2 (Central/Southern Variant: Stranraer - Dover). Currently three E-Routes, E2, E8 and E9, go through Britain. The E8 is a 2728-mile (4390 km) route from west Cork in Ireland to Istanbul, crossing England from Liverpool to Hull along the Trans Pennine Trail, then via Rotterdam, Aachen, Regensburg, Vienna, Bratislava, through Southern Bulgaria to the Turkish Border. That’s why we’re happy to share our nine best walking routes in Europe (in no particular order). For the E9 from Lymington there are mainland and Isle of Wight (IoW) variants: Mainland variant: Solent Way: Lymington to Portsmouth. The website of the European Ramblers Association at www.era-ewv-ferp.com gives information on E-Routes, both in the UK and the overall European network. The 3014-mile (4850 km) route starts in Stranraer, then goes through Southern Scotland, with variants through Eastern England and the Netherlands or Central and Southern England and Flanders to Antwerp, then Ardennes, Luxembourg, Vosges, Jura, Grande Traversée des Alpes (this section is the well-known GR5) to Nice. The 1,970ft high Slieve League Cliffs. E8 Trans Pennine Trail, section from Liverpool to Hull. The total distance is around 1,250 miles but maybe you want to take in the Lake District or the Cairngorms and add to that. There are missing sections in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria and is currently non-existent in Turkey. There is no European 'standard' for these routes and the designation, waymarking and maintenance of the individual sections is the responsibility of the organisations in the country or region concerned. The satisfaction of completing a multi day walk is immense. France is a country well equipped with long- distance footpaths or hiking trails. The trail stretches a whopping 1,056 miles along Brittany’s sublime Emerald Coast and takes you through some of the most unforgettable landscapes imaginable. A company limited by guarantee. Several entry points allow trekkers to either hike a short part if they don’t want to trek the whole distance. The walk: The native Carib-Kalinago called Dominica ‘Waitukubuli’ (‘tall is her body’) after the island’s mountainous spine. Each day brings something different. The Irish section is currently non-existent. The waymarking in the UK is mainly that of the underlying routes. Local groups host regular group walks led by one of their members and some also organise social events and longer trips. The most popular month for these trips is September. France’s GR34 takes you on an incredible journey among beautifully jagged cliffs, intricate bays and soul-stirring scenery. European Coastal Path starts in Cabo de São Vicente … A significant part of the E-Routes in the UK comprise sections of several of the National Trails, as named in the lists above. Typically, around the world, it will be at least 50km (30mi) long. The GR footpaths in Belgium, France, Spain and the Netherlands; European long-distance paths, over 70,000 km (43,000 mi) of 12 long-distance E-paths. See our privacy policy for details on how we manage your data. The classic route is normally walked anti-clockwise over 11 days. But costs are always rising so to help us avoid big increases in our modest membership fee, additional donations are always welcomed. A long-distance trek in its own right, the 124-mile (199.5 km) route is also part of the Wales Coast Path and is located on the isle of Anglesey in the north-west corner of the country. Path information includes maps, publications, and accommodation near the path. That feeling of the fresh sea breeze rippling through your clothes, the smell of the fragrant and vivid wild flowers scattered along the paths, and having sensational views of sparkling blue waters stretch out for miles before your eyes – walking these coastal trails is a true sensory delight. Bellevue, Princes Street, Bangor Trail, Co Mayo, Ireland. However, the routes are long, ranging from 87-1,000 km (54-621 miles), the longest being the Chemin de Paris and the Via de la Plata. Corsica's long distance footpaths offer a unique trekking experience to hikers of all fitness level and proficiency. However, the British Long Distance Walkers Association defines long-distance footpaths as … Acknowledgement is given to the ERA for material from the ERA's website used above. The annual 100 mile event is the LDWA's flagship event. To check out the full range and to find out more about the company, head over to the Sunday Afternoons website. Held every year in a different part of the country, to coincide with the late May Bank Holiday, up to 500 people gather to walk 100 miles in 48 hours. There’s just something spectacular about embarking on coastal hikes in Europe. Ever since the concept of establishing these European Long Distance routes in the UK was raised, the Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) has not only taken an interest in, but was closely involved in the establishment of these routes up to  the early 2000s as an initial implementing body in the UK. A challenging 30-mile day hike through the uninhabited mountain range of Nephin Beg, along the waymarked Bangor … The E-Routes are initiatives of walkers' and ramblers' groups in many European countries, who are members of the European Ramblers Association (ERA). The great thing a long-distance walk is it doesn’t have to be done in one go. LDWA is run entirely by volunteers and we work hard to keep costs as low as possible. Southern Upland Way: Stranraer to Melrose; St Cuthbert's Way: Melrose to Kirk Yetholm; Pennine Way National Trail: Kirk Yetholm via Middleton in Teesdale, where the Eastern section leaves, to Standedge; Oldham Way: Standedge to Mossley; Tameside Trail: Mossley to Broadbottom; Etherow - Goyt Valley Way: Broadbottom to Compstall; Goyt Way: Compstall to Disley; Gritstone Trail: Disley to Rushton Spencer; Staffordshire Way: Rushton Spencer to Cannock Chase; Heart of England Way: Cannock Chase to Bourton-on-the-Water; Oxfordshire Way: Bourton-on-the-Water to Kirtlington; Oxford Canal: Kirtlington to Oxford; Thames Path National Trail: Oxford to Weybridge; Wey Navigations: Weybridge to Guildford; North Downs Way National Trail: Guildford to Dover. Length from 5 days up to 15 days of my favourite long distance paths everywhere canal... 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