London and the South East
Sightseeing circuit, central London
Trafalgar Square is the perfect starting point for a family tramp around some of the capital’s best-known landmarks. First, head down Whitehall, past the King’s Lifeguards, to Parliament Square. Here, you can admire Big Ben and explore the tombs of Westminster Abbey. Then meander through St James’s Park – looking out for the pelicans – to Buckingham Palace. Next, cross Green Park to Piccadilly and a stroll east past the Ritz to Piccadilly Circus. Continue to Leicester Square. Finally, return to Trafalgar Square to admire Nelson’s column, the lions and fountains. Access is easy by bus or Tube.
Barnes Wetland Centre, London
This Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve offers families an excellent nature-based excursion near the heart of London. Spot waterbirds and aquatic wildlife, such as frogs, damselflies and even rare water voles, and join activities such as pond-dipping. There is also a learning centre and an adventure playground. Accessible from Hammersmith underground or Barnes overground stations. Entry from £45 for a family of four.
wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london
Seven Sisters, East Sussex
A stirring coastal tramp over the South Downs with gorgeous views of the Seven Sisters’ spectacular white cliffs. From Birling Gap, with its café and shingle beach, follow the clifftop path west to the war memorial obelisk and back (1.5 hours). Or, for a longer circuit (two to three hours), start inland at East Dean, head down to Birling Gap, west along the cliffs and back inland through the hidden hamlet of Crowborough. East Dean’s picturesque Tiger Inn is perfect for a family pub lunch. There are buses from Eastbourne and Brighton, and parking at Birling Gap and East Dean.
sevensisters.org.uk
Box Hill, Surrey
Box Hill and the surrounding countryside are the crowning glory of the Surrey Hills and just an hour from London by train. Circular walks of various lengths start from the National Trust Visitor Centre at the top (café, toilets, picnic area). You can climb the steep hillsides on chalk-cut steps, cross the River Mole on stepping stones, hike through deep woods of beech and yew, seek out Broadwood’s Tower or simply enjoy the fabulous views. A Children’s Natural Play Trail has activities too. Look out for rare butterflies and orchids in summer.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/box-hill/walking-at-box-hill
The South West
Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door, Dorset
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast offers some of England’s best coastal walks, with flower-studded grasslands, intriguing geology and hidden coves full of fossils and rock pools. A 3.3km circular walk, starting in Lulworth Cove car park, takes you down to the picture-perfect cove then west, via the folded rock formations of Stair Hole, to the wave-cut arch of Durdle Door, before returning across the fields. There are some uphill climbs, but the paths are easy-going. Back at Lulworth Cove, stroll down to the pebble beach. Busy at peak times. visit-dorset.com/listing/lulworth-cove/80726301
Haytor, Devon
Dartmoor’s picturesque volcanic rock outcrops, known as tors, offer fantastic clambering and are the perfect focus for a heathery hike over the moorland. Haytor is one of the most accessible – a short walk from Haytor Upper car park, just off the A38, where you’ll find toilets and a visitor centre. If you’re up for a longer hike, then a circular 7km trail over the moor will take you to Hound Tor, behind which you’ll see the remains of a deserted medieval village. Look out for the free-ranging Dartmoor ponies.
dartmoor.gov.uk/enjoy-dartmoor/planning-your-visit/places/haytor
Zennor, Cornwall
The tiny village of Zennor lies just south of St Ives in the far west of Cornwall. A 6km circular walk heads down to the coast and follows the South West Coast Path, before cutting back across the fields. There are some ups and downs, but you can enjoy the secluded beach at Veor Cove and fine views out across Gurnard’s Head. Look out for wildlife, including grey seals and rare choughs overhead. Back in Zennor, grab a crab sandwich in the Tinner’s Arms and explore St Senara Church.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/levant-mine-and-beam-engine/zennor-head-walk
Central and Eastern England
Dunwich Heath, Suffolk
Dunwich Heath is a lovely microcosm of the Suffolk coast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Starting from the National Trust Coastguard Cottages, a gentle 3.8km circuit winds through banks of purple heather and yellow gorse, through deep, mossy woodland and back along the beach. Wildlife is abundant, including deer, dragonflies and unusual birds such as the Dartford warbler. The beach has a lookout point, from which to spot passing ships and maybe the odd porpoise, and enough sand to justify buckets and spades.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/dunwich-heath-and-beach
Dovedale, Derbyshire
The valley of Dovedale lies north of Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Peak District. Walks wind along the River Dove between Milldale in the north and Ilam in the south, passing through the steep, wooded flanks of a limestone ravine. Look out for impressive rock formations such as Lover’s Leap, the Dove Hole caves and the famous Stepping Stones – a classic picnic spot and a highlight for kids. You may also spy Saxon crosses and wildlife such as dippers. An easy return route from Ilam Village to the Stepping Stones will take up to two hours. More strenuous trails climb the valley sides.
visitpeakdistrict.com/business-directory/dovedale
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire
This 7km circular walk winds through the heart of one of Britain’s most ancient woodlands, where 17 sculptures have been placed artfully among the trees. These include a giant cube built from the entire mass of an oak tree, and a stained-glass window hanging high in the canopy, and can be explored in any way you choose, with an audio guide available to download. It’s a Forestry England project, with free, year-round access from Beechenhurst, which has parking, toilets and a café. Other family-friendly attractions nearby include a forest-themed play area and a Go Ape walkway.
forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
Sutton Park, West Midlands
In Sutton Park, it is hard to believe you’re less than 10km north of Birmingham city centre. This national nature reserve – reputedly the largest urban park in Europe – comprises a 971-hectare mosaic of meadows, heathland, woodland, ponds and streams. Open year-round, it offers numerous circular trails for all ages and fitness levels. Look out for the wild Exmoor ponies, plus local wildlife such as woodpeckers. Walk completed, you could visit the donkey sanctuary, hire a pedalo on Blackroot Water or simply kick back in one of the many cafes. birmingham.gov.uk/info/20089/parks/405/sutton_park
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Cotswolds villages, Gloucestershire
The Cotswolds serve up rural England at its most chocolate-box charming. An 8.6km circular walk from the pretty village of Bourton-on-the-Water (the “Venice of the Cotswolds“) takes in the lesser-known but equally charming villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. It’s an easy route, mostly on the flat, that leads across fields, through woods and along shallow, gurgling rivers, perfect for paddling and riverbank picnics. Look out for quaint stone bridges and old watermills. Bourton-on-the-Water has parking (busy at peak times), places to eat, and the Cotswolds Motor Museum.
cotswoldlittleexplorers.co.uk/2024/01/22/bourton-on-the-water-to-the-slaughters-circular-walk
The North
Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Hadrian’s wall, built 1,900 years ago to protect the Roman Empire from hostile northern tribes, once spanned the width of England – 73 miles from coast to coast. But you needn’t walk the whole thing. In Housesteads, Northumberland, you can enjoy a shorter tramp along some of the best remaining sections. You can also explore Housesteads Fort, with Britain’s finest Roman toilets, or climb nearby Winshields – the wall’s highest point – for stirring views of the Cheviots and Pennines. There’s a National Trust car park and café.
hadrianswallcountry.co.uk
Buttermere, Lake District
Buttermere is perfect for a family outing. A circuit of the lake makes for a decent hike, at 7km, but the going is easy and largely flat – bar one short scramble – so you can admire the mountains that loom over the water without having to climb them. Highlights include a small waterfall and a Victorian tunnel. There is parking and food in the tiny village of Buttermere, the start of your walk.
lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/routes-and-maps/routes-and-maps2/map-1
Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland
The Northumberland Coast Path has miles of fabulous hiking, with castles, wildlife and stirring sea views. This gentle 4km return walk leads from the quaint village of Craster, with its famous kipper smokehouse, to the splendid 14th Century ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. It follows a wide grassy coastal track, with sheep fields and paths down to the beach. Listen out for kittiwakes above the waves and scan for any passing porpoises. Craster has food, parking and a bus stop.
english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle
Scotland
Water of Leith Walkway, Edinburgh
This easy footpath runs for 19.6km beside Edinburgh’s main river. You needn’t walk the whole thing, but a 6km stretch, from Fountainbridge in the city centre to the village of Colinton, reveals hidden delights. Start along the Union Canal, passing quirky houseboats, then turn south along the Water of Leith. Highlights include a 140m-long mural along the old Railway Tunnel walls and a surprising amount of wildlife – especially in the delightful Colinton Dell; look out for herons, dippers and perhaps even an otter. Colinton has places to eat and buses back to the city centre. waterofleith.org.uk/walkway
Pollok Country Park, Glasgow Southside
The Pollok Estate was left to the city of Glasgow by the Maxwell family in 1930 and now offers families 360 acres of green space to explore, packed with nature and culture. Along a 4km circular trail, you will find woodlands with ponds and bridges, friendly highland cows, and a walled garden with scattered replica dinosaur bones and a hidden fairy village. You’ll also find Pollok House. The park has cafes and car parking and is a one-minute walk from Pollokshaws West station.
glasgow.gov.uk/pollokcountrypark
Mellon Udrigle, Wester Ross
For gobsmacking scenery without crowds, the wild coastline of Wester Ross is hard to beat. Mellon Udrigle – south of Ullapool, 90 minutes’ drive from Inverness – is a gem. Park at the white sand beach, with its panoramic view across the bay to highland peaks, then head north around the rocky headland, returning via a boggy track to the beach. Abundant birdlife includes gannets, divers and great skuas, and you should scan the sea for dolphins, porpoises and even minke whales.
walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/mellonudrigle.shtml
Wales
St David’s Head, Pembrokeshire
This 6km circular trail explores a stunning stetch of Pembrokeshire’s 299km coast path. It starts from Whitesands Beach – just 3km from St David’s, Britain’s smallest cathedral city – and winds north to the headland. Here, a circular walk passes dramatic clifftop scenery on gentle, heather-clad paths, eventually reaching Coetan Arthur, a neolithic burial site. There are fabulous views and wildlife to spot – from peregrine falcons to pods of dolphins. You then retrace your steps to Whitesands Beach, perfect for paddling, swimming and sandcastles – plus a car park, toilet and cafes.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/st-davids-peninsula/st-davids-head-coastal-walk
Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons
Pen y Fan is a proper mountain: at 886m, the highest in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). But with sensible preparation – good footwear, waterproofs, snacks – it’s perfectly doable as a family walk. The 6.4km circular trail heads up steeply from Pont ar Daf car park, following good paths and steering clear of any scary drops. The summit views are breathtaking – and, with a picnic to hand, they make all that effort worthwhile. The car park is a 40-minute drive from Cardiff and can be reached by bus from Merthyr Tydfil station.
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/bannau-brycheiniog-brecon-beacons/pen-y-fan-and-corn-du-circular-walk
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Aber Falls, Eryri
Eryri National Park, formerly known as Snowdonia, protects the most rugged scenery in North Wales and offers some seriously strenuous hikes. This shorter walk (4.5km there and back) is a gentler family option, following an easy path to one of the park’s most impressive waterfalls, with plentiful picnic sites along the way. Aber Falls sits at the foot of the Carneddau Mountains and is steeped in history, being an important dwelling place for the princes of Gwynedd. There are two small car parks at the start of the walk. Access along a narrow road via the village of Abergwyngregyn, just off the A55.
eryri.gov.wales/walk/aber-falls
