1. St Ives to Zennor, Cornwall
Length: 12.9 miles
Difficulty: Medium
This popular Cornish walk follows the South West Coast Path along rocky cliffs from the harbour town of St Ives to the historic village of Zennor, and back again across fields. It’s a technically simple but physically tough walking route, with a few steep sections that will give your legs a proper workout. If you don’t fancy the return walk from Zennor, you can catch the bus back to St Ives.
2. Wells Beach, Norfolk
Length: 4.7 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Starting and finishing in Wells-next-the-Sea (below), this action-packed walk takes in a bustling harbour, golden sand dunes and thick pine woods – before finishing back at the chippy. If you enjoy a mix of seaside cafés, wildlife, woods, beach huts and a harbour, then this is a walk for you. To extend the walk, continue west along the beach to Holkham Gap.
3. Silver Sands of Morar,
Scottish Highlands
Length: 2.01 miles
Difficulty: Easy
This walk explores the Silver Sands of Morar, a chain of beautiful sandy beaches in the Highlands that feel like Scotland’s answer to the Caribbean. Tucked away in a wild and rugged part of western Scotland on a road to Mallaig, Morar is a small village with a collection of white-sand beaches that offer wonderful views across the islands of Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna.
4. Anglesey, North Wales
Length: 11.88 miles
Difficulty: Easy
With Snowdonia National Park as the backdrop, this walk traces the waters of the Menai Strait, starting at Moel-y-don and ending on the romantic Llanddwyn Island (above). The tiny isle is the home of Wales’ own female St Valentine – St Dwynwen – and has a lighthouse cove with stunning views. This isn’t a circular walk, so factor that in to your planning.
5. The Runkerry Trail, Antrim
Length: 1.83 miles
Difficulty: Easy
If you’re looking for a short cliff-side walk with great views, the two-mile Runkerry Trail, near the Giant’s Causeway, is perfect. It’s a great family walk with picnic spots along the way, and if you keep an eye out you might spot dolphins. The circular walk is mostly flat with a slight incline on the far side as you approach the train track.
Julia is partnered with leading outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Cotswold Outdoor. For more details on all these walks and many more hiking options, go to theoutdoorguide.co.uk.
For more walking inspiration, head to our Coastal Activies section or pick up a copy of Coast!