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Best Forest Hikes in England

316 routes in England qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 6.3 km and 138 m (453 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 122 km.

That is 9 percent of the 3,453 routes we map in England. They are shorter than the local average, 6.3 km against 15.8 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 138 m (453 ft) against 347 m (1,138 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 243 are rated easy and 12 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

Expert

The Shipwrights Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
82.6 km
/ 51.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,818 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

link to Abbey Wood station

England · United Kingdom

Distance
0.8 km
/ 0.5 mi
Elevation gain
17 m
Typical duration
11 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Expert

National Forest Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
122 km
/ 75.9 mi
Elevation gain
2,688 m
Typical duration
32 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Ribble Valley Jubilee Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
101 km
/ 63.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,357 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Beacon Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
37.4 km
/ 23.2 mi
Elevation gain
822 m
Typical duration
9 hr 41 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Expert

Forest Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
40.1 km
/ 24.9 mi
Elevation gain
882 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Broxbourne Woods NNR Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
15.4 km
/ 9.6 mi
Elevation gain
340 m
Typical duration
3 hr 44 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

London LOOP (Section 2)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
11.4 km
/ 7.1 mi
Elevation gain
251 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

London LOOP (Section 5)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.2 km
/ 6.3 mi
Elevation gain
223 m
Typical duration
2 hr 27 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

River Walk at Wallington

England · United Kingdom

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
74 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Forest
Easy

Woodland Trail, Kinver Edge

England · United Kingdom

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
45 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Valley Views Trail, Gibside

England · United Kingdom

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
151 m
Typical duration
1 hr 39 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Forest
Expert

Community Forest Path

England · United Kingdom

Distance
74.8 km
/ 46.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,645 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Peak Forest Tramway Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
77 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Moderate

Centenary Trail, Kinver Edge

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
The Wray Castle to Latterbarrow Walk, Wray CastleEngland7.3 km160 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
The Shipwrights WayEngland82.6 km1,818 m21 hrExpertApril to October
Buttermere to Rannerdale Walk, North Lakes OutdoorsEngland4.6 km102 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
link to Abbey Wood stationEngland0.8 km17 m11 minEasyApril to October
National Forest WayEngland122 km2,688 m32 hrExpertApril to October
The Ribble Valley Jubilee TrailEngland101 km2,357 m27 hrExpertApril to October
Pulpit Hill Fort and Nature Reserves Circular Walk, Central ChilternsEngland2.7 km60 m39 minEasyApril to October
Beacon WayEngland37.4 km822 m9 hr 41 minExpertApril to October
Forest WayEngland40.1 km882 m10 hrExpertApril to October
Broxbourne Woods NNR TrailEngland15.4 km340 m3 hr 44 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with The Shipwrights Way, The Wray Castle to Latterbarrow Walk, Wray Castle, Buttermere to Rannerdale Walk, North Lakes Outdoors. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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