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Best Forest Hikes in United Kingdom

There are 280 hikes in United Kingdom in our database that fit. They average 6.8 km and 150 m (492 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 122 km.

That is 10 percent of the 2,850 routes we map in United Kingdom. They are shorter than the local average, 6.8 km against 20.3 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 150 m (492 ft) against 447 m (1,467 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: 200 are rated easy and 13 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

Easy

Loughside Walk at Castle Ward

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
72 m
Typical duration
48 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Forest
Easy

Beach Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Forest
Easy

Green Chain Walk section 2

England · United Kingdom

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Forest
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • 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
Moderate

London LOOP (Section 22)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
159 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • River
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hoof Trail, Castle Ward

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
12.2 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
268 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Forest
Expert

The Shipwrights Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
82.6 km
/ 51.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,818 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
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 4)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
14.2 km
/ 8.8 mi
Elevation gain
312 m
Typical duration
3 hr 25 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

Barnhill Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Easy

Jubilee Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
17 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Forest
Expert

Beacon Way

England · United Kingdom

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

Boundary Trail, Castle Ward

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
295 m
Typical duration
3 hr 14 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
Easy

Blue Trail, Mount Stewart

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Forest
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Darnley Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
231 m
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Erddig Riverside Walk

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Forest
Moderate

Loch of the Lowes Path

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
165 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Lake
  • Forest
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Erddig Big Wood Trail

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Forest
  • Alpine meadow
  • Castle and ruins
Expert

National Forest Way

England · United Kingdom

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

Braan Path

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
7.0 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
155 m
Typical duration
1 hr 42 min
  • Waterfall
  • Forest

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
Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Trail, Ullswater ValleyEngland6.8 km151 m1 hr 39 minModerateApril to October
Loughside Walk at Castle WardNorthern Ireland3.3 km72 m48 minEasyApril to October
Beach TrailScotland2.4 km52 m34 minEasyApril to October
Green Chain Walk section 2England5.5 km122 m1 hr 20 minEasyApril to October
Buttermere to Rannerdale Walk, North Lakes OutdoorsEngland4.6 km102 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
Crags Constitutional Walk, Hardcastle CragsEngland2.7 km60 m39 minEasyApril to October
Lydford Gorge Waterfall trail, Lydford GorgeEngland1.5 km33 m22 minEasyApril to October
link to Abbey Wood stationEngland0.8 km17 m11 minEasyApril to October
London LOOP (Section 22)England7.2 km159 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Hoof Trail, Castle WardNorthern Ireland12.2 km268 m2 hr 56 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Trail, Ullswater Valley, Beach Trail, Green Chain Walk section 2. 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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