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Loop Trails in England

We track 1,225 routes that match this search in England. They average 6.7 km and 148 m (486 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 114 km.

That is 35 percent of the 3,453 routes we map in England. They are shorter than the local average, 6.7 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, 148 m (486 ft) against 347 m (1,138 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Circular routes: park once, finish where you started, and never walk the same section twice. The mix is broad: 842 are rated easy and 63 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

Isle of Wight Coastal Path

England · United Kingdom

Distance
114 km
/ 71.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,516 m
Typical duration
30 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Milton Keynes Boundary Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
104 km
/ 64.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,277 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Glevum Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
39.9 km
/ 24.8 mi
Elevation gain
877 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • River
  • Mountain
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
Expert

Chalkland Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
66.5 km
/ 41.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,463 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Diamond Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
107 km
/ 66.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,348 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Herriot Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
79.5 km
/ 49.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,749 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Mary Towneley Loop

England · United Kingdom

Distance
72.0 km
/ 44.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,585 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Sheffield Country Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
88.6 km
/ 55.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,950 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Butcombe Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
74.1 km
/ 46.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,630 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Three Forests Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
97.5 km
/ 60.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,145 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Ringstead Circular Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
248 m
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Centenary Circle

England · United Kingdom

Distance
33.9 km
/ 21.1 mi
Elevation gain
745 m
Typical duration
8 hr 45 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Ivanhoe Way

England · United Kingdom

Distance
59.5 km
/ 37.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,309 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
Expert

Winchcombe Way (East)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
35.0 km
/ 21.7 mi
Elevation gain
769 m
Typical duration
9 hr 2 min
  • Mountain
Expert

Winchcombe Way (West)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
33.3 km
/ 20.7 mi
Elevation gain
733 m
Typical duration
8 hr 36 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Dodd Summit Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
126 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Easy

Rowley Hills Geology Trail

England · United Kingdom

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
103 m
Typical duration
1 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
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

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
Old Cote Moor from Kettlewell trail, Upper WharfdaleEngland16.2 km356 m3 hr 56 minHardApril to October
The Wray Castle to Latterbarrow Walk, Wray CastleEngland7.3 km160 m1 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Isle of Wight Coastal PathEngland114 km2,516 m30 hrExpertApril to October
Milton Keynes Boundary WalkEngland104 km2,277 m27 hrExpertApril to October
King Charles III England Coast Path: Walney IslandEngland26.0 km572 m6 hr 36 minHardApril to October
South West Coast Path (Avoiding Mansands Beach)England0.8 km18 m12 minEasyApril to October
South West Coast Path (Section 49: Isle of Portland Circuit)England22.0 km483 m5 hr 31 minHardApril to October
Buttermere to Rannerdale Walk, North Lakes OutdoorsEngland4.6 km102 m1 hr 7 minEasyApril to October
Pastures and Panoramas Walk at Brimham RocksEngland9.1 km201 m2 hr 12 minModerateApril to October
Tarn Hows Ranger Run, Tarn Hows and Coniston, South Lakes OutdoorsEngland6.3 km140 m1 hr 32 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Old Cote Moor from Kettlewell trail, Upper Wharfdale, The Wray Castle to Latterbarrow Walk, Wray Castle, King Charles III England Coast Path: Walney Island. 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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