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Loop Trails in United Kingdom

There are 1,686 hikes in United Kingdom in our database that fit. They average 6.5 km and 144 m (472 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 209 km.

That is 36 percent of the 4,739 routes we map in United Kingdom. They are shorter than the local average, 6.5 km against 14.9 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 144 m (472 ft) against 327 m (1,073 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: 1204 are rated easy and 81 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

Arran Coastal Way

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
104 km
/ 64.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,283 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
209 km
/ 130 mi
Elevation gain
4,602 m
Typical duration
56 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Trail of the 7 Lochs

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
81.6 km
/ 50.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,795 m
Typical duration
21 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Borders Abbeys Way

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
108 km
/ 67.0 mi
Elevation gain
2,373 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Cateran Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
106 km
/ 65.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,325 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Summit Trail, Belfast Area

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
1 hr 4 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Easy

Loch Morlich Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
124 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Lake
  • Coastal
  • Forest
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
Easy

Rogie Falls Riverside Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Waterfall
  • River
  • Forest
Expert

Newcastle Way

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
41.4 km
/ 25.7 mi
Elevation gain
912 m
Typical duration
10 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Red Trail, Florence Court

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
8.6 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
2 hr 5 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Mountain
Easy

Cascade Trail

Wales · United Kingdom

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Ben Lomond Viewpoint

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Waterfall Way

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
78 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Easy

Lough Trail, Belfast Area

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
20 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Panoramic viewpoint
Easy

Raven Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Coastal
  • Panoramic viewpoint
  • Wildlife watching
Easy

Beach Trail

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Coastal
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

Slieve Donard Trail, Mournes

Northern Ireland · United Kingdom

Distance
9.4 km
/ 5.8 mi
Elevation gain
207 m
Typical duration
2 hr 16 min
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
  • Pilgrimage route
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

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
Arran Coastal WayScotland104 km2,283 m27 hrExpertApril to October
Isle of Anglesey Coastal PathWales209 km4,602 m56 hrExpertApril to October
Trail of the 7 LochsScotland81.6 km1,795 m21 hrExpertApril to October
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
Borders Abbeys WayScotland108 km2,373 m28 hrExpertApril to October
Cateran TrailScotland106 km2,325 m28 hrExpertApril to October
Pen Anglas Headland Walk, PembrokeWales1.2 km27 m18 minEasyApril to October
Summit Trail, Belfast AreaNorthern Ireland4.4 km97 m1 hr 4 minEasyApril to October
Loch Morlich TrailScotland5.6 km124 m1 hr 21 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Arran Coastal Way, Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, Trail of the 7 Lochs. 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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