Skip to content

Moderate Hiking Trails in United Kingdom

616 routes in United Kingdom qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 10.2 km and 225 m (738 ft) of ascent.

That is 22 percent of the 2,850 routes we map in United Kingdom. They are shorter than the local average, 10.2 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, 225 m (738 ft) against 447 m (1,467 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Moderate

E2 (Humber Bridge)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.2 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
158 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
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
Moderate

Loch A Choire Route

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
11.6 km
/ 7.2 mi
Elevation gain
255 m
Typical duration
2 hr 48 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Capital Ring (Section 01)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
10.0 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
219 m
Typical duration
2 hr 24 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

London LOOP (Section 1)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
296 m
Typical duration
3 hr 15 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

London LOOP (Section 23)

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
164 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • River
  • Waymarked route
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
Moderate

Great Glen Way High Route

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
8.1 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
179 m
Typical duration
1 hr 58 min
Moderate

Great Glen Way High Route

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
167 m
Typical duration
1 hr 50 min
Moderate

Great Glen Way Low Route

Scotland · United Kingdom

Distance
9.9 km
/ 6.2 mi
Elevation gain
218 m
Typical duration
2 hr 24 min
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
Moderate

Happisburgh Circular Walk

England · United Kingdom

Distance
12.1 km
/ 7.5 mi
Elevation gain
265 m
Typical duration
2 hr 55 min
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sefton Coastal Path

England · United Kingdom

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
160 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • Coastal

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
E2 (Humber Bridge)England7.2 km158 m1 hr 44 minModerateApril to October
King Charles III England Coast Path: South Hayling to East Head: Avoidance of Itchenor FerryEngland13.0 km285 m3 hr 8 minModerateApril to October
South West Coast Path (Section 13: Tintagel to Port Isaac)England14.8 km326 m3 hr 34 minModerateApril to October
South West Coast Path (Section 20: Hayle to St Ives)England11.1 km243 m2 hr 40 minModerateApril to October
South West Coast Path (Section 22: Pendeen to Sennen Cove)England14.9 km327 m3 hr 35 minModerateApril to October
West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven)Scotland14.3 km315 m3 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
West Highland Way (Milngavie to Drymen part 2)Scotland13.2 km290 m3 hr 11 minModerateApril to October
West Highland Way (Tyndrum to Inveroran)Scotland14.3 km314 m3 hr 27 minModerateApril to October
Cape Wrath Trail (Bealach Ban-Loch Coulin)Scotland9.6 km211 m2 hr 19 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park Trail, Ullswater Valley, E2 (Humber Bridge), West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven). 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

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for