Hiking in the UK just feels different. It’s a walk, not a hike. It’s something that truly everyone takes part in. There are so many places open to roam. Country pubs exist. There’s another beautiful or historic spot to explore around every corner. With apologies to my American friends, hiking is just better here.
UK Walking Is More Casual Than US Hiking
In the US, I would hesitate to call myself a hiker. Hikers are fit people who go on a hike every weekend and never shut up about hiking. I love these people and often aspired to be one of them, but never really felt comfortable granting myself that title. Overall, hiking in the US has always felt like a sport.
Here in the UK, I’ve yet to meet a “hiker”. Truly, everything here is a “walk”. Out for a Sunday stroll across the countryside? You’re on a walk. Trekking over 200 miles on a trail ominously named The Cape Wrath Trail? Still a walk.
Part of the reason for this seems to be just how ingrained walking is in the culture. It’s been common for me to encounter multiple generations of the same family out on a Sunday walk together. Yes, the kids are sometimes grumbling and grandparents sometimes move at a slower pace, but everyone is out there.
Taking on a hiking trip is also encouraged for students as young as 14 through the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This award originated in the 1950s and requires completing various community involvement, skill-building, and physical activity components to achieve. The most discussed part of this award is the Expedition section. This typically involves a multi-day backpacking hike and camping trip. Lots of young people take part, further building on the walking culture here.
UK Walkers Have Many More Available Routes Than in the US
Walking culture is a natural result of an ancient UK custom allowing the right to roam across open countryside, whether the property is publicly or privately owned. Having moved from California, where you often can’t even walk along the coast without being called out for trespassing, the access allowed in the UK is a dream.
The extensive walking paths in the UK also make it fairly simple (if not always easy) to walk from town to town. If you were so inclined, you could walk the Thames Path from Oxford all the way to Tower Bridge in London, a distance over 50 miles. The Coast to Coast Path will take you all the way across the mid-section of the country, and really intrepid walkers have walked from Scotland to England.
UK Walking Feels Safer
I feel safer hiking in the UK than I ever did in the US. One of the big reasons for this is simply that I encounter more people while out hiking. I often hike alone and derive some feeling of safety from knowing I am rarely outside of yelling distance from another group of walkers. This is no guarantee anyone would come to my aid, but it helps the confidence.
Here I don’t worry that wandering across a field will result in my getting shot by a confused hunter or property protecting farmer. That sentence says a lot about my gun violence expectations in the US, but it is another reason I feel safer heading out solo here.
Aside from human dangers, while hiking in the US I always had an eye out for dangerous wildlife. Depending on where I was living at the time, I might be looking for: snakes, alligators, coyotes, snakes, mountain lions, bears, or snakes. I always find snakes. It’s a curse.
There are still dangers to watch out for walking in the UK (even snakes!), but things are a lot tamer here in general. Honestly, I mostly worry about the cows. They can get spooked by dogs and are prone to being aggressive if they have calves present. Give them space when you’re crossing that farmer’s field. They’re a lot bigger and faster than you realize.
UK Walkers Have Fantastic Options for Places To Break
Back in the US, I’d sometimes meet up with a friend for a hike and we would then drive to a café together. That was always fun, but do you know what’s better? Stumbling upon a country pub while on your walk at the perfect moment for a break.
Even dedicated backpackers on long hikes can appreciate being able to dip into a town near their route for some fish and chips to break up the monotony of trail food. Finding cafes, pubs and snack shops right at trailheads and along country wanders is a trend I rarely encountered in the US. Here, it’s very much the norm.
For hikers that love a day hike but aren’t interested in going full back-packer mode, the UK offers options to hike town to town while still sleeping in a real bed each night. Check out my guide to planning a walking holiday in the UK for more on this fantastic vacation idea. For a real luxury experience, you can even have your bags carted between gorgeous B&B’s each day. Enjoy hiking with just a day pack while all of your preferred toiletries, a luxe shower, clean clothes, a great meal, and a cozy bed await you at your next destination.
The UK Offers Miles of Historic and Romantic Landscape
Ok, so maybe all this talk of the available convenience for hiking in the UK makes you think it’s more like urban walking with a few fields thrown in? Things certainly feel more urban in the Southeast of the UK when compared to some of the backcountry hikes in US National Parks. One of the perks of walking here is that you can find a path through the trees even in large cities like London.
However, you can still find pockets of remote wilderness on this civilized island. There is plenty of challenge to be found out there as well, including climbs and navigating trackless routes. These require a higher level of physical fitness and are great for those who want to camp along the way. Scotland even allows wild camping, meaning you can set up your tent wherever you like in open land rather than seeking out a designated campground. Make sure to leave no trace and camp away from farm animals to avoid causing problems for locals.
Aside from finding wild beauty, walking in the UK often includes a chance to visit historical sites along your way. A road carved by Romans, a Norman castle ruin, and a Neolithic flint mine are highlights just on a few walks near my home in West Sussex. You can also find ancient standing stones, stately homes, oceanside cliffs and countryside vistas dotted with fluffy sheep. This truly is a beautiful country, and we’re lucky that so much of it can be discovered on foot.
Where Do You Prefer to Hike?
Ironically, I go hiking much more regularly now, even though comparing the UK and California climates wouldn’t lead you to expect this shift. I’ll still enjoy a hike while visiting the US, but I’m 100% a bigger fan of hiking in the UK. These days I’m just going for a walk.
