Britain's Top 10 Walking Destinations

Walking in the British Isles is as popular as ever and caravanners love the great outdoors. But, what are the most popular places to walk across the UK, and how do you find them?

Firstly, we are lucky to have the wonderful Ordnance Survey (OS) maps to help us find the best places to walk, and locate the caravan and camping sites nearest to them. Finding the site nearest to the walks you want is much easier with a map. Walking without a map is like walking with a blindfold for some people. An OS map helps you understand and enjoy the place you are walking through because of the information it shows.

What are the most popular walking areas?

Based on searches on its website, the OS published the top ten places to walk in Britain in 2016, which revealed some classics and some unexpected outcomes.

Here are the top places in reverse order:

Patterdale, Cumbria

Patterdale is close to the centre of the Lake District and it is an ideal village from which to walk to the surrounding peaks, such as Helvellyn. Patterdale is at the foot of Ullswater.

Suggested caravan site: Sykeside Camping Park

Malham, North Yorkshire

Malham is famous for ‘Malham Cove’, a huge limestone cliff out of which streams water which has come from deep under the Yorkshire Dales. On top of the cliff is a remarkable, natural ‘pavement’. It is a beautiful spot and well worth visiting.

Suggested caravan site: Wood Nook Caravan Park

Coniston, Cumbria

Deep in the Lake District National Park, Coniston is a favourite for walkers that want to climb Coniston Old Man, the highest point in Lancashire. Coniston Water attracts people because of its World Speed Records which Donald Campbell broke four times in the 1950s. He died on Coniston Water in 1967 in his boat ‘Bluebird K7’ attempting to break the speed record again.

The nearest caravan site: Coniston Park Coppice Caravan Club Site

(Photo: Tompage02)

Castleton, Derbyshire

What better place to base yourself for walking in the Peak District? Castleton sits between the Dark Peak in the north, and the White Peak in the south, making it an ideal place to pitch up and spend time walking and touring the National Park.

Suggested caravan site: Castleton Caravan Club Site

(Photo: Stephen Burton)

Brecon, Powys

Nestled north the Beacons National Park, Brecon is a good spot for walkers to stay. Drive up from the town to start at the foot of the highest peak, Pen-Y-Fan, or walk straight out into the hills. It is a beautiful area and full of wonderful walks for all types of walkers.

Suggested caravan site: Anchorage Caravan Park

(Photo: Mick Lobb)

Ambleside, Cumbria

Back up to the Lake District to Ambleside, which is at the northern end of Lake Windermere. Ambleside is in the centre of National Park making it perfect as a base to explore the area, either for walking or touring.

Suggested caravan site: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park

London

It’s not all about the Great Outdoors. London is the fourth most popular location for map searches on the OS website. And, with good reason. London has much to offer people who want to discover it on foot.

Suggested caravan site: Lee Valley Camping & Caravan Park

(Photo: James Petts)

Edale, Derbyshire

Walking from Edale is a delight. This pretty village in the Peak National Park sits in a beautiful valley from which you can walk up ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ and into the wild moorland, or simply meander along beside the river.

Suggested caravan site: Waterside Farm

(Photo: Rob Bendall)

Keswick, Cumbria

Keswick is in second place probably because it is easy to reach from the M6 motorway and the great access to the lakes and mountains in the northern part of the Lake District. If you don’t fancy walking, there are some stunning, scenic drives through the area too.

Suggested caravan site: Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site

(Photo: Michael Walsh)

Snowdon, Gwynedd

The highest mountain in Britain outside the Scottish Highlands, Snowdon is the most popular site for walkers, according to the Ordnance Survey. Drawn by the lure of numerous routes up the mountain, Snowdon also boasts a cafe at the summit for weary walkers.

(Photo: Wikimedia) 

It is a surprise that the results show no Scottish locations in the top 10 OS results. Aviemore and Glencoe were close to the top ten. Nevertheless, Britain is packed with beautiful places to walk and stay.