England has an incredibly diverse landscape for what is a relatively small country. The rolling hills and sprawling dales that cross the land from top to bottom and coast to coast are a geological marvel of granite, slate and clay, punctuated with volcanic rock and limestone. From the remnants of glacial ages to the echoes of once huge mountains, there is history in every cliff face and outcrop that rises towards the clouds.
These inspiring vistas have played muse to a collection of some of the finest creative minds in all of history. Wordsworth and Coleridge drew deep from the awesome scenery of the Lake District and presented it upon the pages of their poems. Turner and Constable made their canvases a mirror for the majesty of the rural landscape they observed. And storytellers such as Beatrix Potter created entire worlds that sprang up from the rivers and hills that surrounded her home.
Walking along the famous hills of England is a fantastic way to experience these places and so many more. Our guide to a collection of the very best should have you lacing up your walking boots and raring to go.
Scafell Pike
Where better to begin than at the very top. Scafell Pike is often referred to as the ‘Roof of England’, standing at 978 metres tall in the Lake District National Park of Cumbria – literally the peak of the country. Volcanic activity over 450 million years ago created robust lava flows and ash beds that now act as the foundation for thousands of walkers every year that want to test themselves against the elements with some of the most beautiful scenery in the country as their companion. William Wordsworth exclaimed that the view at the top is “…the amplest range of unobstructed prospect may be seen that British ground commands”. And on a clear day as you look out to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and even the Isle of Man, it is very difficult to disagree.
The most direct and popular route is to begin from Wasdale Head for a steep but relatively short hike of around 4 to 6 hours, depending on your fitness and conditions. There are alternatives from Seathwaite and Eskdale that offer more sedate, and perhaps more scenic routes, too, if you have the luxury of taking your time. In any case, ensure you have appropriate boots, gear and wayfinding as the weather is famously changeable up there, but the result is always worth the work.
Kinder Scout
It is absurd to consider that many of the people of England were once denied the opportunity to ramble, hike and wander through the beauty of the land they lived upon. Kinder Scout in the Peak District is an awe-inspiring place that will always hold a special place in the country’s social history for its role in making that possible. 636 metres high at the wild and windswept plateau, this place will be forever remembered for the 1932 Mass Trespass that represented a turning point in the fight for public access to the English countryside. Hundreds of walkers gathered here among the fascinating terrain of steep edges and gritstone tors to demand their right to commune with nature without obstruction. And it worked.
As a result, we can all traverse this rugged landscape and appreciate exactly what it has to offer. The most popular route here is to begin at the town of Edale, ascending via Jacob’s Ladder, to walk along the edge, witnessing the breathtaking Kinder Downfall cliff before returning down using the Pennine Way. You could even follow in the footsteps of the men and women of the Mass Trespass on a walk from Hayfield to the peak. For as the famous songwriter Ewan MacColl wrote, himself a mass trespasser that day, “No man has the right to own mountains”.
Ingleborough
The Yorkshire Dales is a place that combines the three distinct elements of the English landscape that have been drawing visitors here for centuries: geology, history and myth-making. At 723 metres, this is the second highest peak in all of the Dales, but the most interesting by far. The summit here was once the site of a massive Iron Age Hillfort that dates back over 2000 years. With stonewalls, ramparts and impressive design, the exact reason and purpose remains shrouded in mystery, with some scholars suggesting it was a sacred ceremonial site for the Brigantes, a pre-Roman tribe in the area. It was also an early example of 19th-century Romantic Tourism that attracted geologists, poets and botanists with Auden and Wainwright both mentioning the location in their works.
Tackling this walk from Clapham is an impressive way to go. It takes in a varied approach of terrain through Ingleborough Cave and Trow Gill, with woodlands and moors around you and beneath you as you trek. Good boots and warm weather apparel are always advised, particularly for any inclement weather.
Malvern Hills
It would be easy to assume that the North of England has the monopoly on mountains and hill walks. Although further south, there may not be as many of the most eye-catching peaks in terms of heights and scale, there are definitely some standout examples of elevated beauty that are just as thrilling to meander across. The Malvern Hills form a 13 km ridge that strides over the Worcestershire and Herefordshire border with a high point of 425 metres that, on a clear day, allows one to survey 13 UK counties, although some accounts debate that fact. Broad grassy paths and ancient woodlands are here to be explored with more than a touch of intrigue and mystery too. Midsummer Hill is believed to hold mystical properties with solstice rituals and Druid gatherings often taking place and the nearby Holy Well is claimed to have healing waters that have drawn people here since medieval times.
The complete Malvern Ridge Walk takes around 4-6 hours with ample time for stops to enjoy the views. There are several beginning points from Great Malvern, North Quarry and British Camp Park that mean you can take in more of the surrounding towns for that all-important hiking debrief with a cup of tea.
With summer in full swing in England, there is never a better time to head for the hills and get the heart racing. With this collection, it may well be the views more than the exercise that makes that happen. Either way, they each promise a wonderful wander.
