With the beautiful sounds, smells, and colours of spring blossoming through, now is a great time to plan a staycation in the North of England. A dynamic and varied landscape, rich in history and culture, experience the great outdoors in all its glory. Struggling for inspiration? Read on for some of our favourite OS Pathfinder* walks to enjoy this spring and summer.
1. Wray Castle and Blelham Tarn - Lake District National Park: 6 miles A chance to walk on the quieter side of Windermere, exploring a landscape that would have been familiar to Beatrix Potter, and which almost certainly sowed seeds for her successful series of books. This walk visits both Wray Castle, where Potter stayed as a child, and the beautifully set Blelham Tarn. Great spotted woodpeckers favour the broad-leaved woodland rising up the slope above Windermere.
OS Pathfinder Guide: Lake District OS Explorer: OL7 https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/lake-district-pathfinder-walks-guidebook/ https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-the-lake-district-south-eastern-area/
Wray Castle – Lake District
2. Stanage Edge and Higger Tor - Peak District National Park: 3.5 miles Heather and gritstone moors are a distinct feature of the Dark Peak, and this undemanding walk gives a taste of their wild and rugged character, making it a perfect introduction to Peak District walking. This route follows the dramatic gritstone ‘Stanage’, meaning simply ‘Stone Edge’, this superb high-level stroll is full of visual interest, visiting Cowper Stone, and Robin Hood’s Cave.
OS Pathfinder Guide: Short Walks Peak District OS Explorer: OL1 https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/peak-district-short-walks-guidebook/ https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-the-peak-district-dark-peak-area/
Higger Tor – Peak District
3. Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss - Yorkshire Dales National Park: 5 miles This justifiably popular walk offers spectacular scenery with breathtaking views above Malham Cove’s huge amphitheatre, a sharp contrast to the darker confines of Gordale, where a lusty waterfall cascades into the gorge. Lower down, it is the same stream that tumbles picturesquely over Janet’s Foss, from where a delightful return stroll beckons through woodland and meadows.
OS Pathfinder Guide: Short Walks Yorkshire Dales OS Explorer: OL2 https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/yorkshire-dales-short-walks-guidebook/ https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-yorkshire-dales-southern-western-area/
Malham Cove – Yorkshire Dales
4. Hadrian’s Wall at Walltown and Thirlwall Castle - Frontiers of the Roman Empire (UNESCO): 7.75 miles This walk allows exploration of the Roman wall at first hand and the opportunity to call in at the Greenhead Roman Army Museum to learn about the lives of the men stationed along this distant frontier of the Roman Empire. The route follows one of the most rugged sections of the wall; a century of quarrying the Whin Sill dolerite has added extra drama to the scene by creating an abrupt cliff at the end of the crag.
OS Pathfinder Guide: Northumberland and Scottish Borders OS Explorer: OL43 https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/northumberland-scottish-borders-pathfinder-walks-guidebook/
https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-hadrians-wall/
Hadrian’s Wall – UNESCO World Heritage
Site Map extract from OS Pathfinder: Northumberland and Scottish Borders – Ordnance Survey
5. Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar - North York Moors National Park: 9 miles
A jumble of red-roofed cottages, clustered below steep cliffs, with narrow winding lanes, passages and stepped paths leading down to the sea, make up the enchanting fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. Utilising the track of the disused Whitby to Scarborough Railway creates a splendid circular coastal walk that links Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar, with magnificent, far-reaching views over the bay.
OS Pathfinder Guide: North York Moors OS Explorer: OL27 https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/north-york-moors-pathfinder-walks-guidebook/ https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/map-of-north-york-moors-eastern-area/
Robin Hood’s Bay – North York Moors
With spring now here, there's no better time to explore these great staycation locations. Discover similar walks in OS Pathfinder Guides and 100 Outstanding British Walks or go on longer hikes with Epic British Walks. Alternatively, use OS paper maps to plan your own walks and find points of interest.
https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/100-outstanding-british-walks-pathfinder-guides/ https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ordnance-survey-epic-british-walks/
*OS Pathfinder Guides are your definitive pocket book companion to the highways, byways, hills, moors, and coastlines of Great Britain. With up to 28 walks per title, each route is graded by difficulty and includes essential information about what to expect along the way.
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