There are hundreds of long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom designated in publications from public authorities, guidebooks and OS maps . They are mainly used for hiking and walking , but some may also be used, in whole or in part, for mountain biking and horse riding . Most are in rural landscapes, in varying terrain, some passing through National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty . There is no formal definition of a long-distance path, though the British Long Distance Walkers Association defines one as a route "20 miles [32 km] or more in length and mainly off-road." They usually follow existing rights of way , often over private land, joined together and sometimes waymarked to make a named route. Generally, the surface is not specially prepared, with rough ground, uneven surfaces and stiles , which can cause accessibility issues for people with disabilities . Exceptions to this can be converted railways , canal towpaths and some popular fell walking routes where stone-pitching and slabs have been laid to prevent erosion . Many long-distance footpaths are arranged around a particular theme such as one specific range of hills or a historical or geographical connection.
11-479: The South Cheshire Way is a 34-mile (55 km) long-distance footpath running east–west mainly through Cheshire , England, although parts lie in Shropshire and Staffordshire . The western section from Grindley Brook , near Whitchurch , runs through farmland; the eastern section from Mow Cop , near Biddulph , runs through low hills. The footpath is waymarked with black-and-yellow discs inscribed 'SCW'. It
22-525: A dedicated symbol, and run largely off-road. They range in length from 24 to 214 miles (40 to 340 km), and are intended to be tackled over several days, either as a combination of day trips or as an end-to-end expedition. They are primarily intended for walkers, but may have sections suitable for cyclists and horse-riders. One of the trails, the Great Glen Canoe Trail, is designed for canoeists and kayakers . Those included here meet
33-496: A lowland route that was easy to walk, passed sites of historical interest, and was served by public houses. The footpath was formally opened on 17 September 1988 with ceremonies involving the mayors of Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich , and the chair of the North Shropshire District Council . The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society published a printed guide to the route in 1988. In 1992, signposts matching
44-615: Is covered by the Ordnance Survey Explorer series 257 and 268 maps, which denote it with a green lozenge. The South Cheshire Way provides easy walking. The eastern terminus, Mow Cop, is the route's high point, at 1,050 feet (320 m), and there is 2,123 feet (647 m) of ascent in total. The path connects with several other long-distance paths, including the Maelor Way , the Staffordshire Way and
55-793: Is not complete though more sections are planned to open over the coming months and years, with a planned completion date of around 2024. The newest trail is the Coast to Coast Walk which will officially open in 2025. There are 83 million visits to the National Trails each year and over 80,000 people complete a trail. Officially opens in 2025 When complete in around 2024 Treated as one path by National Trails Scotland's Great Trails are long-distance "people-powered" trails (predominantly hiking trails but including cycling, horse-riding and canoe routes) in Scotland. NatureScot maintains
66-516: Is the route's high point, at 1,050 feet (320 m), and there is 2,123 feet (647 m) of ascent in total. Much of the height gain occurs in the final stretch, from Ackers Crossing to Mow Cop , which climbs more than 660 feet (200 m) in 1.25 miles (2 km). Starting from the western terminus (parentheses denote nearby landmarks, not on the direct route) : 52°59′02″N 2°42′47″W / 52.984°N 2.713°W / 52.984; -2.713 Long-distance footpaths in
77-610: The Sandstone and Gritstone Trails . Jack Baker of the Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society originated the idea of the route towards the end of the 1970s. The society created the waymarked route over four years in the 1980s, with assistance from the Whitchurch Walkers and the local Ramblers Association , and support from the highways division of Cheshire County Council . The intention was to create
88-653: The UK National Trails are a network of long-distance paths in England and Wales (plus a small stretch of the Pennine Way in Scotland ) funded by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales and maintained by local authorities under a Trail Partnership. As of January 2023 , there are over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) of trails on seventeen routes. The longest trail, the England Coast Path ,
99-485: The definition of a long-distance path as being around 50 km (31 miles) or more, particularly that they will take more than one day's walking to complete. Some shorter paths linking between major walks (e.g. Maelor Way) are also included. The Macmillan Ways are a set of paths that promotes and raises money for the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity. Several European walking routes pass through
110-421: The four other Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society's routes were erected at each terminus of the footpath by Cheshire County Council, partly financed by the society. The route provides easy walking, predominantly on public footpaths with some stretches on minor roads. The western section from Grindley Brook runs through farmland; the eastern section from Mow Cop runs through low hills. The eastern terminus, Mow Cop,
121-407: The official list of Scotland's Great Trails and is the custodian of the brand, but responsibility for creating and maintaining each route lies with each local authority through which a route passes, although Scottish Natural Heritage provides some of the finance and publicity. There are 29 routes, offering 1,900 miles (3,000 km) of trails in total. Each of the routes is clearly waymarked with
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