Walk your woes away! Britain’s top rural spots where you can escape all the worries of the world
- In these troubled times, Britain’s most stunning rural spots call to be explored
- Malham Cove and Gordale Scar in the Yorkshire Dales will lift walkers’ spirits
- A 7.5-mile circular route taking in both landmarks is rated ‘Britain’s Best Walk’
- Film buffs will notice a limestone pavement where a Harry Potter scene was shot
- A survey by Which? placed two walks in Cornwall in second and third places
With its amphitheatre-shaped cliffs, stunning waterfalls and breathtaking views across the Yorkshire Dales, the scenery around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar can’t fail to lift the spirits in these troubled times.
Now a magical walk that takes in both landmarks, which were featured in the Harry Potter films, has been voted the best in Britain.
The 7.5-mile circular route, starting from the village of Malham, came top in a Which? survey of 51 favourite walks in the UK.
Each were scored out of five for accessibility, visitor facilities, food and drink, peace and quiet, places of interest, scenery, signage and wildlife.
Visitors impressed by the dramatic cove, which climbs to a limestone pavement where a scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was filmed, and the striking 330ft narrow ravine of Gordale Scar awarded the walk a maximum five out of five for scenery and places of interest.
A 7.5-mile circular route going past Malham Cove and Gordale Scar (pictured) in the Yorkshire Dales has been awarded the accolade of ‘Britain’s Best Walk’, according to Which?
Visitors impressed by the striking 330ft narrow ravine of Gordale Scar (pictured) awarded the walk a maximum five out of five for scenery and places of interest
The scenery around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar can’t fail to lift the spirits in these troubled times
Which? carried out a survey of 51 favourite walks in the UK, with routes in Yorkshire and Cornwall snapping up the three top spaces
Famous for its nesting peregrine falcons and bluebells that carpet the woodland in spring, it also scored highly for wildlife.
Overall, the ramble achieved an 89 per cent satisfaction score from the consumer watchdog’s readers, narrowly beating two walks in Cornwall – the one-mile Botallack Mine amble and the more challenging seven-mile Lizard Peninsula circuit, which scored 88 per cent each.
The latter, which takes in the pretty Kynance Cove, also scored highly for wildlife thanks to rare red-billed chough birds found en route together with seals and basking sharks often spotted offshore.
But it was the Lake District that was the most popular region for ramblers – claiming six spots in the table, including three in the top ten.
The tricky 9.5-mile hike up Helvellyn was named the favourite Lake District walk, followed by the circuit around Buttermere lake, which was knocked down from the number one spot in the 2021 poll to fifth place overall.
The Peak District, Cornwall and Northumberland each boasted three of the best walks, while Dorset, Snowdonia, London, Surrey and the North York Moors have two apiece.
Rhossili Headland retained its title as the best walk in Wales, with an overall score of 86 per cent.
The 3.5-mile trail in the Gower got top marks for scenery and five other four-star scores, making it an excellent all-rounder. Walkers pass an Iron Age fort and can see the remains of a shipwreck poking out of the sea at low tide.
Anstruther to Crail on the Fife Coastal Path was rated Scotland’s best route with an 83 per cent score.
The route, rated 4/5 for difficulty, narrowly beat a much easier walk (1/5 for difficulty) in Cornwall past Botallack Mine, proving that British walkers are not averse to a challenge
‘Britain’s Best Walk’ begins at Malham Village in the Yorkshire Dales. Pictured: A lone ash tree at Malham Village
The walks were scored out of five for accessibility, visitor facilities, food and drink, peace and quiet, places of interest, scenery, signage and wildlife. Pictured: A limestone ravine in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
The easy four-mile route knits together a string of pretty fishing villages, ending at Crail with its white-washed stone cottages that have provided the inspiration for many artists who have made it their home.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘The UK has an amazing variety of walks and with its magical connection, the most popular route in our survey was a worthy winner.
‘From breathtaking rolling hills and lake loops to historic hikes, clifftop paths and the shingle beaches below, there is a route for every taste and ability.’
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