Exploring Great Britain on Foot: Our Love for Walking the Countryside

We’ve Always Loved a Good Hike

When we were living in the Midwest of the US, most of our hiking adventures took place during summer trips to the Colorado mountains, southern Missouri, or northwest Arkansas. These hikes were typically forested and located in designated parks.

Here in the UK, though, people more commonly refer to it as “walking” rather than “hiking.” It’s a beloved national pastime, and we’ve really enjoyed embracing it. From coastlines to farmland, forests to valleys, we’ve loved exploring the diverse landscapes this island has to offer.

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New Things We’ve Experienced Walking Here

One of the unique joys of walking in England and Wales is the public right of access to the land. Public footpaths can take you just about anywhere in the countryside. They’re fairly well-marked with signage and often crisscross through farmland, fields, and forests.

Walking these public footpaths has introduced us to a few new concepts:

Stiles and Gates

Stiles and gates separate farmers’ fields and are designed to keep animals in while allowing walkers to pass through. They come in all shapes and sizes—ladder stiles, squeeze stiles, bridge stiles, kissing gates, and swinging gates. We’ve encountered quite a few that are surprisingly tricky to navigate, especially when there are thorny bushes nearby!

Meeting the Locals

Often, when crossing a stile or going through a gate, you can expect to meet a few “friends” on the other side. Back in the U.S., we rarely encountered animals on our hikes—aside from the occasional chipmunk, mountain goat, or deer. But here in the UK, where many walks lead through pastureland, animals are everywhere!

Most of the time, if you give them space, they’ll keep a watchful eye on you but stay out of your way. That said, we once joined a guided history hike through Llantwit Major in Wales, and our group of 15+ people had a less-than-warm welcome. As we crossed a cow pasture, several cows made it very clear they didn’t want us there—charging straight toward us! We quickly scrambled over the nearest stile to continue the walk in a slightly more elevated heart rate zone.

Of course, one of the less glamorous parts of walking through cow and sheep fields is that you don’t spend much time admiring the scenery—you’re too busy looking down and carefully navigating the minefields underfoot!

One of our favorite walking experiences was in Wales, on the Ogmore-by-the-Sea walk. At one point, the trail led us right through a golf course. Not only did we need to watch for golfers teeing off, but we also had to navigate around sheep casually lounging on the tee box!

Magical Discoveries

Of course, when walking through the Welsh and English countryside, you’re bound to stumble upon enchanted forests, secret gardens, and ancient ruins. It often feels like something straight out of a storybook.

Fields of Glory

Being from Kansas, we’re certainly no strangers to farmland. But walking through a farmer’s field on a hike—right through the farm itself? That was completely unheard of for us! Yet here in the UK, we’ve walked straight through several fields, past barns, tractors, and even flocks of sheep, all as part of a public footpath. It still surprises us every time.

Views for Days

We’ve seen some truly jaw-dropping views here in Great Britain. Having spent most of our lives in the landlocked Midwest of the U.S., we can’t get enough of the coastline. We’ve done several unforgettable hikes along the Wales Coast Path and the South West Coast Path in Devon—and each one has left us in awe.

In West Yorkshire, the village we stayed in sits in the Calderdale Valley, so many of our walks took us up into the moors. Just north of Hebden Bridge, where we were based, is Haworth—the home of the Brontë sisters. Walking through the moors, it’s easy to imagine the windswept, brooding scenes of Wuthering Heights. The endless skies and rolling hills are every bit as breathtaking as the coastal views in Wales and Devon.

The Rochdale Canal, which runs from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge, offers wonderfully scenic and peaceful walks. Nice and flat, the towpath stretches for miles, winding past historic locks, stone bridges, and colorful narrowboats. From Hebden Bridge, we walked both east and west along the canal, and it was easy to catch a train back from the neighboring towns—making it perfect for a leisurely day out.

And our favorite view after a walk in Great Britain? The pint waiting for us at the historic pub at the end—or sometimes right in the middle—of the trail! Usually after 4 or 5 miles, when my legs and feet are feeling tired, we stumble upon a quaint pub where we can quench our thirst, rest our bodies, and refuel for the journey ahead.

Looking Ahead

We’ve absolutely loved our walks here in Great Britain. Next year, we hope to tackle a portion of the Cotswold Way. The full trail stretches over 100 miles and typically takes 10–14 days to complete, but we’ll likely start with a 3-day section. Luckily, there are companies that transport your luggage from inn to inn, so all we’ll need to carry is a day pack—and we’ll be guaranteed that well-earned pint at the end of each day!

Walking here is not just exercise; it’s an immersive experience in history, nature, and culture. We can’t wait to see where our feet take us next.