7 11.3km / 7 miles / 4.5 hours Ascent 680m/2231ft

2 10.8km / 6.7 miles / 8-9 hours Ascent 1224m/4016ft

Half a century after its inception, the Coast to Coast path becomes a National Trail this spring, opening up the wild landscapes and historic villages of Northern England to a new generation of hikers

JB Smith goes searching for solitude in the forested folds of the Rhinogs – and finds himself falling under the spell of Eryri/Snowdonia’s quieter side

■ Distance: 4 miles/6.3km ■ Time: 2 hours ■ ...

Jim Perrin revisits an old haunt to reveal the real high point of the ‘White Barrier’ via Wales’ highest waterfall, a pair of ponies, pubs and ring ouzels thrown in for good measure