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

4 38.9km / 24.2 miles / 12-14 hours Ascent 2927m/9603ft

5 15.6 km / 9.7 miles / 6 hours Ascent 1080m/3543ft

We love the Yorkshire Dales, but in summer it can get quite crowded, with walkers off on adventures up the peaks and the less energetic strolling around the picturesque market towns and villages. In a

We arrive at the top of High Cup Nick in the North Pennines. “It’s like the world starts just over there,” comments my friend Mark. He’s pointing down the U-shaped chasm of High Cup Gill, beyond whose

6 20.6km / 12.8 miles / 7-7.5 hours Ascent 1122m/3680ft