Promoted
Walking Routes in Great Britain |
There are hundreds
of long distance walking routes in Great Britain and many more
shorter local waymarked routes, covering every corner of the land
and varying in length from short health walks up to lengthy trails
of 1000km/600 miles or more. |
The term promoted
route is used to cover all of these routes, reflecting
the fact that they have received some promotion over and above
the network of local footpaths and rights of way. This may be
a published guide or leaflet and/or special signing or waymarking
to indicate the route on the ground. |
National
Trails (with an
acorn symbol), which include famous routes such as the Penine
Way and South West Coastal Path, are nationally recognised trails
in England and Wales, designated and managed by the Countryside
Agency or the Countryside Council for Wales. They are all well-waymarked
and described in both official guide books published by Aurum
Press and other guide books
The Scottish equivalent are just
known as Long Distance Routes.
They are designated by Scottish Natural Heritage
and managed by the local authorities through which the routes
pass. They are well-waymarked using the thistle symbol, and
also pass through countryside of exceptional beauty and interest.
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| Recreational
Routes are described
in a variety of different types of leaflets and guidebooks and
are waymarked with their own logos or the name of the route. It
is worth bearing in mind however that the standards of waymarking,
and the format and availability of literature, vary enormously
These routes, which vary from short health walks and urban 'green
chains' to lengthy cross-country treks of several hundred kilometres,
have generally been developed with the involvement of local authorities
and the help of local Ramblers and other walkers. |
| Unwaymarked
Routes are "unofficial"
routes along existing public paths that have been described in print
but are not specially waymarked on the ground. They can be created
by anyone who is prepared to research and publicise a route, and
many fade into obscurity, but others find a gap in the market and
can become as popular and well-known as National Trails: Wainwright's
Coast to Coast is a good example. Many of the present waymarked
routes began as unwaymarked "unofficial" routes created
by walkers' groups and individuals |
| Sustrans
Routes. Recently many
off-road multi-user routes have been developed.They are all numbered
and signed and shown on maps with orange dots. Many are very extensively
used by cyclists and are otherwise unattractive to walkers -- but
if selectively used provide good walking opportunities |
European
Long Distance Paths (E-paths) |
|
The
E-paths, designated by the
European Ramblers' Association, form an international network
of 11 ultra-long-distance walking routes running for many thousands
of kilometres across not just the European Union but the whole
of Europe, linking the national and local path networks of member
countries. They are usually superimposed on existing path networks,
though a number of new paths have been developed to fill gaps.
Some parts of the network are still under development.
In Britain, the E-paths are being implemented by the Long Distance
Walkers Association. There are three routes passing through the
country, connected to neighbouring European countries via ferries.
As in most other parts of Europe, the E-paths largely follow sections
of existing trails and are not waymarked in their own right except
at major junctions. |
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| The LONG
DISTANCE WALKERS ASSOCIATION exists to promote walking of
this type and their website is a mine of information. Click
the logo to reach it |
|
| The RAMBLERS
ASSOCIATION website also lists details of most recreational
paths . Click the logo to reach it |
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