If like me, you cannot stop yourself from packing your bags when you come across a new route that you have yet to explore, then you might find this list a tad dangerous. Nevertheless, here are some tips for your next hike.
West Highland way
The route takes you around some beautiful Scottish scenery, starting in Milngavie and ending in Fort William. The 160 km path goes around lakes, mountains, long stretches of wilderness, all the way to the highest mountain of the UK, Ben Nevis.
If you want to prolong this way, there is an option of starting in Glasgow, approximately 12 km from Milngavie. Of course, once you make it to Fort William, you might not want to miss out on climbing all the way up to Ben Nevis, for which you might want to reserve an extra day in your itinerary.
I walked part of this hike last summer and can only recommend, on the condition you bring better shoes than I did, as mine fell apart as I was walking. The hike is, as any other I suppose, an amazing experience. Walking with friends or alone, you won’t forget the scenery you have seen and the experiences you have learnt. I have attempted this alone and have learned a lot, as well as I still dream of all the views that seem to have permanently engraved themselves into my memory. You can be sure I will repeat this hike again, with better shoes this time, and complete the whole way.
Snowdonia way
If you ever felt like exploring the Snowdonia National Park, then this hike is made for you, as the way takes you through the whole park. Starting in Machynlleth and going for about 150 km all the way to Conway.
The hike doesn’t cover any climbs to the mountains alongside the route, nonetheless, is still rated as high-effort for its difficult path that is often filled with rocks. On a more positive note, the route covers valleys, open moors, rivers as well as beaches. The route also includes some historical sites, such as the Roman roads, a perfect intersection between little history and nature.
Hadrian wall path
What better and easily accessible hiking trail for a Newcastle student? The path starts a metro ride away in Wallsend (or you can set out from Newcastle as well) and then continues all the way to the other side of the country, ending in Bowness-on-Solway. The hike is about 135km long.
The hike has some historic spice to offer along its scenery, as it follows the Hadrian Wall, which was built back in second century AD. There are still remains of the wall that you will be able to encounter along the walk. So, if you are still unsure what to get up to during the upcoming Easter break, maybe you should consider going on a little walk – just over hundred kilometres long.
Across Czechia
Coming from the Czech Republic, I simply had to include one of our many routes. There are many that would take you across the country or along its borders, mostly walking through mountains. But one that I have recently come across that has officially made it to my travel bucket list starts in the southernmost point of Czechia and goes to the north, ending on top of our highest mountain, Sněžka.
To give credit where credit is due, I first saw this route on an Instagram account, @pocestach_neznamych, which shared a link to the whole route. The path walks through some beautiful countryside and some of the prettiest Czech cities, including České Budějovice, Kutná Hora and Hradec Králové.
The last point of the route, Sněžka, can either be climbed in a few hours, with many hikers opting to start in early hours and enjoy the sunrise with a beer in their hand. Alternatively, there is also a lift that will take you to the top if after days of walking you feel like getting some rest.
The route is little over 500km long so will take up quite a lot of your time, however biking the route is always a passable alternative and that way you might try some of bikepacking instead of backpacking, a form of travel which I wholeheartedly recommend.
Camino walk
A pilgrimage route famous for its glorious end, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The route can be walked in seven different variations, all starting in different points, yet all culminating in the same place.
The most popular routes are Camino Francés (790km) and Camino Portugués (616km). Many people walking the French path prefer to only walk the last 100km as that is the easiest part in terms of infrastructure, places to sleep and many towns within easy reach of each other.
The Portuguese path starts in Lisbon, however many people prefer to start in Porto instead, with the option to go through central Portugal (260km) or along the coast (280km). One of the hardest routes is probably Via de La Plata, both for its length of 1,000km as well as the accessibility of towns which is scarce at points, with 20-25 kilometres between some.
Personally I was most excited about the coastal route from Porto. Having visited the city last summer, I can vouch for its beauty and promise you it is worth your visit, and who would not want to walk along the beach all day? I know I would, which is why this route is slowly gnawing at me to pack my bags.
