Walkers Britain | Best of the British Isles on a Budget

Blog home / Best of the British Isles on a Budget

Planning a last-minute vacation (or 'staycation' for those in the UK)? From the emerald Yorkshire Dales and all the way to the French flair of the Channel Islands; whether you prefer on foot or by bike, here is how you can make the most of your time off – without having to break the bank.

COAST TO COAST | The Cyclist’s Coast to Coast

Views down to Ennerdale Water | <i>John Millen</i>

Biking through hills and dales, The Cyclist’s Coast to Coast stretches for 142 miles from the harbour at Whitehaven on the Irish Sea on to the shores of the North Sea. Following a different path from the Coast to Coast Walk – and through a landscape that can often change abruptly – the itinerary explores Cumbria’s lakes and fells, the bleak Pennines and the beautiful Dales, as well as towns and villages of all sizes, allowing for plenty of time to visit tea shops and local pubs.

Find out more about cycling the Coast to Coast.

CHANNEL ISLANDS | Jersey: The Channel Island Way

This weeklong centre-based walking tour around the ‘Bailiwick’ of Jersey is the shorter half (49 miles) of the recently introduced Channel Island Way. Independent in many ways, today the Channel Islands have a special relationship with the UK whilst maintaining a French flair. With long sandy beaches and undulating cliff paths, forts dating back to the 1400s and huge constructions created during the Nazi occupation, Jersey has long been a favourite place for discerning travellers.
Find out more about walking in Jersey.

ISLE OF WIGHT | Isle of Wight Cycle

The seaside town of Cowes is a pleasure to take in on your Isle of Wight Cycle | <i>visitisleofwight.co.uk</i>

Pick up your hire bike at the traditional seaside resort of Ryde, the largest town on the island, and let your holiday begin! Ideal for anyone looking for a short town-and-country cycling break, the circular route is undulating and distances are kept fairly short, giving you time to stop and explore. Highlights include sophisticated Cowes, world famous for its regatta; the astonishing brick-built Quarr Abbey; and taking the cycle path to Freshwater Bay, which follows an old railway line.
Find out more about cycling the Isle of Wight.

NORTHERN ENGLAND | Hadrian’s Wall Trail

Crag Lough and Highshields Crag, Hadrian's Wall | <i>Mark Richards</i>

Follow the Hadrian’s Wall Path and trace the history of England’s North. A British icon protected by UNESCO since 1987, Hadrian’s Wall today stands as the largest remaining artefact from Roman times anywhere in the world – it dates back to 122AD! A must-see for history aficionados, it can also be followed on foot along the adjoining 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path, taking hikers across the rugged countryside of Northern England, from Whitley Bay in the east to Carlisle in the west.
Find out more about the Hadrian's Wall Trail.

YORKSHIRE DALES | James Herriot Way

Walkers setting off for another beautiful day on UK's Coast to Coast trail | <i>John Millen</i>

Considered by many as ‘the best short long-distance walk in the UK’, the six-day James Herriot Way is designed to take in some of the countryside beloved by James Alfred Wight, the vet who wrote about his experiences in the Yorkshire Dales as James Herriot. The beautiful 50-mile circular walk threads its way around the valleys of Wensleydale and Swaledale and over the mountains and moorlands between these two emerald dales.
Find out more about walking the James Herriot Way.

THE COTSWOLDS | Exploring the Cotswolds

Chipping Campden, start of the Cotswold Way | <i>Tom McShane</i>

Also known as the ‘Heart of England’, visitors to the Cotswolds will find a mix of rolling hills, picture postcard villages and rustic old pubs for leisurely lunches. This new itinerary is specially crafted for anyone who wants a soft introduction to walking in the English countryside. Highlights include the medieval wool town of Bourton-on-the-Water, the picture perfect village of Guiting Power, the atmospheric ruins of Hailes Abbey (destroyed by Henry VIII) and the still inhabited Sudeley Castle.

Find out more about Exploring the Cotswolds.