10 of the best UK walks with a view

(An article by James Ottery on Daily Telegraph, read on 20th May, 2016)

Snowdon Horseshoe
Arguably the classic British day-walk for experienced hikers, the Snowdon Horseshoe winds up to the highest point in Wales via the infamous knife-edge arête of Crib Goch before descending along the uncrowded but spectacular ridge of Y Lliwedd.

On a clear day, the views across the Llanberis Pass and out towards the sea are spectacular. If you set off early in the morning, you can feel as though you have the mountain to yourself.

Old Man of Storr, Skye
A manageable but magnificent short hike up to the jagged finger of rock that marks the Isle of Skye’s most famous landmark.

The first half of the ascent is gentle, while the final stages are steeper and require a little scrambling. The rewards from the top are immense, however, with a panorama of outcrops, lochs and distant mountains. It sits in the Trotternish Peninsula, close to one of Skye’s other classic hill walks, the Quiraing.

The Ridgeway
Few walks are as history-laden as the 87-mile (140km) Ridgeway, which follows a long [...] ridge used by prehistoric settlers, Stone Age farmers, Viking armies and medieval drovers.

Britain's oldest highway passes through five counties, giving a slow-paced look at the historic hills and villages of rural England.

The path runs above the surrounding landscape, providing deep views for much of its length.

Helvellyn, Lake District
There are countless Lakeland hikes with soul-swelling views, but among the very best is the climb up England's third-highest mountain, the magnificent Helvellyn, vía the narrow Striding Edge.

It is a deservedly popular walk beca use of the challenge it offers and the glorious outlook across the peaks and valleys ofthe national park. The classic route also traverses Swirral Edge.

West Highland Way

A beautiful multi-day walk through western Scotland, the West Highland Way was the first official long-distance route north ofthe border and has a huge amount of topographical variety.

It stretches for 94 miles (15lkm) from the town of Milngavie, near Glasgow, up to Fort Williams - highlights include Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Glen Nevis. Most hikers split the across seven or eight days.

Seven Sisters and Friston Forest
A short but stunning circular day-walk on the South Downs, this eight-mile (13km) route [...] in some of the grandest scenery along the Sussex shoreline, including Birling Gap and the plummeting chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters.

The way also passes through the handsome beech woods ofFriston Forest, but the rampant coastal scenery is the real star of the show. Expect it to take around six hours.

Lizard Peninsula
Dangling off the coast of Cornwall in wild, rugged splendour, the Lizard Peninsula is the [...] southernmost part of mainland Britain - and a dramatic place to walk.

The headland is eminently manageable in size, and by following the coastal path you can [get] up close to the windswept contours of its cliffs and coves. The area is well known for its wildflowers in spring, but this is a great short hike at any time of the year.

Antrim coast
The Antrim coastline of Northern Ireland has provided various filming locations for the Game ofThrones TV drama series, which says plenty about the kind of broad, majestic seascapes you can expect to encounter.

The area is best known for the otherworldly rock stacks of The Giant's Causeway, which [may] be incorporated into any number of walks, from two-mile strolls to multi -day treks.

West Mendip Way
This 28-mile (46km) trail across the southern edge ofthe Mendip escarpment begins in the cathedral city of Wells, a fittingly impressive start for a walk that meanders up and down the Somerset hills towards the Bristol Channel.

Along the way it passes the caves of Wookey Hole and the rolling countryside around Compton Bishop, as well as the extraordinary limestone chasm of Cheddar Gorge.

Pen Y Fan circular walk
A bracing 3,5 mile (6km) climb up to the mighty Pen y Fan, the highest peak in south Wales, this circular route also incorporates the neighbouring summit of Corn Du. The views from both mountains are superb, with the Brecon Beacons furled out on all sides.

The footpaths are good throughout the walk, making ita memorable option for a short and occasionally strenuous day-hike.