Walks to Britain's Historic Sites
This section of the Walking Englishman takes you on a journey around Britain's ancient land. Within it I have created a series of walks which visit some of the finest, most important, and fascinating historical remains found since the first settlers came to explore, wander, and settle in Britain. Indeed many of the paths you will tread on from the walks in this section will have been created by those first of our ancestors. Imagine when you walk why they took the tracks they did, why the course is as such it is. Some will have been to make the easiest transit, some will have been the first clearings through forest, some will have been dictated by avoiding natural obstacles, or even to avoid others who had settled first. I find historic walks always an interesting experience. I hope you do too.
Dalby Forest, The Bridestones and Dove Dale
1.9 miles • North YorkshireA wonderful walk to superb sandstone outcrops forged into peculiar shapes over millions of years of erosion. The walk is within a National Trust managed area.
Abbey Road, Wood Sculptures and Knaresborough Castle
3.0 miles • North YorkshireThis short walk packs lots in. It visits a chapel in rock, wood sculptures, an abbey, a hermit's cave, woodland, Blind Jack, and the ruins of Knaresborough Castle.
Holy Island
3.4 miles • NorthumberlandStep back into history on the pilgrim's trail in one of the North of England's revered places. Why the early settlers chose this place is obvious, it is so beautiful.
Hethpool, Great Hetha and Elsdonburn
4.0 miles • NorthumberlandA lovely four-mile walk from College Valley in the beauty of rural Northumberland. Easy going bar one short climb to the Iron Age hill fort on Great Hetha.
Brecon, River Usk and Monmouthshire Brecon Canal
4.3 miles • South WalesA short walk from the centre of Brecon, outbound alongside the bank of the River Usk and then inbound on a walk along the canal towpath.
Avebury Stone Circle, West Kennett Long Barrow and Silbury Hill
5.4 miles • WiltshireVisit some of Britain's most spectacular sites during this easy half-day walk. You will not want to hurry while visiting three unique sites steeped in ancient history.
Boroughbridge, Kirby Hill and the Devil's Arrows
5.4 miles • North YorkshireA varied terrain walk of town, countryside, riverside, old buildings, and pre-historic monoliths. Even before the Romans came people were building monuments here.
Middleham Moor and Coverdale
5.8 miles • North YorkshireWalk in history exploring the childhood places of Richard III around the village and local countryside and then find a forbidden corner near Coverdale.
Deep Hayes Country Park and Caldon Canal
5.9 miles • StaffordshireA walk of six miles in Staffordshire with lots to explore, particularly if you're interested in the industrial heritage of coal and clay extraction in this historic county.
Barlaston and Wedgwood Pottery
5.9 miles • StaffordshireA six-mile walk south of Stoke in the heart of heritage-rich Potteries country with an optional visit to one of the iconic pottery factories.
Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey
6.2 miles • North YorkshireThis walk links two of the North York Moors' most visited places. Helmsley is an inhabited one and Rievaulx Abbey is a ghostly deserted place.
Haworth Moor and Top Withins
6.8 miles • West YorkshireA walk on the 'Wuthering Heights' moor that inspired Emily Brontë. Included on the circular route is a park, open moor, a waterfall, and the deserted farmstead.
Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster
6.8 miles • NorthumberlandScenic Northumbrian coastline walking is enjoyed all the way here. The castle ruins sitting on the edge of land is one of the most evocative in all of England.
Church Minshull, the River Weaver and the Shropshire Canal
7.0 miles • CheshireKen Brockway visits the rural heart of the county of Cheshire for this lovely seven-mile walk which finds Tudor splendour still surviving.
Swainby and Whorlton Castle
7.4 miles • North YorkshireA scenic walk from Swainby on the edge of the North York Moors to the Cleveland Hills and then down to the enigmatic ruins of Whorlton Castle.
Hartwith Heritage Walk
7.8 miles • North YorkshireA lovely circular walk in central Nidderdale. Walk through woodland used in the Iron Age and you can try to find the unique 'Adam's Ale' rock.
Captain Cook's Monument and Roseberry Topping
8.3 miles • North YorkshireGisborough Moor, Captain Cook's Monument, and Roseberry Topping all feature here on a walk which is very popular with the folk of Teesside.
Romans, Raydale and Semer Water from Bainbridge
8.3 miles • North YorkshireBegin by walking back in time over 2,000 years with the Romans before visiting Raydale and Semer Water, which is the second largest of the Yorkshire Dales lakes.
The Brontë Sisters and Railway Children Walk
8.5 miles • West YorkshireA walk in the Oxenhope and Haworth area of the Worth Valley. As well as the literary connections there is much variety with moor and valley to enjoy.
Stoodley Pike and Hebden Bridge
8.7 miles • West YorkshireA classic Calderdale walk from Hebden Bridge which includes moor and canal. Stoodley Pike is one of the Victorian age's greatest hill monuments.
Bewerley Industrial Trail
9.0 miles • North YorkshireA walk which features wonderful meadow and moorland and visits sites of the industrial past including the disused Providence Mine workings.
East Witton, Ellingstring, Jervaulx Abbey and Cover Bridge
9.1 miles • North YorkshireAn invigorating Wensleydale walk with Jervaulx Abbey and the River Ure being particularly pleasing. The walk passes through much of the monks' former estates.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Park
10.0 miles • North YorkshireA walk in lush countryside with a visit to probably the most extensive abbey ruins in northern England. After experiencing the abbey enjoy Studley Deer Park.
Standedge Trail and Oldham Way
10.0 miles • West Yorkshire & Greater ManchesterA spectacular Pennine walk from Marsden across county boundaries with industrial heritage featuring on both sides of the Pennines. A canal enthusiast's walk.
Byland Abbey and Sutton Bank
10.6 miles • North YorkshireOnce one of the greatest monasteries in England, Byland Abbey inspired the design of church buildings throughout the North. Sutton Bank is awesome.
Kinder Trespass Anniversary Walk
15.3 miles • DerbyshireThis walk celebrates the Kinder Trespass pioneers and follows the route of one group up to Kinder Scout. This walk also explores the industrial heritage of the area.
Feedback and Suggestions
I am always pleased to receive feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website which may include new areas to cover, new walks or route alterations to existing walks. To get in touch with feedback and/ or suggestions please contact me on one of my social media links. Thank you.