Going for a walk either alone or with loved ones can be the perfect break from busy everyday life and some routes near Bolton have been named among the best in the UK.
Autumn is a great time of year to go for a walk since you can spot the leaves turning orange and crunch through the ones that have fallen.
Consumer group Which? put the list together, saying: “We reveal walking routes near you that are ideal for scenery, wildlife and peace and quiet”.
While the best walks in the country are in the Lake District, according to 1,807 Which? members, who were asked to rate more than 51 of the nation’s favourite routes, some Peak District routes were also highlighted in the list.
@samrculley Wolfscote Dale - Peak District 🏞️ Here is an amazing short hike in wolfscote dale, Peak District! Caves, bridges, waterfalls, beautiful scenery and an easy path to follow! Well worth a visit 🥾#hiking #walk #outdoors #peakdistrict #hiddengems ♬ original sound - Sam Culley
The Peak District has plenty to offer for those travelling a short way from Bolton – here’s how the ones that feature in the Which? list ranked.
The difficulty rating is done using numbers one to five where one is easy and five is for experienced walkers only.
The star ratings are from one to five where five is the best while accessibility explains how wheelchair, pram or buggy-friendly the route is.
Wildlife is given a score based on the opportunities for spotting animal life, including facilities such as bird hides and the overall walk score is overall satisfaction and how likely people are to recommend the route.
In the research, Stanage Edge received a walk score of 83% and its difficulty is ranked a 3/5.
@she.strolls 📍Stanage Edge, Peak District 🚗 Free Parking on street and in the car park - Redmires Reservoirs, Sheffield, S10 4QZ 🏁 Start and finish your hike here for stunning views of Redmires Reservoirs, Stanage Pole, and Stanage Edge. You can adjust the hike's length to suit your mood and energy level. ⛰️ The views are spectacular throughout the hike. ⏱️ The round trip to Stanage Edge and back is under 4 miles and can be completed in less than 2 hours. 🥾 The terrain is uneven, so take care and enjoy the adventure! 🔖 Save this post so you have all the info ready 🗺️ Where to next? #peakdistrict #hikinggirl #solohiking #exploreengland #hikingtiktok #outdoorgirl ♬ honeypie - 💐
This walking route is nine miles long, has an accessibility score of three stars and was rated two stars for food and drink.
When it comes to peace and quiet, this route was given three stars, scoring the same for places of interest.
Its scenery earned it a 5-star rating in this category while waymarking was given two stars.
Wildlife earned it a score of three stars while visitor facilities were given two stars.
Mam Tor, also in the Peak District, was ranked in the list with the research sharing how good it is in terms of its food and drink, accessibility and more.
It was given an overall walking score of 80%, slightly lower than Stanage Edge, but a difficulty of 3/5, matching the other walk.
The walking route is 6.5 miles long, has an accessibility score of three stars and was rated two stars for food and drink.
When it comes to peace and quiet, this route was given three stars, scoring one higher (four stars) for places of interest.
Its scenery earned it a 5-star rating in this category while waymarking was given four stars.
Wildlife and visitor facilities both earned this walk a score of three stars each.
Dovedale to Milldale was the Peak District’s third walk in the list, scoring a total score of 74%.
The results are based on a survey of 1,807 Which? Connect members in December 2021.
Best walk in the north west revealed by Which?
While two out of the three Peak District walks scored at least 80% overall, the best walk in the north west was Helvellyn in the Lake District.
Which? said: “This challenging climb to the top of Helvellyn, England’s third-highest mountain, was rated five stars for difficulty – something to bear in mind if you’re keen to explore North West England’s best walk.
Recommended reading:
- Bolton folk travel to one of country's most picturesque places thanks to new service
- Driving route near Bolton named most scenic in Europe for autumn
- Did somebody say road trip? 5 places you can drive to within 2 hours from Bolton
“The reward for your efforts is panoramic views of the Lake District from 3,117ft (950 metres) up – explaining why Which? members awarded it five stars for scenery.
“The classic circular route will take you from the village of Glenridding, first climbing over the steep Birkhouse Moor for views of the Ullswater valley.
“After that, it’s a scramble up Striding Edge ridge to the summit plateau, where you can break out the celebratory sandwiches before mustering up the energy to descend via Swirral Edge.”
The best walk in the UK was revealed as Malham Cove and Gordale Scar with a walk score of 89%.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel