Travel & Tourism

Britain’s 10 most popular walks have been named – and three are near Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 6th July 2023

The most popular walks in Britain have been named, and several of them are right here in the north west.

It’ll come as a surprise to no one that the stunning green space that surrounds Greater Manchester has featured heavily on the list.

From the beautiful vistas of the Lake District to the rugged ridges of the Peak District, we’re very spoilt for choice with our nearby countryside up north.

In fact, it was a northern beauty spot that came top of the list of Britain’s most popular walks, which was created by Ordnance Survey and Ramblers UK.

And although most of the walks featured are pretty remote from our massive home city, you can get to a lot of them within a couple of hours’ drive.

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The new partnership between OS and the charity was created ‘to celebrate the joys of walking in the British countryside and encourage more people to keep fit and healthy’.

Data was collected from the OS Maps app, which many of us will be familiar with – it helps walkers to discover beautiful trails all over the country.

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It found that Brits have been returning in our droves to rural locations rather than urban ones, reversing the trend observed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The paved footpath at sunrise along The Great Ridge in the Peak District, which has been named one of Britain's most popular walks
The Great Ridge in Castleton, Peak Disctrict. Credit: Unsplash, Michael Cummins
Langdale Pikes in the Peak District
Langdale Pikes in the Peak District. Credit: Ian Cylkowski, Unsplash

Of those rural locations, those in the top spot included gruelling hiking challenges, picturesque countryside strolls, and loops around medieval landmarks.

Coming out on top was the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, which encompasses Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough and is a popular – but challenging – day out from Manchester.

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Also in the top 10 walks in Britain was a Lake District trail between Grasmere and the Langdale Pikes.

The Great Ridge, a walk with jaw-dropping views between Edale and Castleton in the Peak District placed sixth, and is the most accessible from Manchester – you can even get the train to it.

And just across into North Wales is Cloceanog Forest near Ruthin.

Nick Giles, MD for OS Leisure, said: “We are thrilled to work closely with the Ramblers UK to encourage more people to experience our wonderful countryside first hand, and inspire a healthier and more active nation.

Walkers taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, which has been named Britain's most popular walk.
Walkers taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, which has been named Britain’s most popular walk. Credit: Gary Butterfield, Unsplash

“Our latest route data tells us people are walking further than before. Not only does this demonstrate the growing popularity of walking, it also highlights the positive impact that it is having on walker’s physical and mental well-being.

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“During the Covid-19 pandemic we saw an increase in people using OS Maps to discover new walks and places to visit in their neighbourhoods. It’s great to see more people starting to use their new found love of the outdoors and begin to venture further and explore the many wonders of Great Britain. We are seeing our walking route data show the similar hotspots to the pre pandemic locations with National Parks topping the list.”

He added: “We are committed to working alongside the Ramblers UK to empower more and more walkers to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.”

Ross Maloney, CEO of Ramblers UK said: “The Ramblers and OS share a passion for helping people enjoy the outdoors, and together we recognise the incredible value of Britain’s paths, tracks and trails. Our new partnership will champion walking and help more people from all backgrounds access the outdoors, enjoy it safely and see the many benefits of making walking part of everyday life.”

Britain’s Top 10 most popular walks

The Yorkshire Three Peaks, North Yorkshire

  • Start: Horton-in-Ribblesdale car park
  • Distance: 38.5km
  • Time: 12hr 10mins
  • Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
  • Map: OS Explorer OL2

Bottom Wood Route, Chiltern Hill, Oxfordshire

  • Start: Dashwood Arms car park
  • Distance: 8.25km
  • Time: 2hr 20 mins
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Map: OS Explorer 172

Grasmere to the Langdale Pikes, Lake District National Park, Cumbria

  • Start: Broadgate, Grasmere
  • Distance: 18.5km
  • Time: 6hr
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Map: OS Explorer OL7

Cloceanog Forest, Ruthin, Wales

  • Start: Bod Petyral Picnic Site, Cloceanog Forest
  • Distance: 11.8km
  • Time: 3hr 30 mins
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Map: OS Explorer 264

Wanderlust Way, near Grimsby, Lincolnshire

  • Start: Bradley Woods car park
  • Distance: 33km
  • Time: 8hr 47mins
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Map: OS Explorer 284

The Great Ridge, Castleton, Derbyshire

  • Start: Back Street, Castleton
  • Distance: 10.1km
  • Time: 3hr 14mins
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Map: OS Explorer OL1

Surrey Three Peaks Challenge, (Box Hill, Holmbury Hill, Leith Hill), Surrey

  • Start: Old London Road car park, near Mickleham
  • Distance: 34km
  • Time: 10hrs
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Map: OS Explorer 146

Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire

  • Start: Goodrich Castle Car Park
  • Distance: 13.5kms
  • Time: 3hr 30mins
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Map: OS Explorer OL14

Carpenters Arms Walk, Tonbridge, Kent

  • Start: Carpenters Arms, Parkers Green
  • Distance: 9.2kms
  • Time: 2hr 20mins
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Map: OS Explorer 147

Redbrook, Monmouthshire/Gloucestershire

  • Start: Tinmans Green, Redbrook
  • Distance: 11km
  • Time: 3hr 37mins
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Map: OS Explorer OL14

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Featured image: Unsplash, Tom Wheatley

Travel & Tourism

Olicana Park – The log cabins near Manchester that capture apres-ski magic all year round

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Roaring fires, bubbling hot tubs, stunning views, and even pairs of skis strapped to the walls – but this isn’t the French alps… it’s Yorkshire. 

Olicana Park is a beautiful holiday park right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, just an hour’s drive from Greater Manchester.

Here, scattered around the banks of the River Wharfe, you’ll find a collection of luxury wooden cabins, traditional cottages, and classic static caravans.

But for us, it really is all about those cabins, which capture all the best bits of the apres-ski culture loved by snow-worshippers, all year round.

In winter, you can whack on your own log burger and cosy up on the sofas with a glass of red wine and a good book, while in summer you can throw open the bi-fold doors and sit out with a cocktail on your own gigantic roof terrace.

Each cabin has its own theme that plays in around the tasteful decor, which usually involves incredible wooden beams and stone floors.

The one our friends at The Hoot stayed in had an apres-ski theme, from the subtle (vintage wooden skis and piste markers used as wall art) to the clever (an old chair lift that had been turned into patio furniture).

The luxury apres-ski cabin at Olicana Park
The luxury apres-ski cabin at Olicana Park
A sauna inside the cabin
A sauna inside the cabin
The view from your own terrace
The view from your own terrace

There’s a huge hot tub perched on your own private decking too, where you can soak in the warm water while watching the river burble past at the end of your own driveway.

Upstairs in this particular cabin were two enormous double bedrooms with modern en suite bathrooms, one of which also had an enormous terrace attached with a view down to the river.

And then – wait for it – the cabin also came with its own sauna. Talk about luxury.

If you can’t tear yourself away from your own space, each cabin has a kitchen that’s perfectly kitted out with everything you need to whip up a tasty tea (or, if you’re like us, a cheese board for dinner).

Lunch dishes at Hamilton's the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Lunch dishes at Hamilton’s the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Breakfast at Hamilton's the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park
Breakfast at Hamilton’s the on-site restaurant at Olicana Park

But if you do venture out, there’s an on-site restaurant called Hamilton’s, where you can dig in to fresh salads, gyros, and burgers, and when you come back in the next morning you can feast on a menu of banging breakfasts and brunches.

Olicana Park actually used to be a traditional caravan park, but has been given some serious TLC since the new owners took over in 2016.

It was this team who decided to split the park into zones, with four cottages in one, five luxury cabins in another, and 29 static caravans in the third.

The cottages and cabins were all refurbished or constructed from scratch using British suppliers and local tradesmen.

The living rooms in an Olicana Park cabin. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
The living rooms in an Olicana Park cabin. Credit: The Hoot Leeds

It’s just a short stroll from Addingham village, and that’s only a short bus from the bustling town of Ilkley, which itself is only a short train ride from Leeds.

That means excellent pubs, restaurants and cafes within easy reach, as well as gorgeous countryside walks like a riverside amble to Bolton Abbey.

Surrounded by a plethora of long walks and country pubs, Olicana Park really is a perfect gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, and if you’re looking for something to kick off holiday season then we couldn’t recommend it more.

You can get 10% off your June holiday at Olicana Park with the code “THEHOOT”.

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Featured image: The Hoot Leeds

Travel & Tourism

Whitworth Locke hotel review: This historic Manchester building is home to one of the city’s most beautiful hotels

Abbie Bartlett Abbie Bartlett

Set in a beautiful 19th Century building in Manchester’s civic quarter, Whitworth Locke aparthotel is right in the middle of all the action.

As someone who works in Manchester but lives over in Leeds, this hotel couldn’t be more ideal for me. Less than 10 minutes from both Piccadilly and Oxford road train stations and St Peter’s Square Metrolink station, the ease of getting to the hotel set off my stay to a flying start.

While the beauty of the building is astonishing, it’s almost one of those hidden gems you might miss if you weren’t looking.

Nestled in between the two sides of the building a stunning conservatory marks the main entrance with comfy seating outside I imagine to be an absolute sun trap when Manchester’s weather decides to be kind to us.

As you walk through the glass-roofed bar to get to reception you literally can’t help but be in awe. New York architects, Grzywinski+Pons, embraced the cotton mills’ original features and designed a space to show off bricks and pillars but softened them with pastel paints.

A stunning conservatory marks the main entrance. Image: Whitworth Locke
the glass-roofed bar with cobbled floors. Image: Whitworth Locke

The bar area has an inside-outside feel, cobbled floors and covered in plants with light beaming in from all angles. Even if I wasn’t spending the night, I could see myself spending the afternoon enjoying some cocktails in this space.

I immediately had a cheery welcome as I approached the reception to check in, which I think really does make all the difference. I was asked about my day, if I needed any help finding my way around Manchester (actually incredibly useful for someone who gets lost as much as I do) and talked through all of the hotel amenities.

The hotel hosts a large gym, perfect for yoga, which is free to use over your stay but I opted out as I wouldn’t have the time. There’s also a lovely coffee shop, Foundation Coffee, serving breakfasts, toasties and of course a lovely cup of joe.

The main attraction though, in my eyes, is the free to use co-working space which takes up a huge part of the ground floor. Happily being used by throughout my visit, the Wi-Fi was great, the seats were comfy and although it was busy, it was nice and quiet.

A large seating and working area.
Comfortable king-sized beds.

Now let’s get onto the rooms, I had the privilege of trying out one of the suites and what a treat it was. Rooms are decorated with blush pink and pastel green with brass finishes, very chic and brings almost a holiday feeling even on a rainy day in Manchester.

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It’s not all about style though, there’s a fully-equipped kitchen with a huge fridge, lovely comfortable king-sized beds and loads of space to unpack your things. An added touch that really made me feel special was the hand written note hoping I enjoy my stay along with a bottle of red wine and chocolates. Safe to say, you know the way to my heart Whitworth Locke.

Kitchen space with table and chairs and larger TV.
The fully-equipped kitchen.
Hand-written note with bottle of red wine.
My handwritten note and bottle of wine.

Overall, I woke up feeling very refreshed from a good night’s sleep and even more so after a long waterfall shower. It was really easy to check out, they even looked after my luggage for the day, and with the great location I was out and on a train to my first meeting of the day with pure ease.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, let’s talk money. Double rooms are from £99 in low season, and from £199 in high. Competitively I think it is good value for money, the facilities and location matched with the service and cleanliness there isn’t really anything I could knock.

If you’re after a really central Manchester stay with a lovely team and a super cool aesthetic, you won’t go wrong with this one. Book your stay here.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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