Guide to outdoor adventure activities in England: county names S -W
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Mountain biking in West Yorkshire
Here’s the final part in my series of blog posts about outdoor adventure activities in each of the English counties. If you’d like to read why I decided to write this series, you can find the original introduction here: Guide to outdoor adventure activities in England: county names A-D
The quick notes below will give you information about using this guide, then keep scrolling to get to the county information.
Outdoor adventure activities in the 48 English counties
A few quick notes about this guide.
It’s in alphabetical order, making it easier to find a county name.
I’ve included a few ideas for each county to get you started and recommend doing more research for areas or activities that interest you.
Some National Parks, National Landscapes, and long distance trails span more than one county. If a county already has lots of ideas, I may not duplicate something already covered elsewhere.
Because there’s so much information, the guide will be four separate posts, split as follows:
1. County names A-D (Bedfordshire to Dorset)
2. County names D - K (County Durham to Kent)
3. County names L - S (Lancashire to Shropshire)
4. County names S - W (Somerset to Worcestershire)
If I’ve not included an activity that you think others would love to know about, feel free to share in the comments.
At the end of this blog post, you’ll find helpful links to national websites.
Counties 37 to 48: Somerset to Worcestershire
37. Somerset
Somerset in the south west includes one national park and four national landscapes. Exmoor National Park borders Devon, but most of the area it covers is in north west Somerset. Check the website for lots of information on walking, cycling, and sea kayaking.
The Blackdown Hills National Landscape can be found in the south west part of Somerset, bordering Devon again. The Mendip Hills National Landscape is to the north of the county, and on the east, a small part of the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape falls within the Somerset boundary. Visit individual websites to find lots of information on activities in these areas.
The Quantocks Hill National Landscape falls fully within Somerset, stretching to the county’s northern coastline. The Quantocks is a superb area for walking and mountain biking. The terrain includes heathland, woodland, coastline, and farmland, with a network of bridleways. My blog post 5 places to walk away from the crowds also covers The Quantocks.
With so many designated areas, the choice for outdoor activities in Somerset is huge. Take a look at this 3-mile walk between Kilve and East Quantoxhead which goes along a beach where you can find ammonite fossils.
The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile (164km) National Trail walk between Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to Bath in Somerset. The Coleridge Way is a 51-mile (81km) walk through The Quantocks and Exmoor. Named after the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge who lived in the area, it starts at Coleridge Cottage in Nether Stowey.
The 58-mile (93km) King Charles III England Coast Path is a National Trail along Somerset from Brean Down to Minehead.
Climbers should check out the Mendip Hills National Landscape website, which includes the iconic Cheddar Gorge. There are also show caves here and at Wookey Hole.
For mountain bikers, this collection of routes on Komoot covers mountain biking in The Quantocks and Exmoor.
Guidebook ideas:
OS: Somerset and The Mendips Circular Walks >> Find it on Amazon
Wild Swimming Walks Exmoor and North Devon >> Find it on Amazon
Mendip Outcrops climbing guide >> See on Great Western Rock
38. South Yorkshire
Sheffield is known as The Outdoor City because of its green spaces. Around a third of Sheffield lies within the Peak District National Park meaning it has great walking, cycling, and climbing.
South Yorkshire also has nature reserves dotted all over, some of which are old collieries. Check the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website, plus the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust website for details on things to do here.
Stocksbridge Walkers are Welcome has a website full of walking route ideas. Also look out for The Penistone Line Trail which is a walking route of the 17 stations between Sheffield and Huddersfield. Individual distances are anything from 1.5 to 6.5 miles and you can download individual PDFs of each stage from the website.
The South Yorkshire Way is a 171-mile (275km) walk around the boundary of the county. There’s also a central route that cuts straight through. The Sheffield Round Walk is a 15-mile (24.1km) loop in the southwestern edges of the city. The Barnsley Boundary Walk is made up of twelve short walks covering 73 miles (117km) going around the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough.
The Trans Pennine Trail central area goes through much of South Yorkshire. You can cycle on disused railway tracks most of the way from the remote hamlet of Dunford Bridge on the edge of the Peak District to RSPB Old Moor nature reserve between Barnsley and Doncaster.
There are mountain bike trails galore in the Sheffield area, including Wharncliffe and Grenoside Woods - training ground of the famous downhill mountain biker Steve Peat. The Ride Sheffield website has lots of information about purpose built mountain bike trails in the area.
Sheffield is well-known for it’s climbing culture with many students choosing universities in the area for that reason. From the south west of the city, you can get to popular crags in the Peak District in around 15 minutes, or head to one of the many climbing walls around the city.
Guidebook ideas:
Vertebrate Publishing: Gravel Rides Peak District (includes the edge of Sheffield) >> Find it on Amazon
Vertebrate Publishing: Sheffield Round Walk >> Find it on Amazon
Vertebrate Publishing: Walking South Yorkshire >> Find it on Amazon
39. Staffordshire
The Peak District National Park covers part of Staffordshire, and the website has lots of information about outdoor activities. The Enjoy Staffordshire website also has ideas of places to visit in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak District, along with the activities you can do there.
Cannock Chase National Landscape near Walsall is a popular area for walking, cycling, and horse riding. The National Forest spans the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire. Check their website for accessible adventures, cycling, walking, and water sports.
The National Forest Way is a 75-mile (121km) long distance walking trail, divided into 12 stages. Staffordshire County Council’s website has details of other long distance walks running through the county, including The Staffordshire Way, and the Staffordshire Tolkien Trail.
The Manifold Track is a disused railway track for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, running through stunning countryside. The Manifold Way is a 2.8-mile walk and part of the Peak District’s Miles without Stiles walks. The Peak District Ethels also extend into Staffordshire.
The Cycling UK website has a page dedicated to cycling in Staffordshire, sharing routes and cycling clubs.
Finally, if you’re a climber (or walker), take a look at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s information on The Roaches. It’s a popular gritstone trad climbing area and has many classic routes from moderate to extreme.
Guidebook ideas:
AA: 50 Walks in Staffordshire >> Find it on Amazon
OS: Staffordshire Circular Walks >> Find it on Amazon
Gravel Biking in The Peak District >> Find it on Amazon
40. Suffolk
The Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths National Landscape is a low-lying coastal region on the east of England. It has a variety of countryside from shingle beaches to marshes, heathland, and forest. The website has some maps and visitor guides but also directs people to the Visit Suffolk website which has a dedicated page for outdoor adventures in the county.
The Suffolk Coast website also has a guide to walking and downloadable app called Go Jauntly.
There are three long distance walks in Suffolk - the Suffolk Coast Path (60 miles), the Sandlings Walk (59 miles), and the Stour and Orwell Walk (40 miles)
The Suffolk Coast Cycling Route is an 88-mile circular route through the Suffolk Coast and Heath National Landscape. There are also shorter route ideas on the Visit Suffolk website.
Off-road cycling trails can be found at Dunwich Heath and Forest (sandy trails and healthland paths), Rendlesham Forest (woodland trails), and Tunstall Forest (wilder and more technical mountain bike trails).
Suffolk is considered a good place for paddle boarding, especially along the coastline and River Stour.
Guidebook ideas:
Cicerone: Suffolk Coast and Heath Walks >> Find it on Amazon
Suffolk Pub Walks >> Find it on Amazon
41. Surrey
The Surrey Hills National Landscape includes the chalk slopes of the North Downs. You can find inspiration on walking, cycling, and more on the website.
The North Downs Way is a designated National Trail covering 153 miles (246km) between Surrey and Dover. It goes through two National Landscapes and weaves along part of the famous Pilgrim’s Way.
For shorter walks, check the Surrey Hills website for rail to ramble routes. Walks tend to be between 5 and 9 miles.
Surrey County Council has information on cycling facilities in the county. It also shares some routes such as the Downs Link (37 miles on a disused railway) and the Surrey Cycleway, a 94-mile signposted circular tour around the county.
The 54-mile British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike Ride goes through Surrey on its way to the coast.
Peaslake is a popular starting point for mountain biking in the Surrey Hills. Here, you’ll find a loose network of trails which can be linked up to make bigger loops or cycled individually.
If you’re interested in canoeing, kayaking, or paddle boarding, take a look at the River Thames. Thames Visitor Moorings has lots of information on their website about how to paddle board on the river, and staying safe.
Guidebook ideas:
Paddle the Thames >> Find it on Amazon
The Surrey Hills: 40 favourite walks >> Find it on Amazon
Cicerone: Short Walks in The Surrey Hills >> Find it on Amazon
42. Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear Lowlands is a designated National Character Area. It’s a densely populated area but also has wide stretches of countryside.
The 84-mile (135km) Hadrians Wall Path is a coast to coast walk, starting in Bowness on Solway, Cumbria, and ending at Wallsend in Tyne and Wear. The Tyne and Wear Heritage Way is an 80-mile circular route, broken down into nine sections that follow the historic and industrial heritage of the area.
The River Tyne Trail is a 135-mile source to sea walking route, starting in Northumberland and ends at Tynemouth. There’s also a River Tyne Cycle Trail.
The Go Jauntly website has routes for shorter walks in the area. The Visit South Tyneside website also has ideas and inspiration for walks and other activities.
The NewcastleGateshead website has a page dedicated to cycling routes in the area, with a downloadable PDF. The River Tyne Bike Route is a 44-mile loop along both banks of the River Tyne, suitable for mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, and cyclo-cross bikes.
If you’re looking for a longer distance cycle ride, check out the Sustrans Hadrian’s Cycleway, a 170-mile (274km) route from Ravenglass in Cumbria to South Shields in Tyne and Wear.
Finally, for those loving paddle sports, it’s possible to book an experienced guide to paddle under the iconic Tyne Bridge. You can also paddle board along the coast from Cullercoats Bay to St Mary’s Lighthouse.
Guidebook ideas:
Standup Paddle Boarding in Great Britain >> Find it on Amazon
Cicerone: Hadrian’s Cycleway >> Find it on Amazon
Trailblazer: Hadrian’s Wall Path >> Find it on Amazon
43. Warwickshire
The Cotswolds National Landscape is the biggest in the UK and stretches north to the Warwickshire border. The South Warwickshire Cotswolds are low hills and valleys, known for their geology, history, and wildlife.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has a page dedicated to walking routes in the area on their website. You can also find more on the National Trust website with a page dedicated to walking in Warwickshire.
The Centenary Way is a long distance walking route (98.5 miles, 158.5km) celebrating 100 years of Warwickshire County Council. You can find more details on the LDWA website.
Warwickshire County Council has a web page for local cycling and walking routes with downloadable PDFs. Also check out The Lias Line, a 23.5 mile Sustrans route that links Rugby with Leamington Spa. It’s 65.3% traffic free and follows part of a disused railway to Wildlife Trust sites at Ashlawn Cutting and Cock Robin Wood.
The River Avon in Warwickshire is 85 miles long and used by recreational paddlers. The Leam Boat Centre has paddlesports courses and hire options for those wanting to paddle along the River Leam. Burton Farm near Nuneaton offers open water swimming and standup paddle boarding. It also has a cafe onsite.
Guidebook ideas:
The Centenary Way >> Find it on Amazon
AA: 50 Walks in Warwickshire >> Find it on Amazon
44. West Midlands
The Walk Midlands website covers the whole of the Midlands area, split into counties, so you can pick up walks in West Midlands from there - scroll down to Helpful Links for a hyperlink.
Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust has a list of nature reserves in the area. You can also search on the RSPB website for nature reserves in the West Midlands.
The Beacon Way is a 17.7 mile (28.5km) walk from Sandwell around the outskirts of Birmingham and into Staffordshire. It takes in the Forest of Mercia, along with lakes, nature reserves, woods, and canals.
The Millennium Way website has details of circular walks from 3 to 10 miles. The Forest of Mercia Timberland Trail is an 8.9 mile (14.4km) circular walk in an area north of Walsall, around historic Pelsall.
Transport for West Midlands has a web page dedicated to cycling routes in the West Midlands. You can find more traffic-free cycling routes in the West Midlands on the Ordnance Survey Website.
Check the Open Trail website for bike tracks in the region, covering pump tracks, BMX tracks, and mountain bike trails.
Edgbaston Reservoir is popular with walkers, joggers, and those wanting to try sailing or rowing. Sutton Sailing Club at Sutton Coldfield offers standup paddle boarding, and has an events calendar running through the year. You could also tackle the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, and the Grand Union Canal.
Guidebook ideas:
Bradwell Books: 20 Walks in The Black Country >> Find it on Amazon
45. West Sussex
The South Downs National Park and High Weald National Landscape both stretch into parts of West Sussex. Check their individual websites for lots of ideas for walks, bike rides, and more.
Part of the 100 mile (160km) South Downs Way National Trail goes through West Sussex. It’s one of only two National Trails that have been formally designated as a long-distance bridleway - which means you can also cover it by bike or on horseback.
The Greenwich Meridian Trail is a 273 mile (439km) route following the line of the Prime Meridian as closely as possible using public rights of way. It starts at Sand le Mere, near Tunstall on the Yorkshire coast where the Prime Meridian line heading south from the North Pole makes its first landfall. It then ends at the Meridian Monument in Peacehaven, West Sussex.
The Experience Sussex website has ideas for outdoor activities, including walking, cycling, and water sports. With around 50 miles of coastline, it’s a great place for swimming, surfing, and standup paddle boarding.
Natural England has also developed the England Coast Path which covers the West Sussex coastline.
Guidebook ideas:
Cicerone: Walks in the South Downs National Park >> Find it on Amazon
West Sussex Pub Walks >> Find it on Amazon
Vertebrate Publishing: Cycling in Sussex Off Road Trails and Quiet Lanes >> Find it on Amazon
46. West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire has a mix of urban areas in the centre of the county, and remote rural areas around the edges. The Pennine Hills on the western edge of the county is high moorland, characterised with river valleys and mill towns. The Peak District National Park also extends into part of West Yorkshire.
The Pennine Way National Trail (268 miles, 431km) runs along the Pennine Hills, travelling through part of West Yorkshire. The Millenium Way - Bradford is a 45 mile (72km) walk around the city’s boundary. It takes in the Bronte countryside (home to the well-known Bronte sisters in the 1800’s).
The West Yorkshire Heritage Trail is a circular heritage themed trail covering 135 miles (217km). It starts officially at the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Salts Mill, Saltaire and goes through every district of West Yorkshire. The North West Leeds Green Gateways Trail is a circular route covering 39 miles (62.8km).
Holmfirth, in the south of the county (and on the edge of the Peak District), is a popular walking area. The West Yorkshire county top of West Nab (501m) is close by and is one of the Peak District Ethels. To the north of the county is Ilkley Moor and Otley Chevin.
The central part of the Trans Pennine Trail (a coast to coast route) goes through West Yorkshire, giving off-road trails for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders. The Cycle Wakefield website also has downloadable cycling routes of between 10 and 75 miles.
There are lots of natural mountain biking trails in the county and the Leeds Urban Bike Park is a trail centre with a range of graded routes. The Tour de Holme Moss is a circular mountain biking route covering 42 miles (66km). There’s also a gravel route covering 40 miles (64km).
There are gritstone crags dotted around the county for climbing. Some of the more popular are Almscliffe, Ilkley, and Heptonstall. Otley Chevin and Caley Crags are also well-known bouldering destinations just outside Leeds.
With an abundance of rivers, there’s usually somewhere for wild swimming, or there’s Ilkley Lido which opens in the spring and summer months. For paddle sports, check the Leeds Liverpool canal. The Yorkshire Water website also has details of sailing and water sports clubs at their reservoirs. The website also has details of reservoir walks and accessible routes.
Guidebook ideas:
AA: 50 Walks in West Yorkshire >> Find it on Amazon
West Yorkshire Countryside - Walks on City Fringes >> Find it on Amazon
VP: West Yorkshire Mountain Biking, South Pennine Trails >> Find it on Amazon
47. Wiltshire
Wiltshire has three National Landscapes - the North Wessex Downs; Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, and The Cotswolds which extend into the northern part of the county. Check the individual websites for ideas of outdoor activities.
The Visit Wiltshire website has ideas for short walks and also shares information on the top 10 places to walk in Wiltshire. The Kennet and Avon Canal crosses the heart of Wiltshire. There are also places to walk around the ancient landscape of Stonehenge.
The White Horse Trail is a 93 mile (150km) route that allows walkers to see views of the eight white horses cut into the chalk hillsides of Wiltshire. The Ridgeway National Trail (87 miles, 140km) passes through Wiltshire. It’s known popularly as ‘Britain’s Oldest Road’. Some of the route can by followed on bike or horseback.
King Alfred’s Way is a CyclingUK circular off-road route covering 350km. It connects some of Englands most iconic historical sites. Connecting Wiltshire has a dedicated page to mountain biking routes in the county. For more cycling route ideas, check Visit Wiltshire’s website.
The Cotswold Water Park in the north of Wiltshire has over 150 lakes for various water sports. Further south, check the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Guidebook ideas:
Cicerone: Walking in the New Forest >> Find it on Amazon
OS: Wiltshire Circular Walks >> Find it on Amazon
Cicerone: The Ridgeway National Trail >> Find it on Amazon
48. Worcestershire
The Malvern Hills National Landscape and The Cotswolds National Landscape both fall into part of Worcestershire. Check their websites for walking, cycling, and other outdoor activity ideas.
The Malvern Hills National Landscape also has a dedicated walking app that you can download to your phone. Visit Worcestershire has a web page dedicated to Worcestershire walks and blog posts about dog friendly cafes and walks with pub food along the way. You can also find more ideas from the Worcestershire County Council website.
The Worcestershire Way is a 31 mile (50km) walk between Bewdley and Great Malvern. It goes along the River Severn and into the northern Malvern Hills.
There are three signposted natural mountain bike trails in the Malvern Hills. Route maps for these can be downloaded from the Malvern Hills Trust website. The Open Trail website has details of bike tracks in Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Burlish Bike Park at Stourport is a purpose built bike park with trails for a range of abilities.
Wittering SUP offers standup paddle boarding training and SUP yoga on the River Avon at the Arden Sailing Club. The River Severn, the longest river in the UK, has gentle stretches of water near Worcester.
Guidebook ideas:
AA: 50 Walks in Herefordshire and Worcestershire >> Find it on Amazon
Markus Stitz: Great British Gravel Rides, Markus >> Find it on Amazon
Outdoor activities in other English counties
When all four blog posts are live, check here for the links to look at other counties.
County names A-D (Bedfordshire to Dorset)
County names D - K (County Durham to Kent)
County names L - S (Lancashire to Shropshire)
County names S - W (Somerset to Worcestershire)
Helpful links:
The links below are national websites where you can search for information on a specific area.
National Parks website: Details of all the National Parks across the country
National Landscapes website: Details of all the National Landscapes, formerly AONB’s
National Trails: Details of designated National Trails in England and Wales
Long Distance Walkers Association: Searchable database of long distance paths in the UK
Cycling UK: Long-distance cycling routes in the UK
The Wildlife Trust: Nature reserves, searchable by area
The National Trust: Details of outdoor activities, split into different areas
Forestry England: Information on managed woodland across England
The RSPB: Nature reserves across the UK, searchable by area
Walk Midlands website: Walking ideas (listed by county) across the Midlands
You may also be interested in reading:
Best multi-day walks in the UK
20 of the UK’s best long-distance cycling routes for bikepacking
15 adventures in the UK’s National Parks
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