If you are looking for a hiking holiday that perfectly combines thrilling adventures with picturesque mountain scenery, look no further than our highlighted trails. We’ve created a list of some of the best and most challenging tours that offer mountainous hiking in Ireland, Scotland and England.
In the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East in the Wicklow Mountains there are famed trails that lead you to landscapes with monastic ruins, hidden lakes and valleys. The views are fantastic, hence the inclines are not insignificant. It is a perfect blend of an easy to get to trail just south of Dublin that will make you work for its reward of lasting holiday memories. If you want to challenge yourself on Scotland’s most well known trail the West Highland Way, you’ll trek reasonably gently through the southern stages of the route before walkers meet the more demanding and spectacular northern stages. The highest point on the West Highland Way is the Devil’s Staircase at 550m.
For those seeking a taste of English charm with a helping of a good work out, the Cotswold Way offers an adventure through rolling hills and historic villages. In some parts of the trail the frequency of the climbs can give you an unexpected challenge. Also the South Downs Way which is normally considered a sedate and easy trail does offer a range of frequent hills between major stops and so should be considered by those looking for a climbing trail.
Explore the untamed beauty of the Beara Way with its rugged coastline and relatively steep mountain paths as it opens up the raw grandeur of the Beara Peninsula. One of Ireland’s best kept hiking secrets, it promises a great holiday experience. Alternatively, just north of the Beara Peninsula across Kenmare Bay discover the varied attractions of Ireland’s longest trail on the Kerry Way. There are plenty of steep inclines here between 200-300m to keep you busy with stunning mountain views and remote paths that only hikers experience.
From our exclusive list of tours, we’ve selected hiking trails that are perfectly suited to a mountain hiking holiday. These trails are sure to present challenging yet rewarding inclines along a challenging route. We grade out itineraries according to your abilities from entry level Gentle to reasonably fit Moderate and the keen hiker’s Challenging trails so there is something to suit everyone.
The Wicklow Mountains located just south of Dublin, offers keen hikers mountains, lakes, glacial valleys and forests. The Wicklow Way spanning 131km from Clonegal in County Carlow to Dublin, is renowned for its challenging terrain and scenic beauty. It features a mix of upland paths, forest tracks, and quiet country roads making it a prime destination for hillwalking enthusiasts. Our tours, like those through Glendalough, Trooperstown Hill, Avonmore Way, and St Kevin’s Way, highlight the best of Wicklow’s natural beauty and are ideal for those seeking challenging hiking routes.
The West Highland Way, starting in Milngavie near Glasgow, offers some of Scotland’s best mountain hikes and challenging routes through picturesque landscapes. This iconic 154km trail ascends Conic Hill, follows Loch Lomond’s rugged eastern shores, traverses remote Glen Orchy and Rannoch Moor before descending into Glencoe. You will remember climbing the Devil’s Staircase, the highest peak on the trail, you will also and skirt along Ben Nevis’s foothills. This is the highest mountain in the uk and for avid hikers looking for an extra challenge you could take an experience day to climb it. The hike concludes in Fort William which is a climbing and hillwalking mecca for people who want to explore other Munros in the region.
Explore the Cotswold Way one of England’s premier National Trails, spanning 164km from Chipping Campden to Bath. Enjoy rigorous walks through frequent up and downs as you pass through scenic villages, woodlands and meadows. The trail offers great views from the Cotswold escarpment as you champion some steep sections. There is great variety along the route with quintessential gold stone English villages along with rural vistas as you finish your hike in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath with its Roman origins. Other highlights include Hailes Abbey, Sudeley Castle and Chipping Norton.
The South Downs Way, a renowned national trail in England, spans 160km (100 miles) from Winchester to Eastbourne. Known for its rolling chalk hills, this route provides some of the best mountain hikes and hiking routes for hillwalking. Starting in the historic city of Winchester and ending at the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne, it traverses the South Downs National Park, offering spectacular views, wildflower meadows, and ancient woodlands. It features inclined hikes between the towns on the trail with frequent ascents and descents, is ideal for those seeking challenging hiking routes amidst England’s natural beauty.
The Beara Way is a 152km circular route around the Beara Peninsula in Ireland’s south west. Should you hike the whole trail it begins and ends in Glengarriff, County Cork. This trail features some great mountain hikes along the route where you will discover hidden lakes and the scenic coastlines of Counties Kerry and Cork. Enjoy colourful towns like Castletownbere, Eyeries, Allihies and Kenmare each with its own special vibe. Mysterious standing stones, stone circles and burial monuments pepper the route hinting at the region’s important ancient past. The route includes mountain paths, forest trails, bog roads and cliff paths, ideal for hillwalking enthusiasts seeking the best inclined hiking routes. Additional trails on Bere Island and Dursey Island extend the Beara Way to over 150km, offering wild and unspoilt landscapes.
The Kerry Way, Ireland’s longest signposted walking trail at 214km, begins and ends in Killarney looping around the Iveragh Peninsula. This trail, one of the best hiking routes for hillwalking, offers mountain climbing hikes and challenging hiking routes through some of Ireland’s most dramatic countryside. The route includes diverse terrains from the Lakes of Killarney to high mountain moorland as well as highlights like Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe. While skirting Ireland’s highest mountains, the trail features incline hikes with sustained climbs, especially between Black Valley and Glencar, making it perfect for those seeking the best remote mountain hikes.
Match the type of hiking adventure you are looking for by reading through our ‘Best For’ guides below.
Hillwalk Tours has over a decade of experience in organising self-guided hiking holidays. We take pride in specialising & crafting unique and unforgettable hiking tours across Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Spain and Portugal. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, we have a huge range of tours to match all fitness levels and interests, ensuring a walking holiday with Hillwalk Tours will be an experience of a lifetime.
Furthermore, our core purpose at Hillwalk Tours is to “create experiences that make people happy”, and we strive towards fulfilling this purpose in everything we do. The following are just some examples of what you can expect with Hillwalk Tours as standard:
