It’s still a bit nippy, but the bitter chill of winter has lifted – flowers are blooming, birds are singing and the days feel longer. Spring has arrived and everyone’s starting to emerge from their hibernation. Thankfully, The Telegraph has put together Britain’s 15 greatest walks for stretching those legs and getting moving about.
You likely know a few already. Legendary hikes across Britain’s varied landscape include the history-packed Hadrian’s Wall Path, the seaside exploring South West Coast Path and the culturally-minded Thames Path. But one of Britain’s greatest walks caught our eye in particular for cutting through Birmingham – the Monarch’s Way.
What is the Monarch’s Way?
Back in 1651, a Civil War had swept the country. At the Battle of Worcester – its final and most decisive battle – King Charles II was defeated by Oliver Cromwell and fled to Shoreham in West Sussex (and from there sailed to France). The Monarch’s Way is a 625-mile footpath that approximately follows this escape route that winds through Bristol.
If you know your geography well, you’ll know it’s not a straight line. The Telegraph best describes it: “Monarch’s Way staggers drunkenly across the Midlands, the Cotswolds, the south-west and into Sussex, even doubling back on itself.” But what sounds like an awful journey for King Charles II, is ideal for English countryside ramblers.
A varied landscape takes in two World Heritage Sites, a National Park and six National Landscapes. Tackling it in one go is not something many will want to try. The 625 miles could take anywhere between 30 to 60 days. But is best enjoyed broken into bite-sized hikes/walks/strolls/however you fancy. (We found this handy site that breaks the walk into small chunks.)
So why not start in the West Midlands where King Charles II’s journey began? The Telegraph recommends the Boscobel loop, “a two-day excursion from Cosford station taking in the Royal Oak” in which Charles famously hid. Or if you want somewhere closer to home, the route offers a very different surrounding from Wolverhampton to Sandwell. But whether following the Birmingham Canal or Cotswold Way, look out for the yellow badges, with a ship, a crown and a Royal Oak tree. To start planning head here.