The stunning walk near Greater Manchester named the best in the UK

Liv Clarke

17 June 2024 at 1:05 am·2-min read

Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia, North Wales — -Credit: (Image: Dwalad / Wikimedia Commons)

With summer upon us you can’t beat a good hike in one of the UK’s national parks. Now a new study has revealed the most popular national park walking location is within easy reach of Greater Manchester.

Cwm Idwal Walk in Snowdonia (Eryi) was named the top walk to do within a national park. A rather challenging route, it offers incredible mountain views and looks out over the Cwm Idwal, a bowl-shaped hollow lake.

The study, compiled by holiday cottage firm Wheelwrights, analysed data from Tripadvisor to find the percentage of five star reviews to reveal the top national park walking locations in the UK. It used this date to whittle down a list of 15 walks in each of the 15 national parks, to find the best ones.

Cwm Idwal Walk achieved an impressive score of 95.2 per cent thanks to its breathtaking scenery. In second place, and also on our doorstep, is Wast Water in the Lake District. It achieved a score of 90.7 per cent for five-star reviews.

Wast Water is England’s deepest lake but it’s surrounded by some of the tallest mountains, including Scaffell Pike, providing a stunning backdrop for a hike. In third place is the Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Wales with a score of 90.2per cent. The route stretches on for a total of 186 miles, with walks ranging from short and easy to more challenging and features beaches, cliffs and coves.

Fortunately for us, seven of the top ten are on our doorstep. Helvellyn, also in the Lake District, ranked in fourth place while Buttermere Lake bagged sixth place. Another Lakes walking location to make the top ten was the Catbells.

Cadair Idris in Snowdonia, also made the top ten. Rounding off the list was Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales. Interestingly no walks in the Peak District made the list.

The top 10 most popular national park walk locations

Cwm Idwal, Eyri (Snowdonia)
Wast Water, Lake District
Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Arfordir Penfro (Pembrokeshire Coast)
Helvellyn, Lake District
Cadair Idris, Eryri (Snowdonia)
Buttermere Lake, Lake District
Barafundle Bay, Arfordir Penfro (Pembrokeshire Coast)
Pen y Fan, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
Catbells, Lake District
Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales

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The top 10 most popular national park walk locations

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