Self-guided walks
Take the festival at your own pace with our free resources.
You can download maps and route instructions for walks from many of our hostels — picking your difficulty level from easy, moderate or more challenging. All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel. What could be more convenient!
Maps will be available soon. For now, you can browse the hostels that will be offering routes (distances are approximate).
Walk difficulty level
Easy (0 to 20): These routes should be straightforward for most and take about an hour or two. They balance distance and height – if there’s a lot of ascent, then the distance will be low. If it’s flat, then the route will be longer. Ideal for a stroll, beginners or people who do not want to walk too far.
Moderate (20 to 50): These routes vary from a bit harder than easy to a bit easier than challenging. They are longer than easier walks and will require a morning or an afternoon. They have more ascent, more uneven terrain and may require more navigation skills.
Challenging (50 to 70): For walkers with a little more experience and higher levels of fitness, these routes are either long, involve an ascent or are challenging to walk. They are a good day out and will take you through great scenery and past interesting places.
Expert (70+): These are the hardest of all and best suited to experienced walkers. They are long or high, but probably both. They may involve scrambling and will likely be in remote mountainous areas.
How we grade our walks
Our walks are graded to provide walkers with a clear and easy to understand assessment of the effort and skill required to undertake a particular route and to compare one route to another.
The grade is based on distance, overall ascent and terrain, plus how easy the route is to navigate, if it can be cut the short (if needed), any hazards along the way, how exposed to the elements you will be, and the impact poor weather could have on the walk.
An overall numerical value is calculated for each route – the higher the grade, the harder the route – and a category assigned based on this value.

In partnership with Ordnance Survey
Log your miles for a chance to win
Tell us how far you walk during the festival and you’ll get the chance to win a £500 voucher for Cotswold Outdoor.
East Midlands

YHA Castleton Losehill Hall
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Eyam
Eyam, Derbyshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.1 miles, takes 40 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
5.3 miles, takes 3 hours
Route 3 (coming soon)
11.1 miles, takes 6 hours 7 mins

YHA Hartington Hall
Hartington, Derbyshire, SK17 0AT
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
6 miles, takes 3 hours 9 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Hathersage
Hathersage, Derbyshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
3 miles, takes 1 hour 30 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7 miles, takes 3 hours 54 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.5 miles, takes 7 hours 10 mins

YHA Youlgreave
near Bakewell
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)
East of England

YHA Cambridge
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Sheringham
Sheringham, Norfolk
Route 1 (coming soon)
3 miles, takes 1 hour 30 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
5.6 miles, takes 2 hour 40 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
18.6 miles, takes 9 hours 19 mins
London

YHA London Central
London, W1W
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA London St Pancras
London, NW1
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)
North East of England

YHA Berwick
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.6 miles, takes 1 hour 45 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.1 miles, takes 13 hours 13 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
18.3 miles, takes 9 hours 2 mins

YHA Langdon Beck
Barnard Castle, Durham
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.6 miles, takes 1 hour 14 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.7 miles, takes 4 hours 38 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.7 miles, takes 7 hours 34 mins

YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall
Bardon Mill, Northumberland
Route 1 (coming soon)
2 miles, takes 1 hour 14 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
6 miles, takes 4 hours 15 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
15 miles, takes 7 hours 32 mins
North West of England

YHA Ambleside
Ambleside, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Chester Trafford Hall
Chester, Cheshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
4.6 miles, takes 2 hour 41 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.14 miles, takes 3 hours 19 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
16.9 miles, takes 7 hours 31 mins

YHA Dufton
Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.24 miles, takes 39 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.65 miles, takes 4 hours 25 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
12.12 miles, takes 7 hours 22 mins

YHA Ennerdale
Cleator, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.8 miles, takes 1 hour 50 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.2 miles, takes 4 hours
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.12 miles, takes 10 hours 30 mins

YHA Hawkshead
Ambleside, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.2 miles, takes 1 hour 32 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.3 miles, takes 3 hours 57 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.1 miles, takes 7 hours 20 mins

YHA Helvellyn
Penrith, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.6 miles, takes 2 hour 10 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.2 miles, takes 4 hours 5 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
10.9 miles, takes 7 hours 22 mins

YHA Honister Hause
Keswick, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
5.14 miles, takes 3 hours 23 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
4.6 miles, takes 3 hours 32 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
6 miles, takes 4 hours 34 mins

YHA Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Liverpool Albert Dock
Liverpool
Route 1 (coming soon)
4 miles, takes 1 hour 28 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
10 miles, takes 4 hours
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Manchester
Manchester
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Slaidburn
Clitheroe, Lancashire
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.5 miles, takes 1 hour 39 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
11.3 miles, takes 5 hours 31 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
15.4 miles, takes 9 hours
South East of England

YHA Brighton
Brighton, East Sussex
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills
Dorking, Surrey
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.9 miles, takes 1 hour 28 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.6 miles, takes 4 hours 7 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.4 miles, takes 7 hours 54 mins

YHA Isle of Wight Totland
Totland Bay, Isle of Wight
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Jordans
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.7 miles, takes 1 hour 41 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.9 miles, takes 3 hours 39 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.88 miles, takes 6 hours 49 mins

YHA New Forest
Burley Ringwood, Hampshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.4 miles, takes 1 hour
Route 2 (coming soon)
4.8 miles, takes 2 hour 13 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.9 miles, takes 7 hours 10 mins

YHA South Downs
Lewes, East Sussex
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Truleigh Hill
Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.7 miles, takes 54 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.3 miles, takes 4 hours
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.1 miles, takes 6 hours 35 mins
South West of England

YHA Beer
Beer, Devon
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.3 miles, takes 1 hour 12 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
5.8 miles, takes 3 hours 15 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
12.1 miles, takes 6 hours 58 mins

YHA Bristol
Bristol
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Cheddar
Cheddar, Somerset
Route 1 (coming soon)
4.6 miles, takes 2 hours
Route 2 (coming soon)
4.6 miles, takes 2 hours 45 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13 miles, takes 7 hours 12 mins

YHA Coverack
Helston, Cornwall
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.5 miles, takes 43 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
4.1 miles, takes 2 hour 10 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.6 miles, takes 6 hours 50 mins

YHA Dartmoor
Postbridge, Devon
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Minehead
Minehead, Somerset
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Okehampton
Okehampton, Devon
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Street
Street, Somerset
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.72 miles, takes 1 hour 46 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8 miles, takes 3 hours 54 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.2 miles, takes 7 hours 10 mins

YHA Treyarnon Bay
Padstow, Cornwall
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.5 miles, takes 1 hour 36 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.5 miles, takes 3 hours 53 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
16 miles, takes 8 hours 18 mins
Wales

YHA Brecon Beacons
Brecon, Powys
Route 1 (coming soon)
4.32 miles, takes 2 hours 23 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.64 miles, takes 4 hour 48 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
8.8 miles, takes 5 hours 26 mins

YHA Brecon Beacons Danywenallt
Brecon, Powys
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.3 miles, takes 1 hour 6 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
6.6 miles, takes 4 hours 2 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
11.9 miles, takes 7 hours 6 mins

YHA Broad Haven
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.7 mile, takes 57 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
5 miles, takes 1 hour 32 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.24 miles, takes 7 hours 31 mins

YHA Manorbier
near Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.15 miles, takes 1 hour 4 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
6 miles, takes 3 hour 21 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.3 miles, takes 7 hours 1 mins

YHA Newport Pembrokeshire
Newport, Pembrokeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.3 miles, takes 59 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
4.8 miles, takes 2 hour 36 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.2 miles, takes 8 hours 08 mins

YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass
Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Snowdon Ranger
Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA St Davids
St David's, Pembrokeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.1 miles, takes 1 hour 41 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
3.7 miles, takes 2 hour 13 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
11.6 miles, takes 6 hours 41 mins
West Midlands

YHA Clun Mill
Craven Arms, Shropshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.1 miles, takes 1 hour 3 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
10.3 miles, takes 5 hours 56 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.5 miles, takes 8 hours 08 mins

YHA Ilam Hall
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Ironbridge Coalport
Coalport, Shropshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
4.5 miles, takes 2 hours
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.2 miles, takes 4 hours 13 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
16 miles, takes 8 hours 15 mins

YHA National Forest
Swadlincote, Derbyshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
3.5 miles, takes 1 hour 36 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
6.8 miles, takes 3 hours 21 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
11.13 miles, takes 5 hours 26 mins

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.7 miles, takes 1 hour 10 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.8 miles, takes 4 hours 13 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
12.74 miles, takes 6 hours 7 mins

YHA Wye Valley
Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
4.9 miles, takes 2 hour 21 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
6.6 miles, takes 3 hours 18 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
13.7 miles, takes 7 hours 10 mins
Yorkshire and the Humber

YHA Boggle Hole
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Dalby Forest
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.4 miles, takes 46 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
4.4 miles, takes 2 hour 16 mins
Route 4 (coming soon)
11.4 miles, takes 6 hours 7 mins

YHA Grinton Lodge
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA Helmsley
Helmsley, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
1.6 miles, takes 44 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8.4 miles, takes 4 hours 8 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
15.3 miles, takes 6 hours 57 mins

YHA Malham
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2 miles, takes 52 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
8 miles, takes 4 hours 20 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14 miles, takes 7 hours 24 mins

YHA Mankinholes
Todmorden, Lancashire
Route 1 (coming soon)
2.3 miles, takes 1 hour 11 mins
Route 2 (coming soon)
7.7 miles, takes 4 hours 24 mins
Route 3 (coming soon)
14.4 miles, takes 7 hours 37 mins

YHA Whitby
Whitby, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)

YHA York
York, North Yorkshire
Route 1 (coming soon)
Route 2 (coming soon)
Route 3 (coming soon)
Take part in the festival
Festival of Walking
YHA and walking just go together - discover our walking festival
Participating hostels
Many of our hostels are hosting walking activities for the festival
Social walks
Open to all, our guided social walks are led by experienced leaders
Fundraising events
Help support YHA with one of our walking challenge events