Self-guided walks

Download free maps and route guides for walks across England and Wales.

Self-guided walks

Go walking at your own pace with our free resources.

You can download maps and route guides for walks from many of our hostels — picking your difficulty level from easy to more challenging. All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel. What could be more convenient!

Walk difficulty level

Easy (0 to 20): Straightforward for most, taking about an hour or two. If there’s some ascent, the distance will be short. If it’s flat, the route will be longer.

Moderate (20 to 50): Longer than easier walks, requiring a morning or afternoon. More ascent, more uneven terrain and may require more navigation skills.

Challenging (50 to 70): For walkers with more experience and higher levels of fitness, these routes are either long, challenging to walk or involve an ascent.

Severe (70+): The hardest of all and best suited to experienced walkers. They are long or high, but probably both. Likely to be in remote mountainous areas.

How we grade our walks

Accessible routes: Accessible means different things to different people. Working with Access the Dales, we have identified a wider range of accessible routes that are close to YHA hostels.

Follow our routes on the OS app

East Midlands

East of England

YHA Cambridge exterior

YHA Cambridge

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Easy route (PDF, 1.3MB)
3.1 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Easy route (PDF, 1.5MB)
4.2 miles, takes 1h 30m - 2h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.1MB)
6.7 miles, takes 2h 30m - 4h 15m

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YHA Sheringham exterior

YHA Sheringham

Sheringham, Norfolk

Easy route (PDF, 0.6MB)
2.9 miles, takes 1h 15m - 2h

Moderate route (PDF, 0.6MB)
5.9 miles, takes 2h 45m to 4h 15m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
11.7 miles, takes 5h 15m - 8h 30m

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London

YHA London Central exterior

YHA London Central

London, W1W

Easy route (PDF, 1.5MB)
7 miles, takes 2h 30m - 4h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 3.1MB)
13.5 miles, takes 4h 45m - 8h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 3.9MB)
12.6 miles, takes 4h 30m - 7h 30m 

View this hostel

North East of England

YHA Berwick exterior

YHA Berwick

Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland

Easy route (PDF, 0.9MB)
3.3 miles, takes 1h 30m - 2h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.9MB)
6.8 miles, takes 2h 45m - 4h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
15.6 miles, takes 7h - 8h

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YHA Langdon beck

YHA Langdon Beck

Barnard Castle, Durham

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.6 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.1MB)
8.4 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h 15m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.1MB)
14.3 miles, takes 6h 30m - 10h 45m

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The Sill at Hadrian's Wall exterior

YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall

Bardon Mill, Northumberland

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
2.3 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
7.9 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB)
13.8 miles, takes 6h 15m - 7h 15m

View this hostel

North West of England

South East of England

YHA Isle of Wight Totland exterior

YHA Isle of Wight Totland

Totland Bay, Isle of Wight

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.6 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.6MB)
5.4 miles, takes 2h 30m - 4h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
11.3 miles, takes 5h - 8h 15m

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YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills

YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills

Dorking, Surrey

Moderate route (PDF, 1.2MB) 
7.9 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h

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YHA Jordans exterior

YHA Jordans

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
3.7 miles, takes 1h 30m - 2h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.1MB)
8 miles, takes 3h 15m - 5h 15m

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YHA New Forest exterior

YHA New Forest

Burley Ringwood, Hampshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.4 miles, takes 1h - 1h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
4.9 miles, takes 2h - 3h 15m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB)
14.8 miles, takes 6h 15m - 10h 30m

View this hostel

YHA South Downs exterior

YHA South Downs

Lewes, East Sussex

Easy route with access guidance (PDF, 2MB)
3.9 miles, takes 1h 30m - 2h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.3MB)
12.6 miles, takes 5h 30m - 9h 15m

Severe route (PDF, 1.2MB)
20.3 miles, takes 8h 45m - 10h

View this hostel

YHA Truleigh Hill exterior

YHA Truleigh Hill

Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
1.7 miles, takes 45m - 1h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
7.4 miles, takes 3h 45m - 5h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.3MB)
13.1 miles, takes 5h 45m - 9h 30m

View this hostel

South West of England

YHA Beer exterior

YHA Beer

Beer, Devon

Easy route (PDF, 0.9MB)
2.3 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
5.8 miles, takes 2h 45m - 4h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.1MB)
12.1 miles, takes 6h 15m - 9h 45m

View this hostel

YHA Bristol Dining area

YHA Bristol

Bristol

Easy route (PDF, 1MB)
1.4 miles, takes 30m - 1h

Easy route (PDF, 1.4MB)
3.3 miles, takes 1h 15m - 2h

Moderate route (PDF, 1.2MB)
8.4 miles, takes 3h 30m - 5h 45m

View this hostel

YHA Cheddar exterior

YHA Cheddar

Cheddar, Somerset

Easy route (PDF, 0.9MB)
4.6 miles, takes 1h 45m - 3h

Moderate route (PDF, 1.2MB)
4.7 miles, takes 2h 30m - 4h

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
12.8 miles, takes 6h 15m to 10h

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YHA Coverack exterior

YHA Coverack

Helston, Cornwall

Easy route (PDF, 0.4MB)  
1.1 miles, takes 30m - 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.6MB)  
4.5 miles, takes 2h - 3h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.6MB)  
7.6 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h 15mView this hostel

YHA Dartmoor exterior

YHA Dartmoor

Postbridge, Devon

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.7 miles, takes 1h 15m - 2h

Moderate route (PDF, 0.9MB)
3.7 miles, takes 1h 45m - 2h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.9MB)
14.2 miles, takes 7h - 11h 30m

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YHA Minehead exterior

YHA Minehead

Minehead, Somerset

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.2 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
6.9 miles, takes 3h - 5h

Challenging route (PDF, 0.9MB)
15.4 miles, takes 7h 30m - 12h

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YHA Okehampton

YHA Okehampton

Okehampton, Devon

Easy route (PDF, 1MB)
2.3 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
3.6 miles, takes 1h 45m - 2h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB)
7.7 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h

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YHA Treyarnon Bay exterior

YHA Treyarnon Bay

Padstow, Cornwall

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
5 miles, takes 2h 15m - 3h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
13.7 miles, takes 6h 30m - 7h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.9MB)
18.1 miles, takes 8h 15m - 9h 30m

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Wales

YHA Brecon Beacons

YHA Brecon Beacons

Brecon, Powys

Moderate route (PDF, 0.9MB)
3.2 miles, takes 2h - 3h

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
8.4 miles, takes 4h - 6h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1MB)
8.2 miles, takes 4h 30m - 7h

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YHA Brecon Beacons Danywenallt exterior

YHA Brecon Beacons Danywenallt

Brecon, Powys

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
3.9 miles, takes 1h 45m - 3h

Challenging route (PDF, 1.1MB)
6.3 miles, takes 3h 30m - 5h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.3MB)
13.3 miles, takes 7h 15m - 11h 30m

View this hostel

YHA Broad Haven

YHA Broad Haven

Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.7MB)
1.8 mile, takes 45m - 1h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
4.7 miles, takes 2h 15m - 3h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
12.6 miles, takes 6h 30m - 10h 15m

View this hostel

YHA Manorbier exterior

YHA Manorbier

near Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.6MB)
2.1 miles, takes 1h - 1h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.5MB)
6.1 miles, takes 3h - 4h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 1MB)
12.6 miles, takes 5h 45m - 9h 30m

View this hostel

YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass exterior

YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass

Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB) 
2.3 miles, takes 1h 30m - 2h 15m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB) 
7.5 miles, takes 5h - 7h 30m

Severe route (PDF, 1,2MB) 
6.5 miles, takes 4h 45m - 7h

View this hostel

YHA Snowdon Ranger exterior

YHA Snowdon Ranger

Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Easy route (PDF, 0.3MB)
0.4 miles, takes 15m - 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB)
9.3 miles, takes 5h 45m - 8h 30m

Severe route (PDF, 0.9MB)
11.4 miles, 7h 45m - 11h 45m

View this hostel

YHA St Davids exterior

YHA St Davids

St David's, Pembrokeshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.2 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
3.6 miles, takes 2h - 3h

Challenging route (PDF, 0.9MB)
11.2 miles, takes 5h 45m - 9h 15m

View this hostel

West Midlands

YHA Clun Mill exterior

YHA Clun Mill

Craven Arms, Shropshire

Moderate route (PDF, 1.5MB)
10.3 miles, takes 5h 15m - 8h 15m

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YHA Ironbridge Coalport exterior

YHA Ironbridge Coalport

Coalport, Shropshire

Easy route (PDF, 1.2MB)
4.4 miles, takes 1h 45m - 3h

Moderate route (PDF, 1.2MB)
5.9 miles, takes 2h 45m - 4h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.1MB)
16 miles, takes 7h 15m - 8h 15m

View this hostel

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon exterior

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.7MB)
2.1 miles, takes 45m - 1h 30m

Moderate route (PDF 1.1MB)
8.3 miles, takes 3h 30m - 5h 45m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
9.5 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h 30m

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YHA Wye Valley

YHA Wye Valley

Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Easy route (PDF, 1MB)
5 miles, takes 2h - 3h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.1MB)
6.1 miles, takes 2h 45m - 4h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.4MB)
14.4 miles, takes 6h 30m - 7h 30m

View this hostel

Yorkshire and the Humber

YHA Boggle hole exterior

YHA Boggle Hole

Whitby, North Yorkshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.6MB)
1.3 miles, takes 30m - 1h

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
7.9 miles, takes 3h 45m - 6h

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
15.8 miles, takes 7h 15m - 11h 45m

View this hostel

YHA Grinton Lodge exterior

YHA Grinton Lodge

Richmond, North Yorkshire

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
1.7 miles, takes 1h - 1h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
7.9 miles, takes 4h - 6h 30m

Challenging route (PDF, 1.2MB)
10 miles, takes 5h - 8h 15mView this hostel

YHA Helmsley exterior

YHA Helmsley

Helmsley North Yorkshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.7MB)
1.5 miles, takes 30m - 1h

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB)
8.4 miles, takes 3h 30m - 5h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
14 miles, takes 6h 15m to 10h

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YHA Malham exterior

YHA Malham

Skipton, North Yorkshire

Moderate route with access guidance (PDF, 2.5MB)
4.5 miles, takes 2h - 3h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
7.6 miles, takes 4h - 6h 30m

Challenging (PDF, 1.2MB)
13.2 miles, takes 6h 45m - 10h 45m

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YHA Scarborough

YHA Scarborough

Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.8MB)
2.3 miles, takes 1h - 1h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1MB)
5.8 miles, takes 2h 30m - 4h 15m

Moderate route (PDF, 0.8MB)
11.5 miles, takes 5h - 8h 30m

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YHA Whitby exterior

YHA Whitby

Whitby, North Yorkshire

Easy route (PDF, 0.4MB)
1.4 miles, takes 30m - 1h

Moderate route (PDF, 0.7MB)
5.3 miles, takes 2h 15m - 3h 45m

Challenging route (PDF, 0.8MB)
14.1 miles, takes 6h 30m - 10h 30m

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YHA York exterior

YHA York

York, North Yorkshire

Easy route (PDF, 1MB)
2.9 miles, takes 1h - 1h 45m

Easy route (PDF, 1.5MB)
5.1 miles, takes 2h - 3h 30m

Moderate route (PDF, 1.8MB)
13.8 miles, takes 5h 30m - 9h 30m

View this hostel

Accessible routes

Accessible means different things to different people. Working with Access the Dales, we have identified a wider range of accessible routes that are close to YHA hostels.