RailTrails

National Trails by Train

National Trails are England and Wales’ longest waymarked walking routes – some running for hundreds of miles, officially signed and maintained end to end. You don’t need to walk the whole thing: every trail passes through stations you can use for a single day’s stretch. There are 16 of them between the two, from the Pennine Way to Offa’s Dyke Path.

Click a trail on the map, or sort the table below by distance.

16 National Trails to explore

Best connected by rail

The National Trails with the most stations within reach.

Best trails for walking in sections by train

The trails with the most stations along them, for walking a day at a time.

  1. 1North Downs Way56 stations along about 159 milesOne every 3 mi
  2. 2Pennine Bridleway23 stations along about 168 milesOne every 7 mi
  3. 3Hadrian's Wall Path9 stations along about 86 milesOne every 10 mi
  4. 4Cleveland Way10 stations along about 105 milesOne every 11 mi
  5. 5The Ridgeway8 stations along about 86 milesOne every 11 mi
  6. 6Yorkshire Wolds Way6 stations along about 82 milesOne every 14 mi

238 train stations

Best for walkers first: gold, silver and bronze rate the hills, landscape and trails near each.

Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.

Getting there by train

Can you get to the North Downs Way by train?

Yes. 45 stations are within 3 miles of the North Downs Way. Those with regular trains include Otford.

Can you get to the Thames Path by train?

Yes. 44 stations are within 2 miles of the Thames Path. Those with regular trains include Tilehurst.

Can you get to the South West Coast Path by train?

Yes. 27 stations are within 4 miles of the South West Coast Path. Those with regular trains include Lelant.