In a new study and public vote by leading footwear brand Pavers Shoes, the Porthleven to Lizard Point coastal walk in Cornwall has been chosen as the second best in the UK.
Ahead of the summer holidays where many of us will be looking to choose UK destinations rather than overseas, Pavers Shoes conducted a survey of 2,000 people around the country to find out the nation’s most popular walks to help inspire the plans of holidaymakers.
Taking in a range of scenic locations the Great British public have determined this walk to be amongst the best, thanks chiefly to its beautiful views, coves, clifftops and other coastal wonders.
This South West walk also managed to fend off some strong competition from iconic routes in places like the Lake District, Yorkshire and the Cotswolds, and narrowly missed out on the top spot to London’s popular Thames Path.
The rest of the top 10 was as follows:
Thames Path, including the London Wetland Centre, London
Porthleven to Lizard Point, Cornwall Coast
Loughrigg Fell, Lake District
Gordale Scar and Malham Cove, North Yorkshire
Padley Gorge, Peak District
Stac Pollaidh, Scottish Highlands
Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill, Cotswolds
Bickerton Hills and Sandstone, Cheshire
Sycamore Gap, Northumberland
Llyn Dinas, North Wales
In addition to the scenery the walk was also championed for its array of wildlife and places of geographical interest. This includes breeding colonies of seabirds like kittiwakes, cormorants and Cornish choughs, as well as the rugged and rocky cliff sides that take you to Britain’s most southerly place at Lizard Point.
Despite being the runner up, the survey data also showed the Cornish coast path was more popular with people 35 years and up, reaching peak popularity with those 65+ years. What’s more, despite some more challenging sections, the walk still offers plenty of shorter options to suit all experience levels.
Looking at the wider survey data, respondents were fiercely loyal to the walks in their part of the country, rightly proud of the beauty on their doorstep. 31% of respondents from Scotland chose the Stac Pollaidh walk as their favourite, and the South West wasn’t far behind with 30% voting for Lizard peninsula.
The Northern vote was shared between Malham Cove in North Yorkshire and Loughrigg Fell in the Lake District. Residents of Central England demonstrated a more varied appreciation of the UK with the walks in Cornwall, the Peak District and the Lake District rated equally highly by them.
Jason Paver, Joint-MD of Pavers offered his thoughts on the survey: “We hope this list of the UK’s favourite walks will both inspire people to explore and also support the UK tourism industry. Having done a number of these walks myself I can vouch for how good they are.
“There’s never been a better time to staycation and appreciate the natural beauty of the UK. When you are out walking please remember to abide by the Countryside Code, know your route, pack essentials and of course wear the right footwear!”
Full findings from the survey are here.