If you’ve ever wondered about that curious sounding pub name on your street corner? Or strange shaped mounds in the middle of a flat field? Why there are so many deep bodies of water in the Lake District? Or why there are so many castles around the coast of Wales? ... then these walks are for you!
We think Britain's landscapes are wonderful. From the mountains and glens of the Scottish Highlands to the rolling downland of Southern England, from Cornwall’s jagged coast to the flat fenlands of East Anglia, every landscape has a story to tell about our past and present.
Discovering Britain is an exciting series of geographically-themed walks that aim to bring these stories alive and to inspire everyone to explore and learn more about Britain.
About the walks
Whether you’re looking for a gentle riverside stroll or a hilly climb, to explore a city or follow a coast path, you’ll find a Discovering Britain walk for you.
Our walks are designed to be fun, informative and inspiring. Our walks engage the brain as well as the feet. Each route is carefully chosen to tell a story about the landscape. Some walks offer an alternative perspective on well-known places; others take you off the beaten track to somewhere you’ve probably never been before. Prepare to discover something new, to be surprised by what’s right on your own doorstep…
Depending on your pace, most walks take between two and three hours. The urban walks are normally no more than two miles long while those in the countryside or at the seaside are somewhere between two and eight miles long. Some walks are along very easy terrain while others are a little more challenging, so check the level indicated for each walk.
How our walks are categorised and presented
The location of our walks is categorised by UK region based on the official EU NUTS classification system.
Our walks are also categorised according to their setting. Depending on what kind of environment you’d like to walk in you can choose between the countryside, seaside or towns and cities.
You can also use our landscapes themes to find a particular story you might be interested in. Each walk has been classified into two or three themes such as Working landscapes, Historic landscapes and Hidden landscapes.
You can search for walks by region or filter the list by landscape theme or setting. The tabs at the top right also allow you to view the results in list view or map view.
We are licenced to use Ordnance Survey maps to display our walks in England, Wales and Scotland and use Google Maps for walks in Northern Ireland.
How this project is developing
Over the next year, we want to create more than 100 inspirational and informative walks that bring our islands’ geography and history alive. They will explore different parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We will be developing new walks all the time, so do come back and visit the website to find out what’s new.
We welcome suggestions for new walks, as well as feedback on existing ones. If you want to share your views or have an idea for a geographically-themed walk please do get in touch using the Contact Us form.
About RGS-IBG
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is an educational charity and the learned society and professional body for geography and geographers.
The Society was founded in 1830 and has had a long and distinguished history in scientific research and exploration and in sharing new knowledge with a wide range of audiences. Today the Society is a leading world centre for geography and geographical learning – supporting research, education, expeditions and fieldwork, public enjoyment of geography and the transfer of knowledge to policy.
Members support the Society's work through their subscriptions, have access to a wide range of activities and receive the Geographical Magazine. Membership is open to everyone who has an interest in the world around them (www.rgs.org/joinus).
Walk the World
Did you know that there is a Tahitian prince buried a cemetery in South London? Or that King Zog of Albania once lived in Henley upon Thames?
To celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and people from 206 different countries coming to the UK for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we created 20 special walks to explore Britain’s connections to the world.
From London’s Strand to a small village in Suffolk, from Belfast to Bideford, these walks uncover how the UK has been shaped and influenced by the rest of the world over the centuries.
These walks are featured on the Discovering Britain website; alternatively you can go directly to www.walktheworld.org.uk where there is much more information about the UK’s links to different countries.
Proudly crafted by Pixillion
Discovering Britain was designed and built by Pixillion.
Pixillion is a creative digital production agency. They design digital worlds where your brand takes centre stage.
Pixillion is based in the South West: explore this region's walks!
