Monmouthshire named home to one of Britain’s best train-accessible walks ahead of the summer holidays

A walking route through Monmouthshire has been named one of the UK’s very best hiking trails that can be reached by train, according to new research from TrainPal.

The study analysed 33 hiking routes across Britain using rail accessibility, journey times, service frequency, hiking quality, estimated carbon savings and nearby amenities to identify the country’s best car-free walking destinations.

In the Wye Valley (Monmouthshire), you’ll find the River Wye Valley Circular route with its impressive gorge scenery and ancient woodlands. This hike has an AllTrails rating of 4.5 and an overall score of 60.61. 

If you’re wondering how to get there, the journey from Gloucester to Chepstow takes less than half an hour, and it saves 5.28kg CO₂ in comparison to car travel. For those looking to make a day of it, there are plenty of amenities too. The Funky Duck Pub & Restaurant is just 0.2 miles from the station, and it has a high rating of 4.4! 

While Monmouthshire secured a place on the podium, the wider ranking highlights some of the UK’s best hiking day trips that can all be reached without a car.

You can view the full table of rankings below: 

Rank	Hiking trail	Area	Closest train station	Typical journey length (mins)	Trains per hour	CO₂ saved (kg)	Closest pub (rating)	Closest café/coffee shop (rating)	AllTrails rating
1	Edale, Kinder Scout & Upper Booth Circular	Peak District	Edale	32	1	3.80	4.4	4.7	4.8
2	Hathersage & Stanage Edge Circular	Peak District	Hathersage	17	1	2.16	4.4	4.7	4.7
3	Moreton-in-Marsh & Longborough Circular	Cotswolds	Moreton-in-Marsh	33	1	5.44	4.4)	4.9	4.7
4	Wear River & Broom Hill Circular	Durham	Durham	12	3	2.71	4.8	4.9	4.6
5	River Wye Valley Circular	Monmouthshire	Chepstow	28	2	5.28	4.4	4.6	4.5
6	Seaford to Eastbourne	South Downs	Seaford	37	2	2.95	4.1	4.5	4.8
7	Linlithgow Loch Circular	West Lothian	Linlithgow	22	4	3.40	4.6	4.8	4.6
8	Knaresborough, Nidd Gorge & Old Bilton Circular	North Yorkshire	Knaresborough	45	2	4.27	4.6	4.8	4.6
9	Knole Park via Sevenoaks Town Centre Circular	Kent Downs	Sevenoaks	24	5	3.92	4.1	3.9	4.6
10	Tring, Ivinghoe Beacon & Ringshall Circular	Chiltern Hills	Tring	42	1	6.12	4.4	4.6	4.7

Walkers are increasingly choosing routes with great cafés and pubs as part of the experience

The research suggests today’s walkers are looking for more than simply reaching the summit.

A recent survey [1] found that 70% of Britons are more likely to go for a walk if there’s a good pub at the end, while 53% would happily walk an extra hour for a post-walk pint. The same research found that 36% consider having somewhere good to eat or drink afterwards to be one of the most important parts of a walking route.

That trend is reflected in TrainPal’s findings. Alongside accessibility and hiking quality, the ranking also considered the proximity and ratings of nearby cafés and pubs, recognising that many people now plan an entire day out rather than simply completing a trail.

The highest-ranked route, Edale, Kinder Scout and Upper Booth Circular, benefits from both The Rambler Inn and The Penny Pot Café, located just a short walk from Edale station. Similarly, top-ranked walks in Hathersage, Moreton-in-Marsh, Linlithgow and Knaresborough all feature highly rated independent food and drink venues close to the station, making it easy for walkers to relax and refuel before heading home.

Alvaro Ungurean, Commercial Director at TrainPal, comments on the accessible hiking routes results, and how many can be enjoyed, without a car:

“Train travel is opening up some of the UK’s most spectacular landscapes to more people than ever before. For many walkers, the biggest challenge isn’t completing the hike;  it’s getting there in the first place.

“What this research shows is that you don’t necessarily need a car to enjoy some of Britain’s most iconic outdoor destinations. Many of the highest-rated routes can be reached in under an hour by train, offer regular services throughout the day, and have excellent local amenities nearby.

“As people look for ways to travel more sustainably and make the most of their weekends, rail-accessible hiking offers a practical solution that combines convenience, affordability and lower-carbon travel.”

For the full rankings, visit: https://www.mytrainpal.com/guide/uk-top-ten-train-accessible-hiking-trails