Hike the best of British this year

With so much focus on the UK this year with the impending Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations, it has never been a better time to explore the British Isles. Britain's long history has left its mark on the landscape, historic sites and castles; there's a story to be heard from almost every mile of the trail you follow with Sherpa Expeditions.  The following trips are all self-guided, so you'll have the freedom to travel when you like and at your own pace...

Coast To Coast 8 days
This classic route was originally described by author A.Wainwright as "one of the world's great walks".  The walk starts on the Irish Sea coast of Cumbria near the huge red sandstone cliffs of St.Bees Head.  You will cross three national parks before reaching the North Sea at the pretty fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay on rocky coastline of the North York Moors. Flexibility is the key word here, as this trip can be completed over 8, 9, 15 or 18 days.
Price: From £499 pp
Departs: 31 March to mid October

Offa's Dyke 8 days
The Offa's Dyke path is a walk through history following the course of an ancient earthwork believed to date from the late 8th century. It runs for 117 miles from Chepstow on the Severn Estuary to Prestatyn on the Irish Sea coast of north Wales. The scenery is remarkable, especially over the first 80 miles, which this walk covers. The variety of terrain and remote and sparsely populated countryside allows a wide range of species of birds, butterflies mammals and plants to flourish.
Price: From £498 pp
Departs: April to October

South Downs Way 8 days
Exactly 100 miles of chalk downland walking separates the Victorian seaside town of Eastbourne and the ancient Saxon Capital of Wessex and England - Winchester. Stretching over a rare large area of outstanding natural beauty in crowded Southern Britain, the walk generally follows the chalk ridge just to the north of the popular seaside towns on the Sussex and Hampshire coast. Most of the route is ancient, made up out of the old droving roads that took animals and goods between the market towns of the region. On the way 'Dew Ponds', ring forts, cross dykes and tumuli reflect a history stretching back into the mists of time.
Price: From £617 pp
Departs: April to October

Yorkshire Dales Mini Break 4 days
The Old Brewery is a charming property that will ensure a pleasant stay. A stones throw from the River Swale, at the foot of the castle hill, and just a few minutes walk from the cobbled market place, the tastefully decorated house retains its old world charm, yet offers every modern comfort. Enjoy peaceful trails and quiet country lanes, explore sleepy villages, charming market towns and more historic sites and castles than you can shake a stick at.
Price: From £250 pp
Departs: All year

The Cotswolds 8 days
This holiday is for those who want an introduction to walking in the English countryside. The Cotswolds are a range of gentle hills extending northeast of the city of Bath, through Cheltenham to Stratford-on-Avon, the 'Heart of England'. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswold landscape is an entrancing mixture of parkland, cultivated fields with dry-stone walls and patches of unspoilt woodland. Starting in Stratford, you will loosely follow the line of the Cotswold Way.
Price: From £516 pp
Departs: April to October

The Great Glen Way 8 days
This long distance trail starts at Fort William and crosses the Highlands to finish in Inverness. On route you will pass by the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, and follow the shores of Loch Ness. Finally you will reach the northern most city in Scotland, the 'capital of the Highlands', Inverness. The forts and castles scattered along the way are witness to Scotland's turbulent past, from the Iron Age to the Jacobite Rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie who was finally defeated at the Battle of Culloden.
Price: From £499 pp
Departs: April to mid October

For more information on Sherpa Expeditions visit sherpa-walking-holidays.co.uk. Quoted prices are inclusive of accommodation, most meals, luggage transfers between hotels (where applicable) and clear maps and route notes. Flights are not included but can be booked on request.