If you’re seeking active holiday breaks across the British Isles for 2026, these ideas will keep you on your toes
1. Discover Scotland’s whisky heartland on a new trip
Speyside is known as Scotland’s most concentrated whisky-producing region, home to over half the country’s distilleries, as well as the host of the nation’s largest whisky festival every May – and this new trip is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the region’s rich whisky heritage and beyond.
Book: The NEW! A Taste of Whisky & Walking in the Cairngorms & Speyside with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (6 days) blends Scotland’s Highlands scenery with the chance to celebrate the ‘water of life’ in all its variety; departs April-October, from £830 per person
2. Step into the landscapes where the new ‘Wuthering Heights’ film was shot
The new ‘Wuthering Heights’ film, starring Margot Robbie and due for release next month, has become the latest high-profile production to film at the Yorkshire Dales. The locations were chosen to reflect the novel’s setting and provide an authentic, rugged backdrop for the new adaptation.
Book: From rolling green hills and limestone escarpments to winding valleys and stone-built villages, take in the Yorkshire Dales’ dramatic scenery on The Dales Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days); departs March-October, from £920 per person.
3. Find new reasons to walk the Channel Island Way
With British Airways launching daily flights from London Heathrow in April and the island debuting The Big Eat Guernsey, a new month-long food festival, with spring and autumn editions, 2026 offers even more reasons to head to Guernsey and walk the Channel Island Way.
Book: Walking the Guernsey Islands – Channel Island Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days) is a trip full of stunning coastal scenery, rich history, delicious local flavours and unique island cultures; departs July-October, from £990 per person
4. Be among the first visitors at the new Inverness Castle Experience
Opening fully this year following a soft launch last December, the new Inverness Castle Experience promises to transform the existing castle premises from their original use as prison and courts, with a ‘seanchaidh’ (storyteller) revealing to visitors stories that celebrate the spirit of the Highlands
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Book: The new Inverness Castle Experience is a fitting end to one of Scotland’s most classic walks, The Great Glen Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days); departs March-October, from £870 per person
5. Follow new trails at the recently expanded Connemara National Park
Connemara National Park has been undergoing since last year a major expansion and upgrade project: Ireland’s second oldest national park aims to increase its size by over 12 per cent and double the network of walking trails from nearly 8 km (5 miles) to over 16 km (10 miles).
Book: From Galway City, where lively pubs and traditional Irish music set the scene for the days ahead, begin NEW! Exploring the Aran Islands and Connemara with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (6 days); departs April-October, from £990 per person
6. Get out and about to mark 75 years of the first National Park in Wales
Designated on 18 October 1951, Snowdonia is Wales’ first and largest national park. An area steeped in culture and local history, it is home to nine mountain ranges (including Wales’ highest peak), hundreds of miles of paths to explore as well as the largest natural lake in Wales.
Book: The NEW! Hiking the Snowdonia Slate Trail with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (7 days) takes you through the heart of Snowdonia National Park, where industrial heritage meets breathtaking landscapes; departs March-October, from £890 per person
7. Get a taste of the King Charles III Coast Path
Work is currently underway on the King Charles III Coast Path, which at 2,700 miles will be the longest managed coastal path in the world. Although no opening date has been announced yet, you can already hike several sections of it and take in some of England’s finest seascapes.
Book: Sweeping unspoilt coastal views await as you Walk Northumberland Coast Path & Lindisfarne with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (7 days), which forms part of the King Charles III Coast Path; departs March-September, from £740 per person
8. Mark the 30th anniversary of a hidden gem in west Cork
Experience a warm Irish welcome in an area beloved of artists, actors and craftspeople. Officially launched in 1996, the Sheep’s Head Way follows rugged coastal paths on a narrow finger of land in the little-known Sheep’s Head Peninsula Ireland’s southwest corner.
Book: NEW! Walking in West Cork – The Sheep’s Head Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (6 days) will have you step back in time past lighthouses, old copper mines, abandoned villages and the ruins of a medieval school for Gaelic poets; departs April-October, from £650 per person
9. Join in the celebrations at the Isle of Wight
Cowes Week marks an extraordinary milestone in 2026, as the weeklong regatta celebrates its bicentennial. With 200 years of British history, royal association and international participation, it is a true testament to the popularity of the Isle of Wight as a sailing destination – and not only.
Book: Following an undulated route, the Isle of Wight Cycle with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (5 days) is a relaxed circumnavigation of the island, with short distances and ample time to stop and explore; departs March-October, from £590 per person
10. Reflect on William Shakespeare’s legacy
Whether it is the recent release of new film Hamnet, which dramatises the marriage between Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare, or the upcoming opening of the new Museum of Shakespeare, there are many reasons to celebrate in 2026 the life and work of the ‘Bard of Avon’.
Book: Arrive early at Stratford-upon-Avon to soak up the atmosphere of the place where the famous playwright spent most of his life before Exploring the Cotswolds with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days); departs March-October, from £1,070 per person
11. Embrace the trend for shorter walking holidays with the new ‘Taste of’ collection
A new range of trips ideal for those seeking a bucket-list walking holiday without the time commitment. Showcasing some of the UK’s most iconic locations, the trips are up to 6 days long, with carefully crafted routes, shorter distances and accommodation offering a touch of local style.
Book: Easily accessible from London yet a world away from the city, get A Taste of The South Downs Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (5 days) as you walk the path’s most scenic section; departs March-September, from £660 per person
12. Discover 600 million years of Earth’s history on the UK’s latest UNESCO Global Geopark
No two days are the same on the Isle of Arran, which recently became the UK’s latest UNESCO Global Geopark. Also known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’, the island’s remarkable landscape encompasses terrestrial and marine zones that record 600 million years of Earth’s history.
Book: Discover classic Highlands and Lowlands scenery, smuggler caves, iron-age stone circles, scenic waterfalls and white sand beaches on the Isle of Arran Coastal Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days); departs March-October, from £930 per person
13. Explore the newly crowned ‘Ireland’s Greenest Place’
Joining at the bohemian, artistic and friendly town of Dingle (An Daingean), follow the most scenic section of the Dingle Way. Ireland’s best-loved National Trail, it traces the coast of the Dingle Peninsula and was recently awarded the prestigious title of ‘Ireland’s Greenest Place’ for 2025.
Book: The NEW! Exploring the Dingle Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (5 days) means walking past ancient forts, early Christian sites and quiet beaches, with views to the Blasket Islands and the Skelligs; departs April-October, from £660 per person
14. Trace Wainright’s iconic route as it enters a new era
Work is currently underway to bring the popular Coast to Coast route up to National Trail standards. The project, which includes upgrades and waymarking improvements, is due to be completed in early 2026, so the route can officially be declared a National Trail this year.
Book: The NEW! Coast to Coast Rambler Walk with Walkers’ Britain & Europe is a special 20-day extended version that follows the complete route of England’s iconic path but with the addition of an extra five days to Wainright’s classic itinerary, making completing the trail more achievable; departs March-September, from £2,130 per person
15. Mark 40 years of Giant’s Causeway as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hike along the Causeway Coast and the Glens of Antrim, considered by many Northern Ireland’s best-kept secret, before continuing to the famous Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, recognised for its exceptional natural beauty and geological significance.
Book: The iconic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the cliff-perched ruins of Dunluce Castle and Ireland’s oldest distillery are among the highlights on the NEW! Causeway Coast & Antrim Glens Hike with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (8 days); departs April-October, from £1,010 per person
16. Collect more stamps than ever before for your Wicklow Way Passport
A series of recent new additions mean there are now nearly 50 stamping locations on the Wicklow Way Passport Trail, which features local businesses, attractions and landmarks along the popular route on the outskirts of Dublin; it only takes 15 stamps to become a ‘Wicklow Ambassador’.
Book: Following a series of way-marked paths through one of the most scenic parts of the ‘Emerald Isle’, The Wicklow Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (7 days) departs April-October, from £890 per person
17. Search for ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ in the real Herriot Country
With ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ officially renewed to return to TV screens for two more seasons, 2026 is a great time to explore the landscapes that inspired James Alfred Wight, the vet who wrote about his experiences in the Yorkshire Dales as James Herriot.
Book: The much-loved TV series was based on James Herriot’s real-life memoirs and the 50-mile circular James Herriot Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (6 days) takes in some of the countryside he was so fond of; departs March-October, from £640 per person
18. Walk the UK’s only National Trail to follow a river on its 30th anniversary
The Thames Path follows the old towing path created during the industrial revolution, when rivers and canals were used for trading and moving freight. Originally proposed in 1948, the route was not approved as an official long-distance footpath until 1989. The trail was inaugurated in 1996.
Book: From Henley-on-Thames to the Thames Barrier, the Thames Path East with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (9 days) reveals why the Thames has been so central to London’s history and culture, from Roman times to today; departs March-November, from £1,320 per person
19. Revisit the world of Beatrix Potter, 160 years on
July 2026 marks 160 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, the beloved author and illustrator whose imagination was shaped by the Lake District she called home. It is the perfect time to step into her world, discover her enduring legacy and enjoy special events taking place across the area.
Book: The Cumbria Way: Crossing the Lake District with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (10 days) traverses England’s celebrated Lakeland, hailed not only by Beatrix Potter but also by the likes of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Wainwright; departs March-October, from £1,090 per person
20. Set off for the Highlands from Commonwealth Games-buzzing Glasgow
In summer 2026 Glasgow will be bouncing with energy, culture and international camaraderie as it takes centre stage as the host of the Commonwealth Games. This will be a fantastic time to visit the city, which also serves as a convenient base for exploring Scotland’s iconic glens and lochs.
Book: Complete Scotland’s most famous long-distance walking trail, the West Highland Way with Walkers’ Britain & Europe (10 days) starting just north of Glasgow, at the charming town of Milngavie; departs March-October, from £1,190 per person
Make it happen
For more information and bookings please contact Walkers’ Britain & Europe on 0800 008 7741 /+44 (0) 20 8875 5070 or visit walkersbritain.co.uk
* Travel to the starting point and from the finishing point of each trip not included in trip price *
