Top 20 romantic walks

Walking & Hiking

Scenic Walks

Romantic Walks

Top 20 romantic walks

By OS Team

Published on February 8, 2022

12 min read

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Whether you’re madly in love or a happy singleton, you can plan a romantic walk with a beloved partner, family or four-legged friend at any time of year – a must on Valentine’s Day! Discover the best romantic walks across Great Britain and find one near you near you.

Find more romantic walks near you, or plot your own with the help of OS Maps. Enjoy a free trial on us and let this Valentine’s Day (and all the days in between!) be filled with marvellous memorable walks with someone you love.

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Couple overlooking Edinburgh on the Arthur’s Seat walk

1. Arthur’s Seat Walk

Edinburgh, Scotland

The volcano may be long extinct, but Arthur’s Seat is the perfect destination for those with a smouldering passion. With its towering castle, historic old town and beautiful parks it’s easy to see why Edinburgh has been named one of the most romantic cities in the world and there’s no better way to experience it than with a stroll up Arthur’s Seat to watch the sun set. If you’re looking to really bowl someone over, why not combine with a visit to The Sheep Heid Inn – thought to be the oldest pub in Scotland with its very own skittle alley!

Arthur’s Seat route

OS paper map: Explorer 350

Walk Edinburgh Urban Map
Discover Edinburgh with the Walk Edinburgh Urban Map. Includes information and maps for Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, Princes Street Gardens, The Royal Botanic Garden, Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat. This pocket-guide will help you explore more greenspaces within and around this beautiful city.

Coral Beach

2. Coral Beach & Loch Coruisk Walks

Isle of Skye, Scotland

When it comes to romance, the Isle of Skye isn’t short of landscapes that make your heart skip a beat. With breath-taking scenery and magical fairy glens, it doesn’t get much more romantic than this.

Coral Beach Walk

Many head to the more popular places like Storr but if you’re looking for something more peaceful take a trip to Coral Beach. It’s the perfect spot for a hand-held wander followed by a sunset picnic.

The white beach is made of coral-like maerl, which creates a rich habitat for wildlife spotting. Brave skinny dippers may be joined by curious seals! Wrap up warm and finish your walk at sunset with a whisky-laced hot chocolate!

Coral Beach​ route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 407

Loch Coruisk Walk

Numerous couples elope here each year and choose Loch Coruisk as their backdrop. A peaceful body of water surrounded by the dramatic crags of the Cuillin Hills, it’s easy to understand the appeal. See for yourself by hopping on a boat from Elgol and taking a circular wander around the shore. More adventurous types can hike in together via Camasunary.

Loch Coruisk Route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 411

3. Dunstable Downs Walk

Bedfordshire, East England

Dunstable Downs is a National Trust property, the highest point in Bedfordshire and a great place to visit. A romantic walk across the windswept ridge is mesmerising. Simply watch the gliders and kites swooping overhead and explore tracks and trails galore. If you’re there at sunset, take a blanket and watch the sun go down with your loved one, the views are just incredible.

Dunstable Downs Route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 181

Hardcastle Crags

4. Hardcastle Crags Walk

Yorkshire Dales, England

Nestled in the heart of the South Pennines, Hardcastle Crags is a wooded valley tucked away at the end of the Calder Valley near Halifax. The walks through the woods are of varying length, with a wheelchair accessible route and more rugged terrain down by the river. Walk from the car park following the river to Gibson Mill run by the National Trust, where you can get hot chocolate and cake. Just beyond the mill is the crags, a small peak next to the river in the centre of the valley, worth climbing for views across the woods.

Hardcastle Crags​ route

OS Paper Map : Explorer OL2

5. Sycamore Gap Walk

Northumberland, North East England

Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall, with its perfectly positioned tree, is a must visit for all romantics, espeically on Valentine’s Day. The natural gap in the ancient landscape hugs the tree, while the roman wall sits protected under its canopy. With Venus (Roman goddess of love) watching over you, it could be the perfect place for a proposition?

Sycamore Gap route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL43

Sycamore Gap, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland

6. Newborough Beach Walk

Anglesey, North Wales

Enjoy a coastal walk along Newborough Beach in Anglesey, before dipping your toes to cross the shallow water at high tide over to Llanddwyn Island. Llanddwyn means “the church of St. Dwynwen”. St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron Saint of lovers, which makes her the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. Her ruined church remains on the island and is seen as a bit of a pilgrimage for lovers. Don’t forget your towel if you’re planning a dip, our towels are perfect for walks and make a great Valentine’s Day gift too!

Llanddwyn Island route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 262

Richmond Park route map

7. Richmond Park Walk

London, England

Richmond Park’s long been a top spot for the love-struck. These 2500 wild, edge-of-London acres are prime places to wander hand-in-hand, watching cute red deer as the sun sets over sweeping grassland.

Ignore the myth that King Henry VIII watched for a rocket signalling Anne Boleyn’s execution from King Henry’s Mound (bad omen). Instead admire the initials of George III and wife Charlotte on Richmond Gates (impressive personalisation), salute George II for building the Queen’s Ride for wife Caroline (some gift) and go all gooey over the success of the skylark breeding area (ahhhh).

Richmond Park route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 161

8. Low Fell/Darling Fell Walk

Cumbria, North West England

Alfred Wainwright, the great Lake District writer, described the view from Low Fell as ‘an inspired and inspiring vision of loveliness’. Crummock Water stretches out sumptuously into the distance, while the sweeping ridges of the Western Fells frame the lake majestically. This romantic scene is the climax of an easy, simple walk – starting in Loweswater and taking in the aptly-named Darling Fell – that is fit for lovers strolling hand-in-hand. It’s a romantic walk that will set the heart racing.

Darling Fell route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 303

9. Chesil Beach Walk

Dorset, South West England

Chesil beach is an eighteen-mile-long shingle beach stretching from West Bay to Portland. It can be popular with fishermen but if you’re looking for a romantic walk with your perfect catch, then it could be the place for you. The rugged scenery can be the perfect place to cuddle on a beach and watch some of the spectacular sunsets the Jurassic Coast has to offer.

Restaurants like the Cove House Inn (Portland) and the Hive Beach Café (Burton Bradstock) give walking couples the chance to gaze across Chesil beaches spectacular scenery, when they aren’t gazing into each other’s eyes that is!

Chesil Beach​ route

OS Paper Map: Exploer OL15

10. Snowdon Summit Walk

Snowdonia, North Wales

There’s no nicer feeling than sharing the dawn of a new day with a loved one and no better place to view it than on a mountain summit. Hiking up in the dark guided by your headtorch is all part of being together, working as one as you move through the darkness and chill of the early morning.

Enjoy the moment as the sun casts its warm glow over you and the anticipation of a new day in your lives together awakens before you.

Snowdon Summit route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL17

11. Meon Valley Bluebells Walk

Hampshire, South East England

Start this romantic walk in the beautiful, historic village of Wickham, nestled on the edge of the Southdowns National Park. The Meon Valley Walk follows a disused railway heading north into the romantic Hundred Acre wood. Experience the plethora of flowers culminating in a magnificent display of bluebells. Walk as far as you wish along this fully accessible footpath, then return to Wickham to pick up a coffee and cake in one of the many eateries that surround the village square.

Meon Valley Bluebells​ route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL3

12. Glencoe Lochan Walk

Highlands, Scotland

The heart of Glencoe hides a rather romantic lochan – perfect for a romantic stroll. Designed in 1853 by the 1st Baron of Glencoe to help his wife Isabella with her homesickness for Canada, Glencoe Lochan was built as a romantic refuge. Hand in hand, follow the lochan’s winding paths through huge 150-year-old cedar trees transplanted from Canada, underneath the famous Pap of Glencoe. On a clear day, the reflections of the trees and mountains in the lochan are just spectacular. Wouldn’t you love somewhere as beautiful as this planted just for you?

Glencoe Lochan route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 384

Glencoe Lochan, Scottish Highlands. Photo credit: www.lovefromscotland.co.uk

13. White Horse Hill

Oxfordshire, South East England

Heading up White Horse Hill with a loved one on a clear evening with a picnic and blankets is an amazing experience. Once you pass the ancient chalk horse, sit and watch as the sun sets out to the West over the rural countryside and darkness falls over the Oxfordshire valley. Lay back as darkness descends and watch the stars beginning to peek out, and let your minds dream and wander together.

White Horse Hill route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 170

14. Symonds Yat Rock Walk

Gloucestershire, South West England

Reach the heights of passion and breathe in the views from one of the Wye Valleys most romantic vistas. Nestled upon a craggy outlook, reaching high above deep woodland, Symonds Yat Rock offers panoramic views over the meandering course of the River Wye. Here you feel as if you are a world away as you take your partner by the hand and gaze down on one of Britain’s most spectacular vistas. A memory waiting to happen on Valentine’s Day!

Symonds Yat Rock route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL14

Route map of Chatsworth walk

15. Chatsworth Walk

Derbyshire, Midlands, England

It’s thought Chatsworth House was the inspiration for Darcy’s residence Pemberley in the much-loved Jane Austen novel, so follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy and take a turn around the estate with your beloved.

The surrounding Peak District is stunning, with easier riverside strolls or climbs to spectacular views. If literature isn’t the way to that someone special’s heart, you could always try walking into Bakewell to sample the famozus pudding. Colin Firth not included.

Chatsworth route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL24

16. Kynance Cove Walk

Cornwall, South West England

In summer the unreal turquoise of Kynance Cove can match any Caribbean couple’s resort. But this gem, tucked into the UK’s most southerly point, is worth a winter visit for storming Atlantic waves and the quaintly named caves revealed at low tide. Poldark lovers may recognise the beach as Nampara Cove, the spot where Ross gallantly carried Demelza from her stricken rowing boat (recreating this scene is definitely optional). You may even spot another rare lovebird – the chough. Devoted pairs of Cornwall’s national bird call this stretch of coastline home.

Kynance Cove route

OS paper map: Explorer 103

Views of Llyn y Fan Fach

17. Llyn y Fan Fach Walk

Brecon Beacons, Wales

The enchanting lake Llyn y Fan Fach is nestled deep in a remote, secluded scenic valley. Stroll along the picturesque meandering river, with many cascading waterfalls as it draws you into its tranquil haven. The breath-taking amphitheatre like escarpment hugs the lake, which is famously known for a romantic tale of the lady of the lake. The legend reads how a young Shepard fell in love with a beautiful maiden at the shore of Llyn y Fan Fach.

Llyn y Fan Fach ​route

OS Paper Map: Explorer OL12

18. Walsingham Walk

East Anglia, East England

In spring, visitors take the country roads five miles north from Fakenham to the intriguing Norfolk village of Walsingham. With its timbered houses, chapels and historic estate, it is a place of religious pilgrimage. These passionate pilgrims come to wander amongst 18 acres of snowdrops in the grounds of a ruined 11th century Augustinian Priory, walking hand in hand through the scenic wooded valley of the River Stiffkey, crossed by an ancient packhorse bridge.

Walsingham​ route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 251

Snowdrops found at the 11th century Augustinian Priory

19. Kingsford Forest Park Walk

Kidderminster, Midlands, England

Kingsford Country Park & Kinver Edge is made up of over 200 acres of natural woodland and sandstone cliffs. The perfect location to uncover hidden trails and unique views with loved ones. Descend into the valley and go back in time to discover caves which were once houses carved into the rock, dating back to 1770. Just over the border in Kinver, Staffordshire, the National Trust have restored several of these rock houses that are very much worth a visit. The Kinver edge rock houses have often been suggested as the inspiration the Hobbit Holes in JRR Tolkien’s masterworks ‘the Hobbit’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’.

Kingsford Forest Park route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 219

20. Boxhill Stepping Stones Walk

Surrey, South East England

Box Hill is a summit that sits radiantly in the North Downs, Surrey with longing views across the surrounding countryside. The Weypole area was once owned by famous horticulturalist Sir Trevor Lawrence, who grew succulent apple and cherry trees and delicate orchids.

The Stepping Stones were added to help get to the Weypole area. Today you can take a walk down to the River Mole, stopping at the Stepping Stones and watch the gushing river.

Box Hill route

OS Paper Map: Explorer 146

Join the GetOutside Community and share with us your favourite romantic walk. Remember to take care of the great outdoors and follow the Countryside Code at all times.

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By OS Team