Aviemore, a small town in the Scottish Highlands, has been named the UK's most walkable town, according to a new analysis by Ordnance Survey (OS). The study assessed every British town and city based on factors including route accessibility, gradients, traffic levels, street lighting, green space, and weather resilience.
How the Ranking Was Determined
Ordnance Survey analysed routes inside every British town and city, as well as a four-kilometre boundary around each settlement. The analysis combined national OS data for roads, paths, and off-road tracks with data on hills, gradients, traffic levels, and street lighting. Green space and Met Office weather data were also used to calculate resilience against wind, rain, and mud.
Several rankings were created, with one focused on the best towns for walking overall. Aviemore, located in the Cairngorms National Park, came out on top. The town is known for its stunning scenery, including lochs and green areas, and offers a range of walking opportunities from gentle strolls to challenging climbs.
Expert Commentary
OS Data Scientist Tom Peterken said: "It was interesting to discover Aviemore coming out on top. It scored well across nearly every category. It has flat, accessible routes, tougher climbs, good surfaces, less traffic and routes that cope well with different weather. That balance makes it a brilliant all-rounder, whether you want a gentle stroll or a proper leg-stretcher."
Ordnance Survey’s Managing Director for Leisure, Nick Giles OBE, added: "Walking is one of the simplest ways to boost our health and wellbeing, and there’s no better place to start than right on our doorstep. Our towns and cities are packed with great places to explore, helping people build confidence one step at a time before venturing further into the countryside and national parks."
Highlights and Tourism
Highlights near Aviemore include Loch an Eilein, Loch Morlich, Strathspey Railway, Cairngorm Mountain Resort, and Loch Garten Nature Centre. Despite its remote location and small population of just over 3,000 (according to the last Census), the town is popular with tourists, offering accommodation options such as Coylumbridge Resort Hotel, Badaguish Forest Lodges, and McDonald Aviemore resort.
Top 10 Most Walkable Towns
The top ten most walkable towns in the UK, according to the study, are:
- Aviemore, Highland
- Ballater, Aberdeenshire
- Keswick, Cumberland
- Culross, Fife
- Monmouth, Monmouthshire
- Southwold, Suffolk
- Burry Port, Carmarthenshire
- Wareham, Dorset
- Melrose, Scottish Borders
- Selkirk, Scottish Borders
For beginner walkers, the top choice is Wirksworth in Derbyshire.
