The Bakewell and Hassop Monsal Trail Loop in the Peak District has been named the UK's best 'moderate' hike, according to a study by Adidas. The 3.7-mile circular route starts and ends in the market town of Bakewell, famous for its tarts, and takes in the scenery of the White Peak area.
A Scenic Route Through the White Peak
From Bakewell, the route picks up a section of the traffic-free Monsal Trail, an 8-mile path along a former railway line. Hikers then follow a bridleway for a scenic return to Bakewell. Although classed as moderate, the route is under four miles and largely on the relatively flat Monsal Trail, making it achievable for beginners.
Compiled by the UK Hiking Index
Researchers at Adidas worked with route planning website Komoot to create the UK Hiking Index, which ranks more than 100 UK routes scored across quality, popularity, ease of access and affordability. Routes are organised by experience level, from beginner-friendly to challenging. The Peak District walk also generates the highest search demand in the list, attracting 33,450 average monthly Google searches.
Other Top-Rated Hikes
Overall, the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland was named the UK's best beginner-friendly hike, while the Yorkshire Three Peaks was named the UK's top challenging hike. Elsewhere in the North West, the Windermere Loop in the Lake District was named the UK's top trending hike route for 2026, with a 166 per cent increase year-on-year. The route covers 6.8 miles around England's largest lake. Two other Lake District routes—Cat Bells and Derwent Water Loop, and Old Man of Coniston Summit Loop—were also included in the top five trending routes.
