The steepest kilometre of every national trail

Name: The steepest kilometre of every national trail
Creator: Adventure On Foot
Published: 2026-11-04
License: https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1-0/

4 November 2026

The steepest kilometre on any national trail climbs 258 metres, about 1 in 4. It’s on Loch Lomond & Cowal Way, 1.6 miles into the Lochgoilhead to Inveruglas section. We measured the steepest kilometre of all 43 national trails and of every long-distance route, from the best heights there are for each.

The national trails

After Loch Lomond & Cowal Way, the steepest: Coast to Coast Path, 246 metres, 9.9 miles into the Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite section. Then Romans and Reivers Route (197 metres), Pennine Way (190 metres) and Kintyre Way (188 metres). Half the national trails have a kilometre that climbs 117 metres or more. The gentlest is Formartine and Buchan Way, whose steepest kilometre climbs 27 metres, about 1 in 37.

Steeper still

Of all the long-distance routes, the steepest kilometre is on Mourne Wall Challenge: 330 metres, about 1 in 3, 2.2 miles into the Glasdrumman to Longstone section. Then Cambrian Way (308 metres), Three Peaks Walk (260 metres) and Loch Lomond & Cowal Way (258 metres).

County by county

The steepest kilometre of any long-distance path through each county: the steepest county is County Down, 330 metres on Mourne Wall Challenge, then Conwy (308 metres), Gwynedd (306 metres) and North Yorkshire (260 metres). The flattest: West Lothian, where the steepest kilometre climbs 4 metres.

The tables

Every national trail's steepest kilometre, steepest first
Rank	Route and section	Metres	Gradient
1	Loch Lomond & Cowal WayUK 019.05 Lochgoilhead to Inveruglas	258	1 in 4
2	Coast to Coast PathUK 044.02 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite	246	1 in 4
3	Romans and Reivers RouteUK 028.02 Kinnelhead to Eskdalemuir	197	1 in 5
4	Pennine WayUK 001.06 Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale	190	1 in 5
5	Kintyre WayUK 031.07 Southend to Machrihanish	188	1 in 5
6	St Cuthbert's WayUK 016.02 Harestanes to Kirk Yetholm	181	1 in 6
7	West Highland WayUK 010.07 Kingshouse to Kinlochleven	174	1 in 6
8	Southern Upland WayUK 013.04 St John's Town of Dalry to Sanquhar	165	1 in 6
9	Offa's Dyke PathUK 004.06 Knighton to Brompton Crossroads	164	1 in 6
10	Glyndŵr's WayUK 024.06 Machynlleth to Llanbrynmair	161	1 in 6
11	Wales Coast PathUK 038.35 Bwlch Llyn Bach to Llwyngwril	156	1 in 6
12	South West Coast PathUK 007.45 Sidmouth to Seaton	155	1 in 6
13	Cateran TrailUK 017.02 Kirkmichael to Spittal of Glenshee	142	1 in 7
14	Cross Borders Drove RoadUK 027.04 Traquair to Yarrowford	139	1 in 7
15	Cleveland WayUK 002.03 Osmotherley to Clay Bank	138	1 in 7
16	Cotswold WayUK 033.06 Dowdeswell to Leckhampton Hill	134	1 in 7
17	Rob Roy WayUK 022.07 Aberfeldy to Pitlochry	132	1 in 8
18	Great Glen WayUK 020.06 Drumnadrochit to Inverness Castle	132	1 in 8
19	North Downs WayUK 008.03 Dorking to Merstham	127	1 in 8
20	Annandale WayUK 035.01 Moffat Ram to Moffat	119	1 in 8
21	Great Trossachs PathUK 042.05 Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway to Kilmahog	118	1 in 8
22	West Island WayUK 018.03 Port Bannatyne to Port Bannatyne	117	1 in 9
23	Pembrokeshire Coast PathUK 003.01 St Dogmaels to Newport	113	1 in 9
24	Arran Coastal WayUK 025.06 Lagg to Whiting Bay	108	1 in 9
25	Three Lochs WayUK 037.04 Tarbet to Inveruglas	107	1 in 9
26	Borders Abbeys WayUK 032.01 Jedburgh Abbey to Teviotdale Leisure Centre	106	1 in 9
27	South Downs WayUK 005.06 Amberley to River Adur	103	1 in 10
28	Mull of Galloway TrailUK 040.02 Stranraer to Glenapp Church	101	1 in 10
29	The RidgewayUK 006.05 Watlington to Wendover	99	1 in 10
30	Berwickshire Coastal PathUK 045.01 Cockburnspath to Dowlaw	94	1 in 11
31	Speyside WayUK 011.02 Fochabers to Craigellachie	89	1 in 11
32	Fife Coastal PathUK 023.08 Wormit Bay to Newburgh	87	1 in 11
33	John Muir WayUK 041.03 Strathblane to Croy	86	1 in 12
34	Hadrian's Wall PathUK 026.04 Steel Rigg to Walton	84	1 in 12
35	Yorkshire Wolds WayUK 012.02 South Cave to Market Weighton	82	1 in 12
36	Clyde WalkwayUK 036.05 Crossford to Bonnington Linn	61	1 in 16
37	Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast PathUK 014.08 Weybourne to Cromer	59	1 in 17
38	Moray Coast TrailUK 047.04 Hopeman to Covesea	45	1 in 22
39	River Ayr WayUK 030.06 Catrine to Barskimming	39	1 in 26
40	Dava WayUK 029.01 Grantown-on-Spey to Glenerney	36	1 in 28
41	Forth & Clyde/Union Canal TowpathUK 021.03 Auchinstarry to Tamfourhill	34	1 in 29
42	Thames PathUK 015.07 Wallingford to Tilehurst	32	1 in 31
43	Formartine and Buchan WayUK 046.07 Strichen to Fraserburgh	27	1 in 37

The 20 long-distance routes with the steepest kilometre
Rank	Route and section	Metres	Gradient
1	Mourne Wall ChallengeNI 112.02 Glasdrumman to Longstone	330	1 in 3
2	Cambrian WayWA 101.21 Llyn Ogwen to Conwy	308	1 in 3
3	Three Peaks WalkYH 132.01 Chapel-le-Dale to Ribblehead	260	1 in 4
4	Loch Lomond & Cowal WayUK 019.05 Lochgoilhead to Inveruglas	258	1 in 4
5	Moyle WayNI 107.02 Ballycastle to Waterfoot	249	1 in 4
6	Coast to Coast PathUK 044.02 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite	246	1 in 4
7	Beacons WayWA 106.05 Llangynidr to Cwm-llwch	241	1 in 4
8	Pendle WayNW 115.04 Barnoldswick to Pendle Heritage Centre	230	1 in 4
9	Llŷn Coastal PathWA 105.02 Dinas Dinlle to Llithfaen	210	1 in 5
10	Tameside TrailNW 128.03 Werneth Low to Mossley	202	1 in 5
11	Cumbria WayNW 108.03 Little Langdale to Borrowdale	201	1 in 5
12	Three Ridings on FootYH 137.02 Newton Under Roseberry to Commondale	201	1 in 5
13	Shropshire WayWM 103.09 Ironbridge to Wellington	200	1 in 5
14	Romans and Reivers RouteUK 028.02 Kinnelhead to Eskdalemuir	197	1 in 5
15	Burnley WayNW 119.03 Walk Mill to Mereclough	195	1 in 5
16	Pennine WayUK 001.06 Malham to Horton in Ribblesdale	190	1 in 5
17	The Ullswater WayNW 136.01 Glenridding to Roehead	190	1 in 5
18	Kintyre WayUK 031.07 Southend to Machrihanish	188	1 in 5
19	Peak District Boundary WalkEM 102.18 Wildboarclough to Bollington	185	1 in 5
20	St Cuthbert's WayUK 016.02 Harestanes to Kirk Yetholm	181	1 in 6

The steepest kilometre in each county, steepest first
County	Route and section	Metres
County Down	Mourne Wall ChallengeNI 112.02 Glasdrumman to Longstone	330
Conwy	Cambrian WayWA 101.21 Llyn Ogwen to Conwy	308
Gwynedd	Cambrian WayWA 101.14 Dinas Mawddwy to Bwlch Llyn Bach	306
North Yorkshire	Three Peaks WalkYH 132.01 Chapel-le-Dale to Ribblehead	260
Argyll and Bute	Loch Lomond & Cowal WayUK 019.05 Lochgoilhead to Inveruglas	258
County Antrim	Moyle WayNI 107.02 Ballycastle to Waterfoot	249
Cumbria	Coast to Coast PathUK 044.02 Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite	246
Powys	Beacons WayWA 106.05 Llangynidr to Cwm-llwch	241
Carmarthenshire	Cambrian WayWA 101.08 Glyntawe to Llandovery	230
Lancashire	Pendle WayNW 115.04 Barnoldswick to Pendle Heritage Centre	230
Monmouthshire	Beacons WayWA 106.02 Pandy to Llanbedr	209
Greater Manchester	Tameside TrailNW 128.03 Werneth Low to Mossley	202
Shropshire	Shropshire WayWM 103.09 Ironbridge to Wellington	200
Torfaen	Cambrian WayWA 101.02 Machen to Pontypool	200
Dumfries and Galloway	Romans and Reivers RouteUK 028.02 Kinnelhead to Eskdalemuir	197
Cheshire	Peak District Boundary WalkEM 102.18 Wildboarclough to Bollington	185
Derbyshire	Pennine WayUK 001.01 Edale to Crowden	184
Scottish Borders	St Cuthbert's WayUK 016.02 Harestanes to Kirk Yetholm	181
West Yorkshire	Pennine WayUK 001.02 Crowden to Standedge	179
County Fermanagh	Cuilcagh WayNI 113	174
Highland	West Highland WayUK 010.07 Kingshouse to Kinlochleven	174
Northumberland	Pennine WayUK 001.15 Byrness to Windy Gyle	174
Ceredigion	Cambrian WayWA 101.11 Claerddu to Ponterwyd	173
Herefordshire	Wye Valley WalkWA 103.08 Hay-on-Wye to Bredwardine	169
Western Isles	Hebridean WaySC 103.01 Vatersay to Baile na Creige	167
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Penrhys PilgrimageWA 122.02 Llantrisant to Penrhys	159
Devon	South West Coast PathUK 007.45 Sidmouth to Seaton	155
Staffordshire	Peak District Boundary WalkEM 102.15 Thorpe to Waterfall	153
Dorset	Wessex RidgewaySW 101.09 Shroton to Woolland	152
Worcestershire	Geopark WayWM 106.07 Alfrick Pound to Colwall	152
County Londonderry	North Sperrins WayNI 103.01 Dungiven to Drumsurn	150
Caerphilly	Rhymney Valley Ridgeway WalkWA 119.02 St Martins to Cwmfelinfach	148
Gloucestershire	Gustav Holst WaySW 143.03 Holst Birthplace Museum to Corndean Lane	147
Somerset	West Mendip WaySW 148.04 Cheddar to Priddy	146
Wrexham	Llwybr CeiriogWA 116.02 Dôl-y-wern to Bronygarth	146
Denbighshire	Offa's Dyke PathUK 004.12 Bodfari to Prestatyn	142
Perth and Kinross	Cateran TrailUK 017.02 Kirkmichael to Spittal of Glenshee	142
City of Edinburgh	Pentland WaySC 1001.03 Glencorse Reservoir to Swanston	133
Hampshire	Hangers WaySE 167.02 Hawkley to Buriton	133
South Lanarkshire	Southern Upland WayUK 013.06 Wanlockhead to Beattock	132
Surrey	North Downs WayUK 008.03 Dorking to Merstham	127
Midlothian	Pentland WaySC 1001.02 Cross Borders Drove Road to Glencorse Reservoir	126
South Yorkshire	Peak District Boundary WalkEM 102.08 Langsett to Low Bradfield	126
Stirling	West Highland WayUK 010.02 Drymen to Rowardennan	126
Buckinghamshire	Outer Aylesbury RingSE 126.05 Cublington to Waddesdon	125
Kent	Southwark to CanterburyLN 104.03 Otford to Trottiscliffe	117
Swansea	Heart of Wales Line TrailWM 105.18 Ammanford to Pontarddulais	117
Cornwall	Tamar Valley Discovery TrailSW 138.01 Launceston to Milton Abbot	114
East Riding of Yorkshire	Minster WayYH 115.03 Youlthorpe to Huggate	114
West Sussex	Petworth WaySE 156.02 Petworth to Arundel	114
Pembrokeshire	Wales Coast PathUK 038.47 St Dogmaels to Newport	113
Wiltshire	White Horse TrailSW 102.02 Keevil to Coulston	112
Durham	Weardale WayNE 101.02 Rookhope to Frosterley	111
County Armagh	Ring of Gullion WayNI 104.03 Forkhill to Meigh	109
North Ayrshire	Arran Coastal WayUK 025.06 Lagg to Whiting Bay	108
Cardiff	Cambrian WayWA 101.01 Cardiff to Machen	102
Isle of Wight	Isle of Wight Coastal PathSE 112.01 Bembridge to Ventnor	101
Berkshire	Pewsey Vale Circular WalkSW 111.07 Oxenwood to Ham	100
Nottinghamshire	Robin Hood WayEM 105.12 Carburton to Oxton	99
East Sussex	South Downs WayUK 005.08 River Ouse to Alfriston	97
Angus	Cateran TrailUK 017.04 Kirkton of Glenisla to Alyth	95
Isle of Anglesey	Wales Coast PathUK 038.20 Beaumaris to Newborough	95
Oxfordshire	Oxfordshire WaySW 112.06 Rycote to Christmas Common	94
Hertfordshire	Lea Valley WalkEE 115.06 Broxbourne to Waltham Abbey	93
Moray	Speyside WayUK 011.02 Fochabers to Craigellachie	89
Warwickshire	Centenary WayWM 109.01 Kingsbury Water Park to Radway	88
Fife	Columba WaySC 102.26 Newburgh to Balhelvie	87
East Dunbartonshire	John Muir WayUK 041.03 Strathblane to Croy	86
South Ayrshire	Whithorn WaySC 105.09 b Barrhill to Colmonell	86
Inverclyde	Clyde Coastal PathSC 111.01 High Muirland Route	81
Flintshire	Llwybr Clawdd WatWM 115.05 Pen-y-ffordd to Rhosesmor	78
Greater London	London Outer Orbital PathLN 103.05 Hamsey Green to Coulsdon	75
Bristol	Community Forest PathSW 123.03 Over to Clifton	74
Bedfordshire	John Bunyan TrailEE 105.05 Westoning to Streatley	72
Northamptonshire	Jurassic WaySE 109.04 Ashby St Ledgers to Elkington	72
Tyne & Wear	Hadrian's Wall PathUK 026.01 Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall	72
Leicestershire	National Forest WayWM 112.01 Woodhouse Eaves to Newtown Linford	69
Rutland	Rutland RoundEM 109.06 Caldecott to Allexton	65
West Dunbartonshire	John Muir WayUK 041.02 Balloch to Strathblane	65
Falkirk	John Muir WayUK 041.04 Croy to Falkirk	64
Cambridgeshire	Icknield Way PathSE 106.06 Linton to Cheveley	62
West Midlands	Beacon WayWM 128.01 Sandwell Valley Country Park to Rushall	60
Norfolk	Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast PathUK 014.08 Weybourne to Cromer	59
Lincolnshire	Viking WayYH 101.04 Caistor to Tealby	58
Essex	London Outer Orbital PathLN 103.18 Enfield Lock to Chingford	57
Vale of Glamorgan	Wales Coast PathUK 038.77 Ogmore to Dimlands	53
East Lothian	John Muir WayUK 041.10 North Berwick to Dunbar	44
Merseyside	Trans-Pennine TrailNW 101.03 Liverpool to Gateacre	42
Suffolk	St Edmund WayEE 107.07 Bures Hamlet to Stoke by Nayland	42
East Ayrshire	River Ayr WayUK 030.06 Catrine to Barskimming	39
Renfrewshire	Clyde Coastal PathSC 111.03 Victoria Harbour to Erskine Bridge	33
Aberdeenshire	Formartine and Buchan WayUK 046.07 Strichen to Fraserburgh	27
Merthyr Tydfil	Taff TrailWA 110.05 Merthyr Tydfil to Abercynon	24
North Lanarkshire	Clyde WalkwayUK 036.03 Strathclyde Country Park to Cardies Bridge	24
Neath Port Talbot	Wales Coast PathUK 038.74 Swansea to Aberavon	19
Bridgend	Wales Coast PathUK 038.76 Nottage to Ogmore	16
City of Glasgow	Whithorn WaySC 105.01 a Glasgow Cathedral to Paisley	16
Newport	Wales Coast PathUK 038.82 Duffryn to Goldcliff	8
West Lothian	Forth & Clyde/Union Canal TowpathUK 021.05 Linlithgow to Illieston	4

How we measured

Heights are read every 10 metres along each section’s line from LIDAR, a survey of the ground to 2 metres, wherever it covers the section (from the Environment Agency, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Remote Sensing Portal), and every 50 metres from Ordnance Survey’s Terrain 50, or OSNI’s model in Northern Ireland, where it doesn’t. Those coarser models smooth out short, sharp climbs, so where a section has no LIDAR its steepest kilometre may be a little steeper than shown. The steepest kilometre is the most height gained between any two points up to a kilometre apart, walking the route the way we describe it, from its start to its finish; walked the other way, it’s the steepest descent. The gradient is the average over that kilometre, so parts of it are steeper.

National trails and long-distance routes only, whose line we have in full. Among the shorter walks, a few scrambles and errors in the heights give climbs no path has. A county’s steepest kilometre is on the section of a long-distance path that lies in it.

Use these figures

They’re free to use in print, online and on air. Please credit:

and link to this page where you can. The figures come from OpenStreetMap, under the Open Database Licence, so the “© OpenStreetMap contributors” is part of the credit.

The tables in full, as spreadsheets (CSV): national, long-distance and counties.

These are the figures as of 4 November 2026. We work them out again when the routes or the map change, and keep every edition, so a figure quoted from an earlier one can still be checked.