They’re wild, they’re dramatic, and they’re all too often shunned in favour of their busy next door neighbours. We take a look at some of the UK’s wonderfully quiet landscapes
Arenigs, Snowdonia
Specifically: Rhobell Fawr and Dduallt
An alternative to: Snowdonia’s beasts
Expect: small hills but big views; a corner of Snowdonia all to yourself
Full description here
The Ystwyth Valley
Specifically: Lan-fawr, Yr Allt and Blaen-y-clawdd-du
An alternative to: the Elan Valley
Expect: open hill tops, with fast-flowing streams, and views to the mountains in the north and south
Full description here
The High Weald, South-east England
Specifically: Wadhurst and Lamberhurst
An alternative to: the South Downs
Expect: short climbs through hillsides thick with old woodland; and some characterful local pubs
Full description here
The Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
Specifically: Ward’s Stone and Thorn Crag
An alternative to: the Yorkshire Dales
Expect: peaks often shrouded in mist and a damp valley floor that’s speckled with woods and scarred by bristling streams. A dark, mysterious, beautiful place.
Full description here
The Range of the Awful Hand, Galloway
Specifically: The Merrick and Mullwharchar
An alternative to: the Southern Highlands
Expect: an otherworldy place of lumped hills filled with placenames that evoke hobgoblin plots of doom and disaster: Dungeon Hill, the Murder Hole, The Wolf Slock…
Full description here
Nidderdale, North Yorkshire
Specifically: Pateley Bridge and Washburn Valley
An alternative to: the Yorkshire Dales
Expect: a landscape of almost equal beauty to the Dales. Outside of National Park protection but still with the distinction of AONB status
Full description here
Western Peak District
Specifically: Shining Tor and the Goyt Valley
An alternative to: High Peak
Expect: some hefty climbs, desolate summits and expansive views of the Goyt Valley
Full description here
The Flow Country, Sutherland
Specifically: Ben Griam Mor and Ben Griam Beg
An alternative to: Bens Loyal & Hope
Expect: pure, simple, complete and utter wilderness
Full description here
Applecross, Torridon
Specifically: Beinn Bhan and Sgurr a’ Chaorachain
An alternative to: Torridon
Expect: “wonderfully rugged and corrie sculpted hills”. The even wilder side of Torridon
Full description here
