The 3 pretty Peak District hikes named in UK's most scenic routes across Derbyshire

Adventure travel is one of the popular trends in 2025, with searches for “hiking routes” spiking in recent months.

But for those looking for a less hardcore experience, otherwise known as the rising ‘soft adventurers’, which routes offer the perfect balance of accessibility, culture and indulgence?

In a bid to find out, the experts at Live Football Tickets took on the mission of mapping out the best moderate to difficult hikes in the UK.

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They analysed over 500 routes, considering reviews, stunning attractions and perfect spots to relax and refuel. What they came up with was the 10 best hikes for a wholesome day out.

The top ten routes are all moderately difficult and circular, with no recorded obstacles, ideal for those looking for a less intense experience.

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Five of the top routes are based in the Lake District, followed by the Peak District (three), Dartmoor National Park (one) and North Pennies National Landscape (one).

Moderate difficulty hikes offer the most attractions, with 341 identified - making up the majority (67%) of the 506 counted across all routes.

The three top routes in the Peak District are Padley Gorge; Teggs Nose, Ridgegate Reservoir and Trentabank Reservoir; and Langsett Reservoir and Little Don River.

Here is the full list of best UK hikes studded with attractions for you to explore on your next adventure

(Score is out 10)

1. Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park, Lake District 9.68

2. Buttermere Lake, Lake District 9.68

3. Hunter's and Fisherman's Path to Castle Drogo, Dartmoor 9.28

4. Little Langdale and Elterwater, Lake District 9.28

5. Wordsworth's Grasmere and Rydal, Lake District 9.23

6. Teesdale Three Waterfalls, North Pennines National Landscape 9.20

7. Skelwith Force, Colwith Force and Cathedral Quarry, Lake District 9.20

8. Padley Gorge, Peak District 9.20

9. Teggs Nose, Ridgegate Reservoir, and Trentabank Reservoir, Peak District 9.20

10. Langsett Reservoir and Little Don River, Peak District 9.07

Methodology used by Live Football Tickets saw them collate data from a popular UK trail database to gather the best trails in England, Wales, NI and Scotland.

Data on the beaches, lakes, views, waterfalls and other sights was merged together to define a broad category named ‘attractions’ consisting of 12 features.

The trails were then given a score out of 12 based on presence (1) or absence (0).

Features such as ‘no shade’ or scrambles were considered obstacles and weighed negatively in calculating final scores.

A final ranking out of 10 was created based on the presence of obstacles and attractions and the average rating out of five.

Research on local food and drink locations was gathered from reputable sources, such as Google Maps.

Data was gathered in February 2025 and is accurate as of then.