100 delightful walks that reveal hidden treasures in our countryside – secret beaches, abandoned villages, mysterious caves, hidden waterfalls.
Walks are 2-6 miles in length to maximise manageability.
Every walk has ‘How to get there’ details and an easy-to-follow map, plus an OS Map reference.
Supported by the National Trust


This is the curious walker’s guide to Britain’s most unique and unexpected destinations. In these pages you will discover rambling routes leading to secluded coves, secret beaches, lost lakes, abandoned villages, mysterious caves, fantastic follies and fossils, bizarre bothies, buried boats, weird woods, quirky cascades, covert wartime bases and bunkers, hidden hilltop memorials, ancient trees, storied shipwrecks, prehistoric tombs and idiosyncratic monuments celebrating wonderful moments of eccentricity throughout history.


Whether you’re meandering through the countryside, ambling along the coast, wandering through woodlands or exploring city streets, the discovery of a secret transforms a simple stroll into a proper adventure.


The routes are organised by region and graded according to degree of difficulty and suitability for families and dog owners. Each is accompanied by an easy to follow map and instructions on how to reach the trailhead.


Secret Walks gives you cause to pause and take another look at the landscape that surrounds us; to contemplate some of the hidden treasures that lie waiting to be found, on well-trodden ground, let alone around the more remote corners of the country.


Enjoy these trails of the unexpected.