The classic 268-mile Pennine Way, a national trail that chases the Pennine mountain tops along the backbone of England, passes through the region along old miners track, packhorse routes and drove roads.

The Pennine Bridleway National Trail, a 350-mile route from Derbyshire to Northumberland includes the 47 miles of the Mary Townley Loop in the South Pennines.

The Lake District is home to seven long-distance trails, one of which is the county’s most popular multi-day trail – the 70-mile Cumbria Way. This keeps mainly to valleys through the heart of the Lakes. The region also has a superb selection of coastal routes, woodland tracks, canal and river towpaths and parks to enjoy.

The coast-to-coast Trans-Pennine Trail starts and ends in Southport, Cheshire offers the 35-mile Bishop Bennet Way and the Lancaster Canal Walk is 27 miles along a delightful towpath.

Those with a literary interest can follow the Tolkien Trail in the Ribble Valley, or the Brontes in Pendle route, a 4.5-mile walk starting in the village of Trawden.

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For a further selection of great walks in England's Northwest, download our Free Walking Guide, produced with ITV Granada