Lochore Meadows Circular in Fife has been crowned the UK's most family-friendly walking trail, scoring an impressive 9.13 out of 10.
The 5.5km Scottish route offers exceptional accessibility features making it ideal for families with young children, prams or wheelchairs.
With smooth tarmac paths throughout and numerous accessible parking spaces, the trail provides a comfortable walking experience for all abilities and offers the chance to get immersed in the beautiful landscape.
The trail can typically be completed in just over an hour, with a modest elevation gain of 78 metres, ranking it in the number one spot in analysis by Millets.
Lochore Meadows Circular in Fife was number one
LOCHORE MEADOWS
Top 10 family-friendly UK walking trails
- Lochore Meadows Circular, Fife
- Silverknowes Esplanade, Edinburgh
- Damflask Reservoir Circular, Sheffield
- Strathclyde Loch Circular, Motherwell
- River Dee Walk: Banchory to Milton of Crathes, Banchory
- Donmouth Local Nature Reserve to Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen
- Cambridge City Circular, Cambridge
- Tall Trees Trail Circular, Brockenhurst
- Llyn llech Owain, Gorslas • Dovestone Reservoir Circular, Dobcross
All these trails have been rated as "easy" on AllTrails, making them suitable for families with children of various ages.
Most are circular routes, allowing families to return to their starting point without needing to backtrack.
The trails span across the UK, with a strong showing from Scotland which claims half of the top spots.
In second place is the Silverknowes Esplanade route in Edinburgh, scoring 9.06 out of 10. This 6.3km trail features historic sites and forests, with paved paths making it accessible for all.
Its relatively flat terrain with just 63m of elevation gain makes it particularly suitable for toddlers and young explorers.
Sharing third place with identical scores of 8.56 are two distinct trails. Damflask Reservoir Circular in Sheffield is the only non-Scottish trail in the top three, circling one of the Peak District's reservoirs.
Despite having a steeper elevation gain, it maintains an 'easy' accessibility grading. Joint third is another Scottish spot - Strathclyde Loch Circular in Motherwell. This offers a 6km route around Strathclyde Country Park.
With the lowest elevation gain in the top three at just over 50m, it's ideal for those seeking minimal inclines.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Walks by the River Dee were also recommended
PA
Speaking for Millets, the national disability charity Sense stated: “'Making outdoor areas accessible ensures that everyone has equal opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
"Improving access to nature and outdoor activities for disabled people can increase physical activity levels, reduce stress, improve self-esteem and provide opportunities for social connectedness.
“When planning an accessible outdoor activity, it’s important to think about the physical and sensory needs of everyone in your group, and how that relates to pathways, wayfinding systems, and amenities such as changing places and toilets.
"If you’re going on a walk, we recommend checking first that paths are safe and wide enough for wheelchairs, and thinking about how people will get to the start point and home again."
