Best Long Distance Hikes in March

30 trails ranked for March — by monthly climate and walking season

i Image by steftach

March is a shoulder month for long-distance walking: improving light and quieter accommodation, but winter still controls mountains and northern latitudes. It favours lower Mediterranean, Atlantic coastal and southern lowland routes, while high Alps, Scandinavia and Japan’s mountains remain snowbound or operationally awkward.

Alpujarras Trail Pictured: Alpujarras Trail — a top pick for March

Conditions in March

  • ▸ Mediterranean and Iberian lowlands: often at their walking best before heat and peak crowds.
  • ▸ Alps and Pyrenees: winter snowpack dominates; huts and high passes are generally unsuitable.
  • ▸ UK, Ireland and central Europe: longer days, but wet ground, mud and unsettled fronts.
  • ▸ Scandinavia: still winter for hikers, with snow travel and limited services inland.
  • ▸ Japan: lowlands open up; higher ranges retain snow and variable access.

Planning tips

  • ✓ Prioritise low elevations, coastlines and south-facing terrain over high passes.
  • ✓ Check accommodation openings; many mountain huts and seasonal lodgings remain closed.
  • ✓ Pack for winter rain, mud and cold nights, even on mild forecasts.
Camí de Ronda (Costa Brava Trail)
1

Camí de Ronda (Costa Brava Trail)

HikeList Score 88 Spain flag Spain · 190 km · 10 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 11°C average (-1–24°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
Alpujarras Trail
2

Alpujarras Trail

HikeList Score 87 Spain flag Spain · 50 km · 3-4 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 11°C average (-1–27°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Aeolian Islands Trek
3

Aeolian Islands Trek

HikeList Score 88 Italy flag Italy · 54 km · 5 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 14°C average (7–26°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
GR223 (Cami de Cavalls)
4

GR223 (Cami de Cavalls)

HikeList Score 88 Spain flag Spain · 185 km · 7-10 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 13°C average (6–18°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
GR121 (Basque Coast Trail)
5

GR121 (Basque Coast Trail)

HikeList Score 87 Spain flag Spain · 92 km · 6 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 11°C average (-1–20°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jul & Sep–Nov.
South Downs Way
6

South Downs Way

HikeList Score 92 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 160 km · 8 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 6°C average (-5–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jul & Sep–Nov.
Via Francigena (Tuscan Segment)
7

Via Francigena (Tuscan Segment)

HikeList Score 91 Italy flag Italy · 180 km · 7 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 8°C average (-9–23°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Greensand Way
8

Greensand Way

HikeList Score 92 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 174 km · 6-9 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-4–18°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Andros Route
9

Andros Route

HikeList Score 86 Greece flag Greece · 100 km · 10 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 14°C average (5–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
Essex Way
10

Essex Way

HikeList Score 91 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 130 km · 7 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 6°C average (-5–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jun & Aug–Nov.
Via Algarviana
11

Via Algarviana

HikeList Score 87 Portugal flag Portugal · 300 km · 14 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 13°C average (-2–29°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov.
GR364 (Mayenne and Sarthe)
12

GR364 (Mayenne and Sarthe)

HikeList Score 92 France flag France · 495 km · 13 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-12–22°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Cres Island Coastal Path
13

Cres Island Coastal Path

HikeList Score 83 Croatia flag Croatia · 22.5 km · 1 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 9°C average (-4–21°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Sep–Nov.
Sussex Border Path
14

Sussex Border Path

HikeList Score 92 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 240 km · 12 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-4–18°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Camino Primitivo (Primitive Way)
15

Camino Primitivo (Primitive Way)

HikeList Score 85 Spain flag Spain · 320 km · 12-14 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 11°C average (-1–25°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Presqu’île de Crozon Trail
16

Presqu’île de Crozon Trail

HikeList Score 86 France flag France · 60 km · 3 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 8°C average (-1–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jul & Sep–Nov.
Western Way
17

Western Way

HikeList Score 94 Ireland flag Ireland · 179 km · 7 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 6°C average (-3–17°C), wet. Best months: Mar–Nov.
North Downs Way
18

North Downs Way

HikeList Score 90 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 246 km · 12 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-4–18°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Viking Way
19

Viking Way

HikeList Score 89 United Kingdom flagEngland flag United Kingdom, England · 237 km · 10-12 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 6°C average (-5–19°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jun & Aug–Nov.
Ruta del Cares (Cares Gorge Trail)
20

Ruta del Cares (Cares Gorge Trail)

HikeList Score 82 Spain flag Spain · 11 km · 1 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 11°C average (0–23°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Jun & Sep–Nov.
GR38 (Wine and Fish Route)
21

GR38 (Wine and Fish Route)

HikeList Score 94 Spain flag Spain · 166 km · 7 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 8°C average (-9–25°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Zingaro Nature Reserve Trail
22

Zingaro Nature Reserve Trail

HikeList Score 80 Italy flag Italy · 7 km · 1 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 13°C average (7–21°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
GR120 (Opal Coast Path)
23

GR120 (Opal Coast Path)

HikeList Score 90 France flag France · 290 km · 12 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-12–22°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Ruta dos Faros (The Lighthouse Way)
24

Ruta dos Faros (The Lighthouse Way)

HikeList Score 89 Spain flag Spain · 200 km · 8 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 8°C average (-9–25°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Anglesey Coastal Path
25

Anglesey Coastal Path

HikeList Score 90 United Kingdom flagWales flag United Kingdom, Wales · 200 km · 12 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-2–14°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
GR21 (Alabaster Coast Path)
26

GR21 (Alabaster Coast Path)

HikeList Score 87 France flag France · 190 km · 9 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-5–18°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Llŷn Coastal Path
27

Llŷn Coastal Path

HikeList Score 91 United Kingdom flagWales flag United Kingdom, Wales · 146 km · 7-10 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-4–16°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–Nov.
The Hebridean Way
28

The Hebridean Way

HikeList Score 91 United Kingdom flagScotland flag United Kingdom, Scotland · 252 km · 10-13 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (1–11°C), wet. Best months: Mar–Nov.
Kerry Way
29

Kerry Way

HikeList Score 91 Ireland flag Ireland · 214 km · 9 days · Hard

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-3–16°C), wet. Best months: Mar–Nov.
GR213 (Wine Trail of Burgundy)
30

GR213 (Wine Trail of Burgundy)

HikeList Score 90 France flag France · 84 km · 4-6 days · Moderate

Typical March weather: 7°C average (-12–22°C), moderate rainfall. Best months: Mar–May & Oct–Nov.
Filter all 974 hikes for March →
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How this list is ranked: each trail's monthly climate normals (average, minimum and maximum temperature plus rainfall, from NASA POWER satellite-era data, adjusted for the trail's altitude) are combined with its published walking season and its overall HikeList Score. Rankings refresh as trails are added. Always check current conditions before travelling.