One-Week Thru-Hikes

The Speyside Way gives Scotland a shorter 6-day option, running 137 km from Buckie on the Moray Firth to Newtonmore in the Cairngorms. Its moderate river valley, forest, farmland, moorland and coastal terrain keeps the week varied.

The Dales Way is a gentler-feeling week option at about 129 km, usually walked in 6–8 days. Its moderate point-to-point line uses riverside, valley, farmland, limestone, moorland and Lakeland fringe terrain.

Germany’s Rennsteig Trail fits neatly into 6–8 days, with the standard itinerary covering 169.3 km across Thuringia in 8 stages. Its moderate forest, ridge, moorland and meadow terrain makes it a strong week-long thru-hike.

The Cotswold Way suits walkers who can use a full week or add a little extra time, with 164 km usually taking 7–10 days. It is moderate, non-technical, and follows grassland, forest and hill terrain.

The Wicklow Way is a 130 km, 7-day National Waymarked Trail across the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. It earns its place by combining a moderate, non-technical grade with mountain, forest, moorland and farmland walking.

At 160 km over about 8 days, the South Downs Way is a full-value week on a waymarked National Trail. Its moderate chalk-downs journey mixes grassland, hills and forest between Winchester and Eastbourne.

The Lechweg is a neat 7-day, 125 km point-to-point trail following the wild River Lech from Formarinsee to the Lechfall. It offers a moderate alpine-feeling week through mountainous and forest terrain.

The Dingle Way packs a complete Irish peninsula circuit into about 8 days, with 179 km around Corca Dhuibhne. Its moderate loop format and coastal, farmland, moorland and mountainous terrain give variety without a point-to-point finish.

The King Ludwig Way is ideal if you want Bavaria in a week: 120.7 km from Lake Starnberg to Füssen, usually 6 stages or 7 relaxed days. Terrain ranges from lakeshore and farmland to forest, moor, meadow and gorge.

The Kerry Way stretches the one-week format to a hard 9-day circuit, covering 214 km around the Iveragh Peninsula and Killarney area. Choose it for a demanding loop with mountainous, coastal, moorland, forest and farmland terrain.

This Lucca to Siena section turns the medieval Via Francigena into a complete 7-day Tuscan objective. Its 180 km of rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, woodland, clay fields and river crossings suit fit walkers.

Scotland’s first official long-distance route fits the brief almost perfectly: 154 km, usually walked south-to-north in 7 days. Its moderate mix of mountainous, forest and grassland terrain makes it a classic one-week journey.

This 130 km waymarked route from Bologna to Florence is a compact but hard week objective, usually taking 5–6 days. The Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, ridges, forests and around 5,000 m of ascent make it satisfying rather than easy.

The Snowdonia Way crosses Eryri south to north in 6–8 days, covering 156 km from Machynlleth to Conwy. It is a moderate low-level traverse, but the long days make it a proper week-long challenge.

Höga Kustenleden is for walkers wanting a harder 6–9 day coastal thru-hike in Sweden. The 135 km route follows the UNESCO High Coast through forest, boulder fields, beaches and granite tops.

Hadrian’s Wall Path gives you a complete National Trail in 6–7 days, following the Roman frontier for 135 km across northern England. Its moderate grade and grassland-to-urban terrain suit walkers wanting history with manageable daily stages.