Midshires Way, Long-distance footpath in England
The Midshires Way is a long-distance trail in England that runs from the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire north to Stockport in Greater Manchester. It passes through open farmland, woodland, and small villages, and follows two canals for part of its route: the Grand Union Canal and the Peak Forest Canal.
The trail opened in 1994 as a joint effort by local authorities and user groups who wanted to create a route through rural central England. It was planned to link the Ridgeway National Trail in the south with the Trans Pennine Trail in the north, filling a gap between two existing long routes.
The name of the trail comes from the counties it passes through, known as the Midshires, a loose term for the middle part of England. Along the way, walkers pass old stone churches, traditional village pubs, and farmland that still follows the seasons in much the same way it has for generations.
The trail is marked with a double-acorn symbol throughout, which makes it easier to follow without a detailed map. Some sections are open only to walkers, while others allow cyclists or horse riders, so it is worth checking which parts suit your activity before you set out.
One section of the route follows the Brampton Valley Way, a former railway line that still has two old tunnels open to walkers and cyclists. The preserved tunnel entrances and the flat track give a sense of what the railway network once looked like in rural central England.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
