‘It seems to me that it must be one of the most beautiful and varied of the long-distance trails.’

These were the words Sir Chris Bonington chose to describe the Lake to Lake Walk, a sublime 166-mile (267 km) trek between Windermere in the Lake District and Kielder Water, the centrepiece of Kielder Forest. Any hike that gains such praise from one of Britain’s mountaineering greats must be good.

This beauty and variety comes from the contrasting landscapes of England’s far northern reaches. The famously staggering scenery of the Lake District National Park; the gentle pastures of the Eden Valley; the wild, windswept moorland of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); Hadrian’s Wall and the rugged Northumberland National Park; and the vast quiet of Kielder Forest.

The Lake to Lake Walk was the brainchild of Alistair Wallace, a veteran of long-distance trails who had long dreamed of curating his own. In 1999, this dream came to fruition and the Walk was launched.

The idea was to meander from England’s largest natural lake to its largest artificial lake, taking you from the spectacular Lake District to the impressive Kielder Forest via the superb scenery, rich historical interest, varied wildlife and invigorating trails of Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland.

Highlights in Cumbria and Durham include: Windermere and Ullswater, the two largest natural lakes in England and famously beautiful; Appleby-in-Westmorland, a gorgeous town nestled at the foot of the North Pennines; Balderdale and Lunedale, stupendous valleys boasting spectacular moorland and shimmering reservoirs; and Stanhope, a picturesque market town with a fascinating industrial history in the heart of the Durham Dales.

In Northumbria, you discover: Hexham, a historic town and home to the magnificent Hexham Abbey; Chesters Roman Fort, once the Hadrian’s Wall stronghold of Cilurnum; the pretty village of Bellingham on the North Tyne River; and finally the sprawling Kielder Forest and its centrepiece, Kielder Water.

As the Walk winds its way across the North on footpaths, former railway track beds, bridleways, moorland trails and minor roads, you discover some magnificent natural sights and wondrous wildlife. From Lakeland’s craggy fells, blue lakes and grinning Herdwicks and the Pennines’ purple heather, shimmering reservoirs and Swaledale herds to Kielder’s soaring ospreys, towering conifers and sensational dark skies; it’s a trek that evolves splendidly as you eat up the miles.

I have split the Walk into 14 stages, varying from 7 to 15 miles (11.3 to 24.1 km) in length. Each stage ends where there are accommodation options and somewhere to eat. Where the options are limited, I name specifics in the stage descriptions. It’s worth looking ahead and planning what provisions to carry for each day, as there are not always places to find lunch en route.

You could feasibly combine some of the stages and complete the route in fewer days. There is also no reason why you couldn’t do the whole thing in reverse, starting at Kielder Water and finishing at Windermere.

This is a trek that crosses long sections of open moorland and fells that are exposed to the elements. Paths are quieter and not as easy to follow as many long-distance trails in England, whilst there are four stages with over 1,500 feet (460 m) of elevation gain. With this in mind, some experience of hillwalking is recommended, and you will need to be reasonably fit.

The Walk crosses some of England’s wettest regions, so it goes without saying that waterproofs and sturdy boots are essential. You also need warm layers, even in summer, as the higher sections are liable to be colder and windier than in the valleys. Of course, in the warmer months you need to be prepared for the other extreme with sunglasses and sun cream.

The Walk is doable all year round, but the challenges are much greater in winter. The Pennines readily hold onto snow and, whilst the terrain is never technical, winter mountaineering skills and equipment may be required during cold spells. Many of the pubs and cafes en route may also be operating with reduced hours or closed altogether, so it is vital to carefully plan ahead and make enquiries if attempting a winter adventure.

The start point of Bowness-on-Windermere is a short walk from Windermere train station, which you can get to from Kendal station or by changing at Oxenholme Lake District station, which is on the West Coast Mainline. The town is half an hour’s drive from the M6.

The nearest settlement to the end point at Kielder Water is the village of Falstone, which has a few accommodation options. From the south, it is a 45-minute drive from the A69 at Hexham, whilst from the north it is just less than an hour from Jedburgh on the A68. Falstone is not easily accessed by public transport. There is the 694 community bus service from Hexham. However, it only runs a few times a week. For more information, enquire at visitkielder.com/contact.