European walking route E2

The European walking route E2 is a 4850km long-distance footpath that runs from Galway in Ireland to France's Mediterranean coast, via Scotland, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. It is one of the network of European long-distance paths.

The route is aimed at walkers; alternative routes exist in some parts for horse riders and cyclists.

Route

In Scotland the route starts from Stranraer and uses the Southern Upland Way and St. Cuthbert's Way.

In England the route uses the Pennine Way, the Gritstone Trail, the Staffordshire Way, the Heart of England Way, the Oxfordshire Way, the Oxford Canal, the Thames Path, the Wey South Path and the North Downs Way to Dover.

In Belgium the route starts from Ostend. Near Zoersel it joins the GR 5, which it follows through Luxembourg and France, passing through Switzerland at Lake Geneva before returning to France to finish at Nice.

The highest point of the route is at Col de l'Iseran at 2770m.

Alternative route

The trail splits into two alternative routes whilst running through England and Belgium. The eastern route also passes through the Netherlands.

In England, the alternative routes split at Middleton-in-Teesdale. The eastern route travels via Cambridge to Harwich, using the Teesdale Way, the Cleveland Way, the Wolds Way, the Viking Way, the Hereward Way, the Fen Rivers Way, Icknield Way, the Stour Valley Path and the Essex Way.

In the Netherlands the eastern route begins again at Hoek van Holland, and joins the GR 5 at Bergen op Zoom.

The two routes rejoin near Zoersel.

External link

* [http://www.ramblers.org.uk/INFO/paths/e2.html E2 Atlantic - Mediterranean] from the Ramblers' Association