UKH

Looking for recommendations  for any linear walks in  NW Wales or Lakes that will involve public transport back to starting point. Longer the distance the  better!!

The Cumbria Way is worthwhile.

Follow a train line for as far as you want and get the train back

Follow a bus lane for as far as you want and get the bus back

Good luck.

Is this one day only?

Hadrian's wall for a multi day choice, may have to start at Carlisle itself not the very start at Bowness but still 4 good days of walking there with a £7 return journey accross the country.

This sort of thing? https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=79

You could make it a multi-day walk by starting on the north coast (Conwy or wherever) and walking south to Barmouth. Train at each end.

Or even Snowdonia to the Gower, if we're really going long distance and you've got upwards of a week (fortnight?). Something along the lines of the Dragon's back race or John Gillham's classic book

Should've added just for a day walk!!

Two obvious ones in the Lakes are Ambleside to Keswick via the Fairfield and Helvellyn ridges, and Keswick to Grasmere over some selection of the North Western fells.

In North Wales you could go from Bethesda to Capel by following either the Glyders or the Carnedds.

Just a suggestion, but I'd do public transport to start if possible, and walk the return leg. No issues with missing the last bus due to slow pace/nice pub en route.

A bit off the beaten track, but the two Tarren's south of Cader Idris are a nice day walk based around catching the Talyllyn steam train back to the start - starting at Dolgoch station (large carpark), up past the waterfalls and over the top of Tarrenhendre then down and along to Tarren y Gesail and back down via the mines at Bryn Eglwys and the nice forest walk down to Abergynolwyn station. Tea and scones at the station and a steam train ride home. You can shorten/extend to suit and it's a good mix of walking with some nice views.

Leventons Line, Llangollen to Barmouth and take the bus direct between them. Great direct route, cross a few roads but no other tarmac, remote hills with no people, need some navigational skills. If you want to do a couple of days it is perfect for wild camping - no problems there.

I would go for Yiannis's route, slightly better finishing few miles but you can drop off the hills early if knackered.

http://www.gofar.org.uk/LeventonsLine.html

Or more info here (including my account )  http://www.highsports.co.uk/blog/leventons-line/

Go for this, you won't regret it.

Does public transport include police cars and air ambulances? How adventurous do you want?

Actually my one serious suggestion is doing the transport bit first and then walking back. Gives a real sense of goal focus, means you know the bus/whatever has shown up, and if you get 80% of the way, you're much nearer your car/camp than fretting about missing the weekly post bus at the fat end of your expedition

I'd suggest something using the Conwy Valley train line. Start at Dolwyddelan, go over Moel Siabod via the Daear Ddu ridge, then on over Carnedd y Cribau, Moel Meirch, Ysgafell Wen, Moel Druman, then down to the station in Ffestiniog. Or the same start and finish points, but go over Y Ro Wen and Moel Penamnen instead.

Or you could do something really long and ambitious, like Conwy to Betws y Coed over the edge of the Carneddau

Pooley Bridge to Windermere over High Street range, then bus back to start point over Kirkstone. You can get a bus from Penrith to Pooley Bridge, and a train to Penrith.

The Ambleside to Keswick section of the Cumbria way, as per Pedro50’s suggestion, would work well in a day I would have thought. 

Maentwrog/Trawsfynydd to Barmouth along the full length of the Rhinogydd for a well deserved pint in The Last Inn. Bus links early and late in the day may be problematic. Another option is the train from Barmouth to Llandecwyn.

Seconded... train from Llandecwyn to Barmouth and back over the tops of the Rhinogs... various shorter combinations available. Or park at Nanmor, Welsh Highland to Rhydd Ddu (not cheap) and follow PBR back over Hebog ridge back down to Aberdglaslyn, optional start over Nantlle ridge for a real day out.

Moley... Levantons Line... might have left that a little late!

Never heard of Leventons line. But attempted this as a bivouacing  three day walk in the early 1980's, an obvious route. Bailed out at Cross foxes as running out of time, down to Dolgellau, bus back to start. A good wild trip.

John

I believe Charlie Leventon instigated the route as a 2 day backpacking run/walk as training for mountain marathons. It's big plus is that one can easily bail off the tops down to main roads and public transport back to the start.

Unless it is the middle of the night!

The Taith Ardudwy Way (Barmouth to Llandecwn) is a good day walk. Train between both ends so start where you want. If you start at Barmouth you have the option of a bale out at Harlech.

http://www.mawddachestuary.co.uk/walks/taith-ardudwy.html

https://www.gofar.org.uk/ has lots of long challenges.