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Long-distance walking paths, stretching from a few dozen to several thousand kilometres, have grown steadily in popularity as travellers seek slower, more immersive alternatives to conventional tourism. Many of these routes follow historic trade roads, pilgrimage tracks, or old railway corridors repurposed for hikers, and they often pass through small towns that depend economically on the modest but steady stream of walkers requiring lodging and meals. Completing an entire route can take anywhere from a week to several months, and most walkers cover only sections rather than the full distance in one attempt. Trail maintenance, typically funded through a mix of government grants and volunteer labour, remains a persistent challenge, particularly where erosion or storm damage requires frequent repair. Guidebooks and mobile apps have made route-finding considerably easier than in earlier decades, when paper maps and local knowledge were essential.