This year has been the year of the walk. Whether you’ve been avoiding the crowds by heading out into the countryside or restricted from exploring further afield by local lockdowns, taking a walk has been a taste of freedom.

In fact, 78 per cent of people say they intend to walk more once lockdown restrictions have ended than they did before, according to research from the Ramblers charity.

And while it will come as no great surprise to learn that walking is good for us, it’s quality not quantity which can have the biggest impact — a study from Trinity College Dublin and the University of California at San Francisco found that a short “awe-inspiring” walk once a week can dramatically improve our mood.

“The restrictions of lockdown have made us appreciate our green spaces more than ever, and many of us plan to continue walking more in the future, for our health and wellbeing as well as to get from A to B,” says Gemma Cantelo, Ramblers’ head of policy and advocacy. The charity is calling for targets to ensure everyone lives within five minutes of green space.

It is launching its Walking In Winter campaign to encourage everyone to get outdoors over the coming months, with a collection of more than 3,000 walks across Britain to choose from. We’ve picked eight of the best strolls, ambles and hikes to start you off.

Keswick, Cumbria

Distance: 2.3 miles

Walking time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Starting in the centre of Keswick, this short walk takes you up through Castlehead Wood, the perfect place for a wintry woodland expedition, and on to a wonderful viewpoint over Derwentwater and the surrounding fells. The route then takes you down to the lakeshore and returns across Crow Park to the market square.

Battle in brief, East Sussex

Distance: 2.7 miles

Walking time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Difficulty: Leisurely

Take a trip back in time to the Battle of Hastings with this walk through the fields and streets of Battle, discovering historic buildings including a windmill. As you climb Caldbec Hill, turn and admire the view — on the right you will see Battle spreading along the ridge (the route King Harold took to the Battle of Hastings) and Battle Great Wood stretches ahead.

Hawkshead to Tarn Hows, Lake District

Distance: 5.3 miles

Walking time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Difficulty: Leisurely

A circular walk from the picturesque village of Hawkshead to the beauty spot of Tarn Hows: the best time to see this mountain lake is in winter when the water is frozen and the hills are covered in snow. It’s one of the Lake District’s most beautiful landscapes, surrounded by thick woodland and views towards Wetherlam, the Helvellyn range and the Langdale Pikes.

Inverclyde Coastal Path: Lunderston Bay to Wemyss Bay

Distance: 5.6 miles

Walking time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Leisurely

Established in part thanks to Ramblers members, you’ll find 23 miles of scenic walks along the Inverclyde Coastal Path, only around an hour from Glasgow. This stretch from Lunderston Bay looks out over the Firth of Clyde, where wild birds visit the fields and shore, and occasionally seals sit on a rock. You’ll finish your walk at Wemyss Bay Station and pier with its Victorian railway architecture. Time it well to catch an early winter sunset from the beach.

Margate to Broadstairs, Kent

Distance: 6.7 miles

Walking time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Enjoy the seascapes that inspired Turner on this bracing walk from Margate to Broadstairs, along the famous white cliffs — the Turner Contemporary, housing his work, reopens in 2021. From the sights and delights of Margate to the sandy beach of Botany Bay, there’s plenty of interest for all the family, not to mention a good selection of tea shops and pubs for warming up if the winter sea breeze proves too brisk.

Pagham Harbour and Sidlesham, West Sussex

Distance: 7.2 miles

Walking time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Difficulty: Leisurely

You’ll find fantastic views over Pagham Harbour, an important and peaceful nature reserve, and winter is the busiest time for wildlife here, with up to 20,000 birds within the reserve. Look out for lapwings, black-tailed godwits, dark-bellied brent geese and golden plovers to name a few. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a seal basking on the islands on this walk.

Fridaythorpe, East Yorks

Distance: 10.2 miles

Walking time: 5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Head out from the village of Fridaythorpe, the highest village on the Yorkshire Wolds, and the half-way point of the 79-mile Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail. The area is ideal for winter walking, and this route takes you through the distinctive, steep-sided “dry valleys” criss-crossing the landscape, formed 18,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.

Brockenhurst, Hampshire

Distance: 11.3 miles

Walking time: 6 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

There’s nothing like a crisp winter’s walk in the New Forest, with frost glittering on branches. Make a full day of it with a circular walk taking in the wonderful range of scenery around Brockenhurst: heathland, woodland, pretty villages and rivers, plus the famous New Forest ponies. Visit the Forest’s oldest trees along the Tall Trees Trail and keep an eye out for deer at dusk, moving out from the wooded cover to graze.

How to get kids walking

If your kids groan at the thought of a family walk, try these tips to get them motivated.

• Choose a fun route — pick walks with added interest, whether that’s rivers and waterfalls, stepping stones and beaches, or tunnels and bridges to vary the surroundings. Getting kids involved at the planning stage is another good way to get them excited, showing them maps or photos and what wildlife they might spot along the way.
• Keep things interesting — stop to play games, from hide and seek to Pooh sticks, or set mini challenges spotting specific objects, to keep your kids engaged as you walk. You could also check out local geocaches, introduce them to map reading or take a camera for them to use.
• Don’t be too ambitious — plan ways to include short cuts if the walk is too much for them, or stick with easy routes to begin. It’s better to leave them eager for the next outing than reluctant to try again, and winter isn’t the best time to push out of your comfort zone. Take a pushchair or child carrier for longer walks if younger kids can’t go too far on foot.
• Don’t forget the practicalities — check the forecast to make sure everyone has the right clothing layers and footwear. Being too hot, cold or having blisters is no fun at any age. Consider toilet stops, as well as making sure you have drinks and snacks. And if you’re taking a buggy, you’ll need wheel-friendly terrain without stiles and kissing gates.
• Keep an eye on daylight — if you’re planning a winter walk, make a note of when the sun will be setting and consider carrying a good head torch in case you get caught out. Daylight can ebb away very fast, especially on a cloudy winter day.

 

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