Festival of Winter Walks - wonderful places to walk in the UK

In celebration of the Festival of Winter Walks, we thought it would be a great idea to revisit Britain’s best walks, to give you some inspiration and motivation this winter.

We know how appealing it is to curl up indoors, but we don’t want you to miss out on some of the most beautiful scenes Britain has to offer! The Festival of Winter Walks is organised by Britain’s walking charity, Ramblers. Their aim is to encourage people to do more walking, especially in the winter months.

Between 20th December 2019 and 5 January 2020, there will be hundreds of free winter walks taking place all over the country. It’s a great way to burn off that Christmas dinner and spend quality time with your loved ones. Visit Ramblers.org to find a walk near you.

1. Helvellyn – Lake District

Being the third highest mountain in England, Helvellyn was voted as the nation’s ultimate favourite and we can see why! Walking along the ridge of Striding Edge is the perfect way to reach the summit through the peaceful Grisedale Valley. The walk offers beautiful views and is the most popular route chosen.

2. Wales – Snowdonia

Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and the third highest in the UK at an elevation of 1,085 meters above sea level. There are many different routes that you can choose to climb to the summit of Snowdon and they all range with different difficulties. The Llanberis path is the most popular and easiest route, meanwhile, the Watkin path is by far the most challenging.

3. Malham Tarn Estate – North Yorkshire

Malham is the perfect place to walk, bike, exercise and explore as it offers 2,900 hectares of woodland, moorland and rolling hills. The surroundings feature spectacular limestone scenery and a dramatic landscape including Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Janet’s Foss Waterfall and Malham Tarn. Deciding on which part of the park you should explore first will be your hardest decision as there is so much to offer.

4. Cat Bells – Lake District

Called a ‘proper little mountain’ by the rangers who work there, Cat Bells features the most iconic fells and dominates the views across Derwent Water from Borrowdale. A perfect starter hill for the little ones at only 451 meters, this lovely walk is sure to make a great adventure for the whole family.

5. Dunstanburgh – Northumberland

Dunstanburgh Castle is the main focal point of this wonderful all year round walk, which overlooks the Northumberland coast, and it’s the perfect place to inhale some fresh sea air. The walk starts from the beginning of Craster, a small fishing village, to Embleton Sands. Why not take a picnic, enjoy some fresh air and hopefully some lovely sunshine.

6. Mam Tor – Derbyshire

The summit of Mam Tor offers the most dramatic viewpoints in the Peak District where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views, which includes Kinder Scout, Derwent Moors and the Vale of Edale. The circular walk is approximately 3 miles, which should take around 2 hours, and is dog-friendly so your four-legged friends can join in.