Winter walks in England
Winter is well and truly here, but don't let that prevent you from getting outdoors because few activities are as enjoyable or quintessentially English as the bracing winter walk.
Whether you choose to explore the Pennines, the Peak District, the coastal nooks of the South West or the meandering views of the South Downs, England has some of the most spectacular walking terrain on the planet. So break out the scarf, the gloves and the wooly hat, and head until into the wild with our pick of the best English winter walks.
Chanctonbury Ring, Sussex
The South Downs Way cuts a dramatic swathe across 100 miles of south coast countryside, from Winchester to Eastbourne, and features some fascinating examples of a lost, bucolic England. This route is a relatively gentle introduction that starts in the village of Steyning in West Sussex and takes in two impressive Iron Age forts, Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring.
From Steyning, the route heads up Steyning Round Hill before approaching Cissbury Ring. From here, take the South Downs Way to Chanctonbury Ring, where you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the Downs. At ten miles in length, walkers should be fairly fit and expect the odd strenuous ascent along the way.
More info: www.southdownsway.co.uk
Hayfield to Kinder Scout, Peak District
Follow in the footsteps of the famous ‘mass trespass’, an organised 1932 protest that sought to increase ordinary people’s access to open countryside. This 8 mile circuit follows in the footsteps of these unlikely pioneers.
The walk begins at Bowden Bridge in Hayfield before heading to Ashop Head via Kinder Reservoir. The path here joins the Pennine Way towards Sandy Heys, and skirts the spectacualr Kinder Downfall and Kinder Low. At Edale Cross, the route heads back towards Hayfield. Start early in the winter and give yourself plenty of time to get round before dark, perhaps stopping at the Sportsman or Lantern Pike pubs once you’re safely home.
More info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
South West Coast Path, Cornwall
This 630 mile stretch from Minehead to Poole takes in some real Daphne du Maurier country, especially in the thick of winter. It'd take you months to complete the whole thing, so start with the more manageable 25 miles of raw coastline between Land’s End and Zennor.
The village of Lower Boscaswell is the best starting point. It’s an old mining town, and from there you can head north towards Zennor or south west towards the sweeping Sennen Cove, one of the country’s most gorgeous bays and a surfing epicentre. Take a camera, a thermos and make sure you keep an eye on the weather. Time it right and you’ll see waves sweeping in untrammeled off the Atlantic.
More info: www.southwestcoastpath.com
Hadrian’s Wall Humshaugh to Haughton
Hadrian’s Wall is one of England’s tourist spectaculars, and there is a mind-boggling number of options for this wishing to get to grips with the country’s unrivalled Roman heritage. This easy introduction covers 4.5 miles and includes Humshaugh, Haughton Castle, Keepershield and Chollerford, where you can start and end your circuit.
Give yourself 3 hours to cover the distance, and keep your eyes peeled for the Garden House, the only remains of Wester Hall, next to Haughton Castle.
More info: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/HadriansWall
