topics christmas 6856546 ----- # Top 20 Christmas walks: earn yourself that mince pie ## Enjoy the magical beauty of Britain with our round-up of Christmas walks. ![Step in the right direction: Christmas walks are enjoyable and good exercise for all the family][1] Step in the right direction: Christmas walks are enjoyable and good exercise for all the family Photo: ALAMY By Samantha Ryder 7:00AM GMT 22 Dec 2009 [Comments][2] The simplest pleasures are the most rewarding, and a winter walk exercises the body and rests the mind. We've scoured the country for 20 of the best routes - and asked a few well-known names for their favourite strolls. **1 St Michael's Way** Following ancient pilgrim tracks, this eight-mile walk on Dec 31 includes mince pies and mulled wine en route. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Ludgvan, Cornwall **2 Little Lapland** Wild deer and misty waterways make Cannock Chase positively magical. Follow this six miler to Shugborough Estate. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Shugborough, Stafford **3 Hayling Island beach ** Sailor Sam Davies loves the four-mile south beach of Hayling Island. "I used to walk it every winter weekend with my parents." Details: [www.hayling.co.uk/guides][4] Where: Hayling Island, near Chichester **4 Winter birdwatcher ** Watch overwintering birds on Britain's largest stretch of open coastal water - Millom, in the Lake District - and walk around Hodbarrow Lagoon, an RSPB reserve. Details: [www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hodbarrow][5] Where: South Lakeland **5 Brecon Beacons** BBC naturalist Steve Backshall heads for the Brecon Beacons of Pen y Fan and Fan Y Big. "Covered in snow, they're beautiful." Details: [www.breconbeacons.org][6] Where: Brecon, South Wales **6 Castle Drogo** The last castle built in Britain, Castle Drogo perches on Teign Gorge, from where you can follow the river to Fingle Bridge. Details: [www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-castledrogo][7] Where: Drewsteignton, Devon **7 Reynard's Cave** Explore this natural cathedral in Dove Dale, Peak District, when the leaves are gone, exposing the full beauty of the rocky setting. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Ashbourne, Derbyshire **8 Luskentyre, Isle of Harris** For television presenter Ben Fogle, the beach of Luskentyre is the perfect place to walk. "It has talcum powder sand, turquoise water and a thousand acres of sky." Details:[ www.explore-harris.com][8] Where: Outer Hebrides **9 Little Switzerland** Its resemblance to Alpine hills has given Church Stretton valley this nickname. An eight-mile walk on Dec 29 follows the ridge to Caer Caradoc. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Church Stretton, Shropshire **10 Sherwood Forest** Robin Hood's forest is famous for its ancient oak trees, including the 800 -year-old Major Oak, situated just 15 minutes' walk from the visitor centre. Details: [www.sherwoodforest.org.uk][9] Where:** **Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire **11 New Year walk ** Start 2010 with a five-mile hike across the River Calder and up hill to Charlotte's Ice Cream Parlour for complimentary mince pies, mulled wine and ices. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Mirfield, West Yorks **12 Sultan the Pit Pony** Former coal tip Penallta is now a wildlife sanctuary where you'll find Sultan, Britain's largest figurative earth sculpture. Details: [www.caerphilly.gov.uk/countryside][10] Where: Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan **13 Kingley Vale** The ancient yew trees of Kingley Vale may be the oldest living things in Britain. Huge branches grow along the ground like tentacles, resembling a scene from _Lord of the Rings_. Details: [www.naturalengland.org.uk][11] Where: Woodend, Chichester **14 Quantocks** Adventurer Hannah McKeand chooses the Quantock Hills over the South Pole. "They're as lovely as Exmoor or Dartmoor, and all the better for being less well known." Details: [www.quantockonline.co.uk][12] Where: Taunton, Somerset **15 Lincolnshire Wolds** Join an organised four-mile walk today from Horncastle. If it is clear you should see Lincoln Cathedral, 21 miles away. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Horncastle, Lincs **16 Bath Skyline** The Roman spa town combines glorious Georgian architecture, lovely Cotswold Hills and great post-Christmas sales. Details: [www.nationaltrust.org.uk][13] Where: Bath **17 Arthur's Seat** With panoramic views across Edinburgh, the 820ft peak of Arthur's Seat is a deservedly popular walk. Details: [http://walking.visitscotland.com][14] Where: Edinburgh **18 Holy Island** Get in true Christmas spirit with a visit to the holy island of Lindisfarne. Joined to the mainland by a causeway, it's only accessible during low tide. Details: [www.visitnortheastengland.com][15] Where: Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland **19 Wye not? ** Walk alongside one of Britain's most beautiful rivers. This organised seven miler sets off from Hereford on December 30 and follows fields and quiet lanes alongside the River Wye. Details: [www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3] Where: Hereford **20 Malham Cove** Yorkshire's answer to Niagara Falls is a delight for all members of the family. Details: [www.malhamdale.com/walking.htm][16] Where: Settle, North Yorkshire * The Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks, runs from December 26 - January 3, with more than 700 walks nationwide [(][17][www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks][3][)][17] [X][18] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! 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