2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

378 lines
8.4 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File

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! Buzz
[What are these?][19]
* Share: [Share][18] [ ][20] [ ][21]
[Tweet][22]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/6856546/Top-20-Christmas-walks-
earn-yourself-that-mince-pie.html
Telegraph
## [Christmas][23]
* ### [Activity and adventure »][24]
* ### [Lifestyle »][25]
* ### [Outdoors »][26]
* ### [Active »][27]
* ### [Editor's Choice »][28]
[![St Albans Cathedral Choristers snowball fight after morning rehearsals][29]
][30]
### [Preparing for Christmas][30]
[![Father Christmas sitting on a chair with a laptop][31]][32]
### [Send a Christmas announcement][32]
[![The Telegraph's Christmas Charity Appeal 2010.][33]][34]
### [Christmas Charity Appeal 2010][34]
[![Matt Christmas cards][35]][36]
### [Matt Christmas cards][36]
[X][18] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][19]
Share:
* [ ][18]
* [ ][20]
* [ ][21]
* [Tweet][22]
* Advertisement
![][37]
telegraphuk
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][38] [blog
comments powered by Disqus][39]
## [Christmas 2010 »][23]
[![Christmas 2009][40]][23]
[Christmas Home And Garden][41]
[Christmas Travel Guide][42]
[Christmas Food And Drink][43]
[Christmas Gift Ideas][44]
Advertisement
Sponsored features
Loading
most viewed
* TODAY
* PAST WEEK
* PAST MONTH
1. [3.5 minutes of terror: Air France crash dropped at 10,000 feet a
minute][45]
2. [Royal wedding: a peek into royal couple's honeymoon paradise][46]
3. [Councils spend 100m on taxpayer-funded credit cards][47]
4. [Father of diving champion Tom Daley loses battle with cancer][48]
5. [Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge wreck reveals secrets of the real
Pirate of the Caribbean][49]
1. [O'Bama? Oh puh-lease!][50]
2. [Rapture: the end was not nigh, after all][51]
3. [Cannes 2011: Peter Fonda encourages his grandchildren to take up arms
against President Barack Obama][52]
4. [Marmite made illegal in Denmark][53]
5. [Apocalypse not right now: 'Rapture' end of world fails to
materialise][54]
1. [Joe Biden opens his mouth about US Navy SEALs][55]
2. [Royal wedding live][56]
3. [Italians evacuate Rome over 'big one' fears][57]
4. [Osama bin Laden dead: Blackout during raid on bin Laden compound][58]
5. [Kate Middleton's family take action over nude pictures 'betrayal'][59]
CHRISTMAS EDITOR'S CHOICE
### [Teach your children to cook Christmas][60]
[![Christmas lunch ][61] ][60]
Cassandra Jardine, mother of five, sets out to get her children to cook
Christmas lunch this year.
### [Christmas around the world][62]
### [The worst things about Christmas][63]
### [The saintly spirit of Christmas][64]
### [Earn yourself that mince pie][65]
Advertisement
Classified Advertising
* [Shopping][66]
* [Culture][67]
* [Summer Breaks][68]
Loading
var puffs_8120641 = new Array();