A post-Christmas lunch family walk, or Boxing Day pre-film fest walk is a tradition my family have long enjoyed. Heave yourself off the sofa and up a hill or along side a river in the bracing cold before returning home for cocoa mulled wine. A family walk is a cheap or free source of entertainment for all the family plus it wears the small folk out so you can get a bit of peace later on in the day.
Here are some of the best Christmas walks across the country.
London
Obviously there’s lots to see in London, a lot of which you ignore day-to-day if you live there. Pop on your walking shoes after that Christmas pudding, pop in you ear phones and listen to a walking podcast which will talk you through great sights. The Roman city wall walk takes up to 4 hours and takes in lots of hidden gems.
North West
The North Cheshire Way is a 70 mile path (obviously I’m not asking you to walk the whole thing before returning home for a sing song beside the fire), taking in a huge swathe of the North West including the Wirral, Lyme Park and Disley. A particularly pleasant stretch along side Styal and Quarry Bank Mill is well worth a wander.
Yorkshire
If it isn’t too windy, this 5 mile steep, cliff top walk from Robin Hood’s Bay is worth every step just for the beautiful, beautiful views.
Glasgow
Take in a beautiful and traditional Victorian crescent before a stroll alongside the ever changing and increasingly modern backdrop of the River Clyde on this down by the riverside walk.
Wales
One of the most beautiful stretches of canal in the country, the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal provides a wealth of walking potential. Running alongside the A40, it is easy to hop on and off at Abergavenny or Brecon with walks stretching from a few mere metres to dozens of miles.
More great walks can be found at -
National Trust Walks
Where do you take your post-Christmas lunch walk?
{Image: Tom Tolkein}
