Although it might seem tempting to hibernate indoors when the outside temperature plummets, getting out for a bracing winter walk is a healthy option. It is also a great way to discover new places and create some amazing outdoor adventures.
Wherever you live in the UK, there are some incredible walks to enjoy and fantastic trails to tackle in places such as Keswick in the Lake District, along the Cornish coast, and other countryside routes along the way. For some healthy outdoor adventures, all you need to do is wrap up warm, fling on some comfortable walking shoes, and pack your cosiest outdoor gear.
Boost Vitality and Mental Health
Walking in winter is a healthy way to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and get a dose of Vitamin D that can boost your overall mental wellbeing and immunity during shorter daylight hours. The NHS recommends adults should aim for at least 150 minutes a week of exercise, which includes walking.
Physically and mentally, the benefits to your health are vast, from giving you protection against heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer to warding off common colds as well as improving your mood and reducing your heart rate and blood pressure. In the colder months, winter walks can also help you clear your mind, giving you an intoxicating freedom of being connected to nature that is also hugely rewarding.
The overriding theme of Julia Bradbury’s book, Walk Yourself Happy, is the therapeutic power of walking in natural surroundings, the mental and physical positive gains that include better sleep and longer-term overall vitality and mobility. In addition to giving you space to think, walking also gives you the freedom to choose your own path and set your own pace.
Travel to New Places
If you’re already a fan of road trips in the UK, the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year are typical times to visit friends, family, and fit in some exceptional walks on route. You might also be planning to buy a camper van for further New Year outdoor adventures, or have this as a favourite present at the top of your Christmas list. Whatever mode of transport you’re planning to take, you’ll no doubt be excited about planning walking trips during the festive period or looking ahead to holidays in 2025.
Combining your festive trip with a countryside or beach walk somewhere you’ve never been before is a great activity for you, your family, and dog to enjoy. If you’re travelling this winter, there are some great road trips to research before setting off, whether you’re on your own or driving with friends and kids in tow.
Discovering organised walks in a group can also be a great way to meet new people or catch up with friends you haven’t seen for a while. Group walks can motivate you to get outside on the coldest of days and walking clubs are a great way to meet new people across the UK.
Stargaze on a Dark-Sky Walk
When you’ve reached your destination, winter walks somewhere peaceful are an ideal opportunity to appreciate the nights’ skies and the wonders of astronomy. Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia National Park, and the Brecon Beacons are all perfect places to head to if you’re hoping to stargaze on a clear winter’s night. Look out for different constellations, planets you can name, and if you’re lucky, even see a shooting star.
Likewise, beyond Wales, there are other locations that are known for being official ‘dark sky areas’. National Parks UK highlights a variety of destinations for exploring star-studded skies in the Peak District National Park, and further winter festivals and upcoming events in Northumberland, the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, and the South Downs National Parks.
If you’re on a family walking trip, you might like to add an educational dimension to your winter adventures. During your stargazing experiences, you can look up top tips for understanding the night sky to help you identify and name some of the famous stars, planets, and constellations, such as The Plough, Orion’s Belt, and Cassiopeia.
See the Spectacular Northern Lights
Walking in winter involves lesser daylight hours, but don’t be put off by the darker days. As recent climatic conditions have shown, if you’re walking somewhere less polluted, on the outskirts of a built-up area there are occasions where you might see the incredible Northern Lights. While typically associated with Nordic countries, the Northern Lights have graced a number of places in the UK this year, with the most likely chance of sighting an Aurora Borealis occuring during the hours around midnight.
It is possible to keep track of where you might be able to enjoy this must-see solar event during the winter. These days, it doesn’t matter how North or South you are, with sightings in Scotland’s Orkney and Shetland Islands, parts of Northern England and even places in Sussex.
Enjoy Outdoor Adventures
For some walkers winter is the most magical season for getting outside, discovering new outdoor activities, and embracing the elements. When snow falls on rolling hills and across tree tops, your countryside walks are transformed into multiple sights of breathtaking natural beauty. Frosty fields and woodlands turn into winter wonderlands for a variety of walks and adventures that are hard to beat.
In addition to a brisk walk, woods and forest trails make for exciting family experiences, for playing on fallen branches or collecting pine cones, twigs, and holly to make stunning Christmas decorations once you’re home. Similarly, your collection of bark, foraged items, and holly can become festive wreaths for a welcoming front door during the whole festive season.
Winter walking and stargazing isn’t just about exercise—it’s about creating memories, connecting with nature, and experiencing the UK’s stunning landscapes from another perspective. Wrap up warm, embrace the crisp air, and discover the magic waiting just outside your door.
Author: Annie Button