The 12 Walks of Christmas UK Edition: Burn Off the Turkey

First rule of festive walking: don’t pick a route that turns into a drama just because you’re feeling ambitious after a mince pie. Winter walks are all about matching the plan to the light, the wind, and your energy, not proving anything to anyone. If you’re walking between Christmas and New Year, paths can be quieter, but also muddier, icier, and occasionally lacking open cafés. Basically, it’s peak “be prepared, but keep it fun”.

Here’s the quick decision guide:

• I want a cosy stroll: choose a park, riverside loop, or short coastal path with an easy bailout.
• I want a viewpoint: go for a short climb with a clear turnaround point, and keep an eye on wind.
• I want a proper leg-burner: pick a longer loop only if you can start earlier and stay flexible.

Simple winter safety checklist:

• Check the weather (wind matters more than you think).
• Tell someone your rough plan.
• Pack a head torch, even if you “won’t need it”.
• Keep a turnaround time. If you hit it, you turn around. No negotiating with the sky.

12 walks overview

If you want a walk that feels like you’ve stepped into a nature documentary for three hours, Malham delivers. The Landscape Trail strings together Janet’s Foss, Gordale Scar, and Malham Cove in one satisfying loop. In winter, the scenery can look extra stark and dramatic, and the crowds are often lighter than summer. It’s still popular on weekends, though, because everyone loves a waterfall with minimal effort.

Underfoot is a mixed bag: village paths, muddy stretches, and limestone steps. After rain, parts can get slippery, and in cold snaps you can find icy patches near shaded rock. Take your time, and don’t rush the steps, especially at Malham Cove.

• Start point: Malham village, Yorkshire Dales
• Distance/time: 7.2 km (4.5 miles), about 3 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Route type: Loop
• Terrain: Tracks, muddy sections, stone steps, limestone paths
• Best in winter if: You want big scenery in a half-day
• Don’t do this if: Paths are visibly icy and you’ve got no grip
• All Trails Map Route – Malham Landscape Trail

Winter notes: slippery limestone and muddy approaches after heavy rain.

Bad weather backup: walk to Janet’s Foss and back (short and still lovely).

Practical bits: village parking can be busy. Toilets and pubs in the village may have seasonal hours.

Post-walk reward: pub lunch in Malham, then a slow wander back through the village feeling extremely pleased with yourself 🌲☕️.

🗺️ Guide to Malham Loop – Malham Cove, Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar Loop

🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If it’s been raining for days, accept the mud and dress for it. Fighting it is pointless. Embrace the chaos.

10) Bakewell to Monsal Head: festive market-town start, big valley views (England)

Bakewell is peak Christmas-walk territory. You can roll in, grab something sweet, and head out along the Monsal Trail like you’ve got your life together. The trail follows a former railway line, so it’s mostly steady underfoot and easy to follow. The payoff comes at Monsal Head, where the viaduct and valley views make you stop and do the “okay, that’s actually stunning” pause.

Because it’s a longer out-and-back, it’s chunky in winter mostly due to time and daylight. The path itself is generally straightforward, but it can be damp, frosty, and busy on holiday weekends. The good news is you can shorten it easily and still get a great walk.

• Start point: Bakewell (Peak District)
• Distance/time: 14.6 km (9.1 miles) return, 4 to 4.5 hours
• Difficulty: Chunky (distance more than difficulty)
• Route type: There-and-back
• Terrain: Well-surfaced trail, some damp patches, gentle gradients
• Best in winter if: You want a longer walk without a tough climb
• Don’t do this if: You’re starting late or daylight is tight
• All Trails Map Route – Bakewell to Monsal Head

Winter notes: frost early on, and it can feel long if you stop lots.
Bad weather backup: walk 30 to 45 minutes out from Bakewell, then turn back and call it a win.

Practical bits: Bakewell is easy by car and bus, and the trail has multiple access points. Toilets and cafés in town are plentiful, but holiday hours can vary.

Post-walk reward: Bakewell pudding. Non-negotiable.

👉 Good to know: This one is ideal if you want “long walk energy” without battling steep hills or sketchy terrain.

11) Seven Sisters + Friston Forest: cliffs, forest, and a proper winter workout (England)

This is the walk for people who want to feel the sea slap their face a bit. The Seven Sisters cliffs are iconic for a reason: rolling chalk hills, dramatic coastline, and views that make you forget your legs are tired. The circular route blends cliff walking with a return through Friston Forest, which is a blessing in winter because it gives you a more sheltered section after the exposed coastline.

This is not a route to underestimate in winter. It’s not technical, but it’s long enough that daylight planning matters, and wind can make it feel twice as hard. Paths can be muddy inland, and slippery near the coast after rain. Also, if you’re tempted to wander onto beaches, tides become your problem, so keep it simple and stick to the main paths unless you know what you’re doing.

• Start point: Seven Sisters Country Park (Exceat area), East Sussex
• Distance/time: About 13 km (8 miles), 5 to 6 hours in winter pace
• Difficulty: Chunky
• Route type: Loop
• Terrain: Cliff paths, grassy tracks, woodland forest trails, muddy patches
• Best in winter if: You want epic views and a big “earned it” feeling
• Don’t do this if: Wind is strong, or visibility is poor
• All Trails Map Route – Seven Sisters and Friston Forest

Winter notes: exposed cliffs, wind chill, muddy forest return.

Bad weather backup: do a shorter out-and-back from the visitor centre towards the coastguard cottages and return.

Practical bits: parking at Seven Sisters Country Park, and buses run along nearby routes. Toilets and cafés can be available at visitor centres, but holiday hours can vary.

Post-walk reward: hot drink first, then a pub meal like you’ve just completed an expedition.

💡 Fact: This route feels dramatically colder than inland walks because the wind off the sea has zero kindness in it.

12) Castleton: Mam Tor + Great Ridge loop (Peak District, England)

If you want a winter viewpoint walk that feels properly special, Mam Tor and the Great Ridge is the Peak District classic. You start in Castleton, climb up onto the ridge, and get those sweeping Hope Valley views that make you stop even when your fingers are cold. The ridge itself is a joy, but in winter it also demands respect. It’s exposed, and wind can turn “fun walk” into “why am I leaning at a weird angle”.

Paths are generally good, with stone steps in places, but icy patches can appear on shaded sections, and gusts can be strong. The smart move is to treat it like a flexible plan. If it’s wild up top, do a lower-level Castleton loop and save the ridge for a calmer day.

• Start point: Castleton, Derbyshire
• Distance/time: About 11 km (6.8 miles), 4 to 5 hours
• Difficulty: Chunky (exposure + time)
• Route type: Loop
• Terrain: Steep climbs, ridge paths, steps, exposed sections
• Best in winter if: You want a ridge walk and big views
• Don’t do this if: Winds are strong or ice is obvious on the ascent
• All Trails Map Route – Castleton – Mam tor, the great ridge

Winter notes: wind exposure, icy steps, and low visibility in fog.
Bad weather backup: stroll Castleton village and valley paths, keeping it sheltered and low.

Practical bits: Castleton has parking and bus links, but it’s busy over holidays. Toilets and pubs in the village may have seasonal hours.

Post-walk reward: a cosy pub in Castleton and something hot enough to thaw your hands 🎄🥾.