There is a strange, formless week between Christmas and New Year when nobody quite knows what day it is, the fridge is full of leftovers and everyone has watched too much television. It is, quietly, one of the best weeks of the year for a walk. The crowds are at home, the light is low and clean, and a few hours outside resets you before the new year demands anything.
Why this week
Most people stay in. Car parks at popular spots that would be full in summer sit half-empty, and footpaths that heave in August are yours. The cold keeps the fair-weather crowd indoors, the bare trees open up views you never see in leaf, and a frosty morning makes even familiar countryside look new.
Where to go
- Coast paths are superb in winter, with big skies and crashing seas; just check the tides and the daylight before you set out.
- Lowland river and canal walks stay walkable when the hills are iced over, and you are never far from a pub.
- If you want hills, pick a clear settled day, start early and turn back in good time, because the dark comes down fast in late December.
Doing it safely
The main hazard is daylight, or the lack of it; the days are at their shortest, so plan a route you can finish with hours to spare and carry a head torch anyway. Paths can be icy or boggy, so proper boots matter, and a flask of something hot turns a cold walk into a treat.
You do not need to go far or do anything heroic. A two-hour loop from a village pub, a stretch of coast, a frosted wood, any of these does the job. The point is to get out of the overheated house, fill your lungs with cold air and arrive at New Year feeling like you have done something other than eat. It is the simplest reset there is.