While freezing cold and wet, the outdoors in winter is also beautiful and serene, offering new and unique ways to appreciate the beauty of the Great British countryside. If you can make it past the muddy lanes and slushy streets, there’s a winter wonderland of snow, crisp air, and incredible scenery that awaits you. Discover our pick of the best winter walks in the North to enjoy this season and book your travel in advance with Northern to save up to 65%!
Tyne and Wear winter walks
Jesmond Dene
Nearest station: Manors
Jesmond Dene in Newcastle is a uniquely located green area with densely packed trees and the river Ouseburn cutting through it all. This creates a perfectly tranquil setting amid the bustling city. During winter, the forest area is a great way to escape the busy life of Christmas shopping and enjoy some crisp fresh air right in the middle of the city.
Barnes Park
Nearest station: Sunderland
The largest of Sunderland’s urban parks, this offers three circular walks that range from 1km in length to 3km, so you can enjoy a walk through this green space no matter your fitness level. The park is also widely accessible and a first option for many with accessibility requirements.
Merseyside winter walks
Liverpool Loop Line
Nearest station: Broad Green
Treat yourself to an easy walk through a winter wonderland on the Loop Line this festive season. Choose from three separate entry points from Northern stations at Broad Green, Halewood, and Hunts Cross. This green corridor is an essential item on any walker’s list as it’s easy to get to and even easier to walk along. Get your festive steps in amongst nature this season, and enjoy a peaceful section of nature nestled between Liverpool’s busy streets.
Sefton Park
Nearest station: Mossley Hill
Sefton Park isn’t only for hot summer picnics and mild autumn walks, as when the snow falls, the 200-acre park transforms into a picturesque landscape of frosty branches and powdered snow. This man-made park has been built in such a way to mimic natural landscapes and will make you feel as though you're in a national park. With plenty to do within the park as well, such as warm up in the cafe and play on the swings, there’s plenty of reason to give Sefton a visit this winter.
Cheshire winter walks
Delamere Forest
Nearest station: Delamere
Delamere Forest is only a stone’s throw away from the station of the same name and is a great place to escape the crowds at Christmas to find yourself amongst nature once again. There are trails suitable for every kind of walker, whether you’d like to hike up and get a glimpse of Liverpool’s skyline, or if you’d rather relax by a serene lake. Delamere Forest should be at the top of your winter walks list.
Poynton
Nearest station: Poynton
A scenic circular walk that can take up to three and a half hours, this is a great option for anyone looking to see and experience a part of the North they haven’t seen before. It’s generally suggested that the best time to visit this area is right as November starts, so a winter walk here is all the more perfect. Halfway through your walk, you’ll have the chance to stop and have a warm cuppa at Bramhall Park before you continue your journey round.
Yorkshire winter walks
York City Walls
Nearest station: York
A classic destination, no year is complete without a wander around one of the oldest structures in Britain. The city walls are also an excellent choice for showing any family or friends you have visiting the city, as you’ll be taken on a mud-free tour of York’s most historic and beautiful areas.
Ilkley Moor
Nearest station: Ben Rhydding
Ilkley Moor is a hotspot for hikers, with paths crisscrossing all over the mountain, so there’s a good reason it’s made it onto our list. There are plenty of easy walks like Crawshaw Moss and Cow & Calf to enjoy with this one, or if you fancy more of a challenge, you can always head straight up to the summit to survey the surrounding city of Leeds. Ilkley Moor is the gift that keeps on giving, and you’ll find yourself routinely coming back here over the winter and discovering new paths to walk.
Sheffield Round Walk
Nearest station: Dore & Totely
Much like the Liverpool Loop Line, this walk allows you to join at several locations meaning you can also get off whenever you need to. Getting the train to this trail is easy as the Dore & Totely station is a quick walk away from the Sheaf Valley section of the walk and will immerse you in nature. The trail overall is 15 miles but there are plenty of places to stop and leave the trail when needed, as well as spots to enjoy a hot drink on a cold day.
Greater Manchester winter walks
Hollingworth Lake Country Park
Nearest station: Smithy Bridge
An award-winning tourist destination, Hollingworth Park is right beside Smithy Bridge station and offers a flat and easy walk around its main feature: the lake. Normally highly acclaimed for water sports, the country park is set in a delightful part of the country with views all around, a wildlife nature reserve and more, making it perfect for a walk underneath clear winter skies.
Worsley Woods
Nearest station: Moorside
Just on the outskirts of Manchester, you’ll find the Worsley Woods, an enchanting forest with plenty of opportunities to stray from the beaten path. The woods become even more magical when the frost of winter covers the leaves and branches all around. There is a children’s play park and plenty of sculptures to find along the way. Be aware that the 30 hectares can get quite muddy, so appropriate footwear is recommended when visiting these enchanted woods.
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