Beautiful wintry walks are just around the corner,
These are the best routes to choose from before it gets warmer!
With beautiful scenery, get ready for some outdoor fun,
Watch as your youngsters walk, climb, and run!
St James’ Park, London
Ideal for a bracing festive family walk, the 57 acres of St James’ Park is surrounded by some of the most important historic landmarks in the UK including Buckingham Palace and The Mall. It’s also home to kids’ favourite, the famous St James’ Park pelicans. Perfect for a winter stroll on New Year’s, this is one of the most popular walks in London for good reason! Find out more here.
South Bank, Tate Modern to Jubilee Gardens, London
South Bank is one of the most gorgeous places in London during New Year’s! Whether you’re taking a stroll alongside some of the Victorian lamp-posts, or simply admiring the dramatic architecture of Westminister, this is an excellent New Year’s walk for any family living in London! Find out more here.
Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens, Hampshire
Mottisfont Abbey and Gardens is a beautiful winter walk for any family looking for some outdoor fun and scenery! With woodland, gardens, exhibitions and much more, this is a must-visit if you live close to Hampshire! Find out more here.
Ham House and Garden, Richmond
Winter is a magical time in the beautiful gardens at Ham House. Recharge your batteries on a frosty winter family walk whilst kids run off steam! Featuring a kitchen garden, mown lawns, and criss cross paths, Ham House is definitely worth a visit! Your four-legged family members can come too – dogs are welcome at Ham House Gardens all year round!
Find out more here.
New Forest National Park, Hampshire
One of the most beautiful places in the UK for a New Year’s Day walk, New Forest Park offers dozens of walking routes to suit all ages and abilities. Filled with wildlife at every turn, task little ones with spotting a famous New Forest pony or some of the donkeys, cattle or deer that roam wild throughout the year. Your well-behaved four-legged friends are welcome too! Find out more here.
Leeds Castle, Kent
Bundle up the family and head to Leeds Castle’s sweeping gardens to discover stunning alternative festive trees made from materials inspired by the Castle’s magnificent state rooms. This is a fun and magical experience for families of all ages. Find out more.
Windermere, Cumbria
The Lake District in Windermere, Cumbria, offers a great range of walks suitable for all ages and abilities, perfect for a festive family outing to blow away the cobwebs amongst some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Walks include 48 ‘Miles without Stiles’ routes, suitable for those with limited mobility. Find out more.
Formby Red Squirrel Walk, Liverpool
Home to the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed rare native red squirrel, the stunning woodland around Formby in Merseyside is the ideal spot for a family-friendly walk. How many fluffy friends can your little ones spot?! Find out more.
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
Credit: National Trust/John Miller
Round up the family for a crisp winter walk at Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey. Discover six festive scents and their history, follow sensory prompts as you stroll through the winter woodland, follow winding lakeside paths and watch the kids happily tire themselves out at the Tree Adventure play area. Find out more.
Knole Historic Home and Garden, Sevenoaks, Kent
With extensive formal and wild gardens and a medieval deer forest, the grounds of Knole Historic Home in Sevenoaks, Kent, is the perfect family destination to counteract the excesses of Christmas overindulgence this Boxing Day! Find out more.
Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge, East Sussex
Teeming with wildlife, the sweeping grounds of Bodiam Castle in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, is the perfect family destination for a crisp, refreshing winter walk. Your well-behaved canine family members are welcome, too! Find out more.
Other lovely places for a New Year’s walk!
Deer Feeding at Attingham Park, Shropshire
Visit Attingham Park in Shropshire this New Year and marvel at the beautiful mansion, walled gardens, and natural play area for your little ones! This magical woodland experience is perfect for families of all ages. Find out more here.
Croft Castle and Parkland, Herefordshire
Pop on your walking boots, grab your four-legged friend and stretch your legs in Croft’s 1500-acre parkland! Under 5’s, older children and the whole family can reconnect with childhoods pasts as they explore an iron age hill fort, way-marked walks and natural play area in the Croft Castle and Parkland grounds. Find out more here.
Horsey Beach, Norfolk
During the winter months, unspoilt Horsey beach is home to hundreds of plump brown-eyed seals. The beach backs onto Horsey Warren, the largest dune system in East Anglia, and is perfect for a bracing New Year’s walk with the family. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Find out more here.
Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Enjoy a bracing walk with the family at Lodge Park and Sherborne Estate this New Year. Work off the extra helping of Christmas pud on a stroll around the 18th-century water meadows or one of the three way-marked walking routes – the Short Woodland Stroll, Family Fun Walk and Historic Farmland Hike. Keep little ones busy spotting the abundance of wildlife around the estate which includes parkland fallow and roe deer, badgers and foxes. Find out more here.
Brimham Rocks, Ripon, Yorkshire
With a variety of walks to suit all ages and abilities, the natural playground of Brimham Rocks in Ripon is a great New Year family destination. Unusual rock formations allow the kids imaginations to run wild. Task them with spotting rocks which resemble an eagle, gorilla, rabbit, dancing bear, and more! Find out more here.
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