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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%! 

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A child and parent walking through a wet forest.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.

Walk in Jesmond Dene

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. 

Visit Barnes Park

A couple and their dog walking through a lane lined with trees as snow falls around them and lays on the ground.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.

Walk the Liverpool Loop Line

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.

A day out in Sefton Park

A woman and a dog walking beside a frozen body of water along a path.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.

Discover Delamere Forest

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.

Take a wander in Poynton

Three children running away from their parents down a forest lane.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.

Walk the York City Walls

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.

Hike up Ilkley Moor

 

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.

Sheffield Round Walk

Two hikers walking on a snowy path amidst several trees and bushes.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.

Visit Hollingworth Country Park

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.

Walk in Worsley Woods

More things to do this winter in the North

Christmas pantomimes in the North

Christmas days out by train

Christmas activities in the North

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