Winter Walks in the Home Counties
If you’re looking to get out into nature with your children during the winter months, these routes are the perfect option. Whether you’re heading out as a family or you’re a nanny taking kids for a day out, these winter walks will help to get hearts racing and cheeks flushed, leaving you ready for a hot chocolate by the fire at the end of the day.
Chiltern Hills
Walking difficulty: Easy
Image source: Shameer Shah
If you’re located near Chiltern Hills, there are a number of activities right on your doorstep. The children will love to wander through Wendover Woods, which looks particularly magical during winter. The woodland is maintained by the Forestry Commission, and there are five suggested trails that will take you through the trees.
Country walks across the Chiltern Hills can be downloaded via the Handheld Tours App . Once in the app, simply select the ‘Chilterns AONB’ folder to find routes for these walks:
- Thames Walk, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
- Chinnor Circular Walk, Oxfordshire
- Box Wood Walks, near Princes Risborough, Bucks
- Little Marlow Walk, Bucks
- Views of the Vale Walk, Wendover, Bucks
- Ashridge Drovers Walk, near Tring, Bucks/Herts
- Seer Green/Beaconsfield Walk, Bucks
- Red Kite Walk, Bucks
- West Wycombe and Bradenham Walk, Bucks
Ray Mill Island
Walking difficulty: Easy
Image source: Berkshire Mummies
Once the home of a flour mill, Ray Mill Island is now a park and garden maintained by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It’s a lovely idea to meander around the perimeter of the park and visit the Aviary and Guinea Pig enclosure to say hello to the animals.
Plan your route with the help of this guide from Visit Thames. Access to the island is granted by crossing the Boulters Lock pedestrian bridge off Ray Mead Road.
It’s important to note that between September and April, the park may be closed due to high river levels, so it would be best to check before heading out to explore. If it’s open, wellies would be a good idea!
Windsor Great Park and Windsor Castle
Walking difficulty: Easy
Image source: Wikipedia
Windsor Great Park has borne witness to many significant events in UK history, which have left their mark on the local landscape. Dating back to pre-Saxon times, William the Conqueror used the grounds for hunting, while Queen Victoria entertained on the shores of Virginia Water. Most recently, Windsor Castle hosted the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
There are lots of sights take in, from the native and exotic blooms of the Savill Garden to the woodland walk through the Valley Gardens. You can also take the historic Long Walk, three miles down the Avenue, with Windsor Castle at the end of the trail.
Maps are available for the Royal Landscape and Savill Gardens from the official Windsor Great Park website.
Useful Sites for Winter Walks with Children
We have put together a list of useful sites for more winter walk inspiration, take a look below:
- For local forest walks, visit the Forestry Commission England
- For your nearest National Trust site, visit the official website
- For finding a local walking trail, visit Walking Britain
- For practical guides to get children excited about walking, visit Walks Around Britain
- For walks with prams or pushchairs, take a look at this selection:
- Walks with Buggies
- Baby Routes