London and the
South East
Claremont Landscape Garden,
Surrey
Walk the grounds and Belvedere
Tower
A walk around the lake at Claremont
is special in the winter time. See the
mist rise off early in the morning or the
frozen edges in the crisp clear water.
For a special New Year’s treat, take the
chance to climb to the top of Belvedere
Tower and you’ll be rewarded with a
view stretching for miles in all directions.
Open specially on New Year’s Day
(11am till 2pm) by kind permission of
Claremont Fan Court School.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremont-
landscape-garden
Bateman’s, East Sussex
Self-guided walks and trails
The beautiful Sussex countryside around
Bateman’s provided the inspiration
for ma ny of Rudyard Kipling’s famous
characters. Choose from a variety of
routes for all abilities to take in some
of the best features of this inspiring
landscape. Pop in from the cold to see
the festive house and tuck into seasonal
treats in the café.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
batemans/features/estate-walks-at-
batemans
East of England
Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
Family Christmas Walks
From gentle strolls on the all-weather Boardwalk around Sedge
Fen to longer walks exploring new wetland habitats, with
opportunities to spot amazing wildlife from hen and marsh
harriers and short-eared owls to Wicken’s herds of highland
cattle and konik ponies.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve/lists/
walking-at-wicken-
Sheringham Park, Norfolk
Woodland and Coastal Walk
Winter walks to escape the hustle and bustle of Christmas are
on offer at Sheringham Park this year. Frosted plants and clear
coastal views is the ideal backdrop for the whole family to
explore. The landscape is picture perfect when covered in snow.
Some early flowering species of rhododendron will be in bloom
at this time of year and it’s a great place to spot over wintering
wildfowl passing through.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park/trails/sheringham-
woodland-and-coastal-walk
Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire
Whipsnade and Dunstable Downs walk
Dunstable Downs is an ever popular spot for Boxing Day and
New Year’s walks, and it’s not hard to see why. On this circular
walk there’s a chance to rest and wonder at the Whipsnade
Tree Cathedral before climbing up through Whipsnade Heath
and returning to the Chilterns Gateway Centre. The view
northwards from the Chilterns Gateway Centre is a great place
to start and finish your walk.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstable-downs-and-whipsnade-
estate/trails/whipsnade-and-dunstable-downs-walk
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