It’s a brilliant time of year to…

STAY HIGH AND DRY

ONE IRKSOME FACT of life in the world of the winter walker is mud.

As much as we fight the corner for cold-weather escapades, we have to concede that softer ground tends to get mulchier, squelchier, damper and splattier between December and March.

Unless, of course, you choose a terrain that doesn’t get too muddy.

The best example of that is chalk downland. Chalk is porous and absorbent, meaning the heaviest rainwater simply seeps into the subsoil and disappears. Fair enough, down at the bottom of the hill, you will encounter standard-issue churned-up sludge (especially if it’s a bridleway). But if you get up onto the ridgeline, in general you’ll be able to walk for miles without falling foul of such stuff.

So where to find this miracle surface? Well, the South Downs and North Downs are probably the most famous chalk downlands, but you can also find chalk on the Ridgeway through Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, and – somewhat surprisingly – in Yorkshire, namely on the Yorkshire Wolds between Beverley and Malton.

But for a perfect example, turn to Walk 4 in this issue: a blissful six-miler through the Wiltshire downs above the Vale of Pewsey which starts high and stays high, rolling you across the firm chalk terrain of the Pewsey Downs and the medieval defensive line known as the Wandsyke.

Possibly your best chance of a splat-free stroll this winter – and a gorgeous walk all by itself.

“He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration winter.” in

DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY Sledging: growing older is compulsory; growing up is optional. Yee-ha.

THE GOING’S GOOD TO FIRM This enclosed path (known in Sussex slang as a bostal) is a perfect example of why dry, welldrained chalk is a joy to walk on.