Walk off all that festive excess...
INSPIRING STROLLS THAT SHOULDN’T BE RAMMED WITH OTHERS ALSO SEEKING THE GREAT OUTDOORS
THE Boxing Day stroll is something of a national institution.
What better way is there to work off the calories consumed on Christmas Day than to walk amid Yorkshire’s finest scenery?
What you don’t want, however, is the world and his wife on the same walk, especially if you had a sherry too many the night before.
Thankfully, shoemaker Clarks has compiled a list of walks with the best ratings on Tripadvisor - but with relatively few reviews. This suggests you’ll be on a great walk but the rest of Yorkshire won’t be.
No matter where you live, taking into account coronavirus restrictions, there’s bound to be a walk to suit you.
There are forest trails, moorland hikes, sea cliff rambles, park ambles and plenty more.
But don’t forget to check the latest weather forecast as a big storm is expected from mid afternoon onwards.
This fabulous wetland, surrounded on three sides by the River Aire, can be found west of Leeds.
The car park is located off the A657.
Just north of Rodley Nature Reserve is this park with a Japanese garden, trails and plenty more.
The main entrance is off Hall Lane, Horsforth.
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, Brighouse; Lister Park, Bradford; Middleton Park, Leeds; Walton Colliery Nature Park, Wakefield; Chevin Forest Park, Otley.
Wildflower meadows greet you at this naturalistic park southwest of Sheffield city centre.
It’s off the A6135 City Road.
You wouldn’t think you were on the edge of Yorkshire’s second-largest city in this unspoilt natural valley.
The trail begins at Rivelin Park, off Rivelin Valley Road and heads to the Rivelin Dams.
This oneacre community garden five miles from Rotherham town centre is landscaped to bring peace and clarity to your mind.
It’s off Second Lane, near Wickersley village.
This is more of a large wood than a forest but it’s a great place for following trails and spotting wildlife.
It’s off the A638 Great North Road.
This wood, near Doncaster, is crisscrossed by manmade streams. It has a decent kids’ play area too.
It’s off the A18 Leger Way.
RSPB Old Moor, Bolton upon Dearne, Barnsley; Trans Pennine Trail from Wath-upon-Dearne to Penistone; Wentworth Castle Gardens, Stainborough, Barnsley; Whirlow Brook Park, Whirlow, Sheffield; Meersbrook Park, Sheffield.
You want tranquility? You’ll get it on this unspoilt, wild, mostly sandy beach.
It’s off the A1085 Coast Road, near Redcar.
One of the famous Three Peaks, you’ll struggle to find anywhere more beautifully bleak in England, although it’s for hardier walkers.
Most hikers start their climb at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
This craggiest and most spectacular of spots is deep within waterfall territory. Again, it’s not for softies.
Approach it from Gordale/Hawthorns Lane, near Malham.
There’s a fabulous walk to be had on the sea cliffs that surround that this quintessential Yorkshire fishing village.
On the northern edge of the North York Moors is a route which takes in the Cleveland plain, Roseberry Topping, Cook’s Monument and of course, the prehistoric stones which (sort of) give the park its name.
Pennine Way National Trail which runs the length of North Yorkshire; Cattersty Sands, Saltburnby-the-Sea;
West Burton Falls, near Leyburn; Farndale, near Church Houses, North York Moors; Boggle Hall, near Robin Hood’s Bay.
At the southern tip of East Yorkshire, between the North Sea and the Humber Estuary, is this big sky beach. The flat, near featureless landscape is as serene as it is surreal.
It can be found past Easington village.
Flamborough Headland offers spectacular views across the North Sea from its elevated sea cliffs. It’s also a top place for watching seabirds and sometimes, aquatic mammals.
It’s approached on the A1255 North Marine Road.
Within easy walking distance of Flamborough Headland is another set of sea cliffs which tower over a beach with rock pools galore.
Turn left just before The Viking pub on the A1255 North Marine Road.
Also known as ‘The People’s Park’ this park in a well-to-do part of Hull has a grand arched entrance, formal gardens, a lake, a 1930s conservatory and various statues and monuments.
It’s off Princess Avenue.
Bridlington’s North Beach is lively, although probably less so in the middle of winter. The South Beach is a quieter affair all year round with broad sands and views north towards the headland and into the North Sea.
North Cave Wetlands Nature Reserve; Pocklington Canal; Beverley Parks Nature Reserve; Blacktoft Sands; South Landing Nature Reserve.