Winter walks: short circular routes

Short, low-level walks for winter days, all under 6 miles and all bringing you back to where you started. Below are free walks, each with a map, distance and starting point.

173walking routes
48counties
Freeall routes
A frosty farm track and footpath on a foggy winter morning
Photo: Paul Bryan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Quick picks
Length
Route

Every walk on this page is plotted on the map above. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a county to list its walks.

Choose a county

South West

South East

London

East of England

Midlands

Yorkshire

North West

North East

Scotland

Winter walks by region

A starting point in each region, with no more than two from any one county.

South West

South East

London

East of England

Midlands

Yorkshire

North West

North East

Scotland

Walking in winter

Winter walks work best when they are short, low and easy to finish before dark, with somewhere warm at the end.

Short and circular

Every walk on this page is under 6 miles and returns to its start, so you can fit it into a short winter day and get back to the car or the station.

Low-level routes

We have left out most routes over fells, moors and tors, where winter weather can be much harsher than in the valleys.

Across the country

We have picked up to six walks from each county, so there should be a winter walk not far from you.

Choosing a walk

There are 173 winter walks on this page, across 48 counties. Of those, 82 are under 4 miles and 91 are 4 to 7 miles. 173 bring you back to where you started. The counties with the most are Surrey (6), Dorset (6), Oxfordshire (6). Use the filters above to narrow the list, or search for a county to see every walk there.

How we chose these walks

These are walks under 6 miles that bring you back to where you started, with a route photo. We left out most fell, moor and summit routes, and picked up to six from each county.

County walking guidesSurreyDorsetOxfordshireWest YorkshireGloucestershireCumbriaWest SussexBedfordshireSomersetDerbyshireNottinghamshireDevon
More walks by themeCastle walksWaterside walksPub walksSpring walksSummer walksAutumn walks

Know before you go

Practical points for winter walks.

Daylight

In December the sun sets around 4pm in the south of England and earlier in Scotland. Start in good time and carry a torch.

Mud and ice

Paths are often muddy in winter and can be icy on cold mornings. Wear boots with good grip and allow extra time.

Warm layers

Take a warm layer, a hat and gloves, even on a short walk. It can feel much colder in the wind.

Winter walks: questions

How many winter walks are there?

We list 173 winter walks across 48 counties. 82 are under 4 miles and 91 are 4 to 6 miles. Every route is free to view.

Which counties have the most?

Surrey (6), Dorset (6), Oxfordshire (6), West Yorkshire (6), Gloucestershire (6), Cumbria (6). Search a county on this page to see every walk there.

Are there short circular walks?

Yes. 82 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Bere Ferrers Circular (Devon, 2.0 mi), Blebo Loop (Fife, 2.0 mi), Caldecotte Lake North Circular Walk (Buckinghamshire, 2.0 mi). Choose Short walks back to start above to see them all.

Are these walks suitable in snow?

They are low-level routes, but snow and ice can make any path harder. Check the forecast, wear boots with good grip, and turn back if the path becomes unsafe.

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