Top 10 UK Christmas walks

Mistletoe meander, Worcestershire Tenbury Wells, an ancient market town in north-west Worcestershire, is just a few miles from Birmingham yet surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Teme valley. It is also the mistletoe capital of Britain – much of the UK's mistletoe grows in this part of the Midlands, and the parasitic plant thrives on the fruit trees in the many orchards dotted around town. Mistletoe auctions have been held there for more than 100 years, and they still survive today, alongside a host of other mistletoe-themed events. So go for a romantic stroll, kiss under the mistletoe, then cuddle up in one of the old-fashioned pubs in the town centre. All together now: Christmas time, mistletoe and wine ... • tenbury-mistletoe-festival.co.uk Pine away, Kent Pretend you're exploring the Great Woods of Narnia (after the White Witch was defeated and Christmas has been restored, of course) on a walk through Bedgebury National Pinetum. The arboretum has the most complete collection of conifers on one site anywhere in the world. There are some magical walking trails to explore across 320 acres, including a special winter route, or you could join the guided Boxing Day walk, which concludes with mince pies and mulled wine. • Booking is essential for the Boxing Day walk – call 01580 879842, tickets £7.50, children under 12 free. More information from bedgeburypinetum.org.uk Walk to church, Lake District For a truly special Christmas Day church service, walk to St John's in the Vale, a glacial valley in the Lake District. You'll find an isolated church high on the western side of the vale, with outstanding views across the fells. The service is at 11am on 25 December. After a few rousing carols, head back to the nearby village of Threlkeld, four miles east of Keswick, for a well-deserved pint. • For details of this walk and more in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, visit where2walk.co.uk Reindeer ramble, Scotland Pay a visit to Santa's reindeer in the Cairngorms national park, north-east Scotland, where preparations are under way for their busiest night of the year. The Cairngorm reindeer herd is the only such herd in the UK and the animals range freely over the mountains. There is a daily hill walk to feed the reindeer, though the animals can be hard to find in challenging weather conditions. A small group is kept in the paddock over winter (open 10am-4pm), so you're guaranteed to see Rudolph and friends one way or another. The wider national park offers fantastic walks along the River Spey, around lochs – one with an island castle – and up mountain passes through Caledonian pine forest. • Reindeer visits (01479 861228, cairngormreindeer.co.uk ) at 11am (not Christmas Day or New Year's Day), weather permitting, adults £10, children aged 6-16 £5, under six free See the lights, Derbyshire/Warwickshire/Cornwall Budget-conscious councils have been cutting back on their Christmas lights in recent years, but some still strive to put on a good show. Castleton in Derbyshire has around 45 public Christmas trees lining the main street, turning it into a dazzling tunnel of light. Castleton is a hill village in the Peak District, surrounded by great walking country. Stratford-upon-Avon prides itself on its spectacular lights, which make the historic town even more magical. There are guided town walks every day, even Christmas day – no need to book, just turn up at Waterside, opposite the junction of Sheep Street, at 10.30am ( stratfordtownwalk.co.uk ). The lights in Mousehole , a fishing village in the far west of Cornwall, attract around 30,000 visitors each year. They incorporate 7,000 bulbs, and include a 50m illuminated "Merry Christmas" sign. There's a lovely walk along the South West Coast Path from Mousehole to Lamorna cove ( southwestcoastpath.com ). Robin recce, Northamptonshire Stanwick Lakes is a nature reserve in the lovely Nene valley, Northamptonshire. It is especially known for waterfowl but is home to a huge variety of birds, including lots of Christmassy robins. Learn more about winter birds on a guided walk around the reserve led by the RSPB on Boxing Day, at 9am. For example, did you know that while Britain's robin population has increased by almost 20% in recent years, three other red-breasted birds – linnets, bullfinches and lesser redpolls – are struggling? • Call 01933 460644 to book, free but with a charge for the car park, stanwicklakes.org.uk Holly hike, London Kew Gardens boasts one of Europe's most comprehensive collections of that quintessential Christmas plant, holly. The 1,030m Holly Walk is flanked by several varieties, many of which have grown there since 1874, displaying red, black and white berries. Visitors can pick up a free Winter Walks leaflet, showing Kew's most scenic wintry spots, or join a free guided tour of the garden's evergreens. • Tours daily at noon (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when Kew is closed), turn up 15 minutes in advance, adult entry to Kew £13.90, children free kew.org Woodland walk, Cornwall Tehidy Country Park, which contains the largest area of woodland in Cornwall, is hosting an immersive theatre experience over December. The Winter Wood is a festive family show in walk form: starting at the Woodland Gate, fairies and spirits lead visitors down a candlelit path, telling stories and singing songs, to Old Man Winter's Travelling Theatre Tent. Rogue Theatre, the group behind the show, advises families to bring "a torch, a warm coat, a pair of wellies, and a sense of adventure". The show includes free hot chocolate, sparkly face painting and the chance to make a traditional winter decoration to take home with you. • Every day until 29 December (except Christmas Day), 4pm and 6.30pm, £7.50 (free for under-fours), crbo.co.uk Beach stroll, Wales If your idea of a good Boxing Day is a swim in the Bristol Channel, join the 41st Tenby Boxing Day swim. If not, wrap up warm and watch the fun with thousands of other spectators on North Beach. There will be canoe and raft races before 600 brave bathers take to the waves in fancy dress, followed by a huge beach bonfire. Then head to South Beach for a 1.5-mile stroll along the sand to Giltar Point, with great views of Caldey Island. • tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk Coastal walk, Northern Ireland Work off the mince pies on the Port Path, a stretch of scenic coastline between Portstewart and Portrush in County Derry. The route passes interesting buildings such as traditional ice houses, where ice used to be stored in the winter ready for preserving salmon, and St Patrick's Well, which was used as a source of holy water. It also passes Portnahapple, a natural sea pool, ideal for a bracing Boxing Day dip. • For details of this and other winter walks in Northern Ireland, visit discovernorthernireland.com