New to the 20-mile Ullswater Trail is the 7.5-mile Lowther Castle Loop, leading from the castle grounds, along the river and up Askham Fell, with panoramic views over Ullswater and the Helvellyn range. Back at Askham, there’s a café and a pub, or enjoy a scone at the castle.
lowthercastle.org

You can see why poet Alfred Lord Tennyson was inspired by his daily walks on these spectacular downlands. Blow away the cobwebs as you climb from Freshwater Bay to the poet’s monument, or follow the seven-mile round-trip Tennyson Trail to the Needles at the westernmost point of the Isle of Wight.
nationaltrust.org.uk

A seemingly endless stretch of sand that merges with the sky, Holkham beach is part of one of Britain’s biggest nature reserves. In colder weather, you might spot pink-footed geese, larks and finches, along with seals. Walk to the colourful beach huts at Wells-next-the-Sea and back, or follow the eight-mile loop.
walkingbritain.co.uk

The temples, Grotto and water features at Stourhead’s landscaped gardens look even better with a sprinkling of frost or snow. Take the mile-long lake trail past the Temple of Apollo and the Pantheon, or hike the longer 5.5-mile route through an Iron Age hillfort to the 160-foot King Alfred’s Tower folly.
nationaltrust.org.uk

Go for a Christmas walk through conifers to see Dasher and Dancer’s cousins, the fallow deer, as well as wild New Forest ponies. The 1.9-mile Radnor Trail is as family friendly as they come or, if you prefer to stretch your legs more, the national park has 150 miles of car-free track.
newforestnpa.gov.uk

Experience hill walking in the heart of the city when you climb the craggy, dramatic slopes of Holyrood Park’s extinct volcano. On a clear winter’s day, the three-mile hike will reward you with 360-degree views of Edinburgh and The Lothians. There’s also a medieval chapel to check out en route.
walkhighlands.co.uk

It’s a 90-minute romp along the River Derwent between foodie hotels The Peacock at Rowsley and The Cavendish at Baslow, which means you can set off from one and enjoy lunch at the other before returning. The route leads past Chatsworth House, which from 4th November will don its Christmas glad rags.
chatsworth.org

It would take about a week to hike all 84 miles of the Hadrian’s Wall trail. Opt instead for the 7.5-mile circular walk from The Sill discovery centre that takes in the Roman fort of Housesteads, the auxiliary fort of Vindolanda and the Roman Military Way.
nationaltrail.co.uk

Works by Damien Hirst, Henry Moore and Ai Weiwei are among the 100 pieces of art in this 500-acre estate. Spend the day ticking them all off, or follow a shorter route, such as the three-mile circular Andy Goldsworthy walk, which also includes Barbara Hepworth’s The Family of Man.
ysp.org.uk

It’s never calm at Cape Cornwall, where the Atlantic currents divide. Wild winter seas are on show along the 6.5-mile route to Lands End, which takes in old mines, a bronze burial site and the beach at Sennen Cove. Take the Atlantic Coaster bus back to St Just.
southwestcoastpath.org.uk

Reach the summit of 3,196-foot Ben Lomond to 'bag' one of Scotland's 282 Munros. It takes about six hours to hike up and down, but on a clear day, you’re rewarded by views as far as Ben Nevis in the north. This popular mountain walk is much quieter in the winter, when you might see ptarmigan birds in their white plumage.
nts.org.uk

Hike around a glacial lake in this Welsh cirque, scrambling over moraine (the debris left behind by the glacier) and viewing the Darwin Idwal Boulders, first noted by Charles Darwin during his 1842 visit, and the Idwal Slabs, where mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary trained. The three-mile trail takes about three hours to complete.
nationaltrust.org.uk

Appearing to float on water, Normanton Church at Rutland Water is particularly picturesque in winter, when mist rolls in from the reservoir and the surrounding land is crisp with frost. See it across the water on a seven-mile hike of the promontory; for more of a challenge, try the 22-mile lake circuit.
discover-rutland.co.uk

Where better to immerse yourself in a winter wonderland than the Mourne Mountains, which gave author C.S. Lewis inspiration for his magical world? The 0.5-mile woodland Narnia Trail is entered through a wardrobe door and brings The Chronicles of Narnia to life, with a lamp post, the Beavers’ House and Aslan’s Table along the way.
visitmournemountains.co.uk

It’s not the Grand Canyon, but England’s largest gorge is still 400-feet deep and three miles long. A four-mile loop round its rim takes in weathered crags and peaks, as well as views of Glastonbury Tor. Combine a walk with a visit to the caves below – where you can gorge on some cheddar.
nationaltrust.org.uk

Jane Knight is an award-winning travel writer. She is former travel editor of The Times and her work features in The Telegraph, The Financial Times, Condé Nast Traveller and other publications.