If a Christmas or Boxing Day walk isn’t a tradition you’ve ever had, this year feels like a good time to start. We are lucky to live in this part of the country where we have both seafront and beautiful green spaces to explore. So below, we’ve signposted ideas on where to walk this Christmas.

If you are going for a walk please remember to follow the rules on meeting others safely. If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must stay at home as much as possible and if you do go out for a walk it must be with your household, support bubble or one other person. You must not travel into a Tier 4 area to walk.

Circular walks and countryside sites in East Sussex

There is a huge selection of walks you can take, from circular, long distance, countryside sites, all ranging from short one-mile walks to nine-mile ones taking you further afield. Wealden District Council have an excellent guide of 20 walks which vary from 4 to 12 miles. They are graded between a scale of 1 (easy) and 4 (very difficult) and there is at least one route passing through every parish.

Following the latest Government advice all our rights of way sites and countryside parks are open, but some facilities are still closed. Please check before you travel.

1-2-3 Health Walks 

These guys have produced an up-to-date list of all 70 of their walk maps. All routes are walked and checked and measured but please keep in mind that woods and rural footpaths are likely to be getting muddier by the day at this time of year. Sturdy boots are strongly recommended! Notice nature, enjoy exercise and strengthen mental health is their ethos. Take a look at 1-2-3 Walks to see which one you fancy.

South Downs National Park

Walking the dog. Walking off lunch. Walking the 100 miles of the South Downs Way (although perhaps not over Christmas). Whatever your reasons for stepping foot on the South Downs, there’s a route that’s right for you. In fact there are more routes here than in any other National Park in the UK – 3,300km of footpaths, bridleways and byways in total. There’s a map for every walk – take your pick on the South Downs National Park website!

1066 Country

In 1066 Country you’re never far from nature. The countryside is here to explore, the wild to discover, much of it within walking distance of our towns and villages. Whether you like to roam by the sea, through woodland or between points of interest, here are some walks in 1066 Country to try.

 

And now for a little advice…

  • If you know a place is likely to be popular or difficult to social distance at over Christmas, don’t risk a wasted journey. If you arrive at your destination and find it to be very busy, move on to a quieter spot. Check the websites of places you are visiting to make sure they’re prepared for visitors. If large numbers head to the same place, maintaining social distancing will not be possible and then we’re all at risk.
  • The best (and most beautiful) times to go for a walk are at sunrise or sunset. There’s something very refreshing about going for a walk in the early morning and it can give you a boost of energy to last you the day. Late afternoon ventures are a great way to walk off that full-of-Christmas-dinner feeling and make it easier to manage pudding or the cheese round when you get back!
  • This should go without saying by now, but wherever you’re walking, do remember to follow the rules on meeting others safely.
  • It’s also important to remind you to stay away from cliff tops and bases. Chalk cliffs are extremely unstable and can and do crumble and fall without warning. Do not stand or sit at the edge, even for a quick look or photo.

This year we’ve been walking a lot more than usual and discovering some of the local sights and green spaces we’ve previously taken for granted – so you may already have somewhere in mind for a Christmas walk.

Give us your recommendations in the comments below!