Visitors walking in the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey, Cheshire (Image: National Trust Images / Chris Lacey)
There’s nothing nicer than stepping out into the fresh air on a crisp winter’s day – especially after Christmas excesses. And across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the National Trust has something for all the family. There are fragrant winter gardens, acres offrost-sprinkled deer parks, winding coastal paths and ancient woodland trails dusted by snow. So pull on your gloves and hat, wrap up warm and enjoy stunning scenery and the sights and sounds of the outdoors. You’ll be doing mind and body a big favour.
DUNHAM MASSEY, GREATER MANCHESTER
The meandering paths of one of the UK’s largest winter gardens form the stunning backdrop to Dunham Massey’s historic Georgian house and gardens. Where better to start than the 300-acre deer park? The roaming fallow deer are easier to spot through the leafless trees and the estate’s historic buildings take on a new beauty at this time of year. Dunham Massey’s winter gardens feature more than 1,600 winter shrubs, trees and evergreens, chosen for their scent, colour and texture. One of the National Trust’s most accessible locations, with miles of flat, wide paths in the parkland and gardens, with personal mobility scooters and wheelchairs available for hire.
SIZERGH, CUMBRIA
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Lakeland Fells, the Pennines and Morecambe Bay, the Sizergh estate boasts interlinked family garden areas developed over 800 years, including the Stumpery, the Dutch Garden and Kitchen Garden. Seasonal highlights at this gateway to the Lake District include the sweet smell of winter flowering honeysuckle along the Herbaceous Border and hedgehog holly on the south terrace, plus winter is the only time you can see the skeletons of the acers and the bare bones of the Rock Garden. Out on the wider estate, a circular loop of just under a mile, perfect for a gentle stroll, takes in ancient woodland, traditional Westmorland orchards and a historic farm.
Exploring the Winter Garden at Bodnant Garden, Conwy, Wales (Image: National Trust / Paul Harris)
BODNANT GARDEN, CONWY
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Carneddau mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia), Bodnant boasts some of the most stunning year-round colour in the country in its 80 acres of gardens, the result of 150 years of horticultural endeavour by the Pochin and McLaren families. A gentle and wheelchair accessible 0.5-mile circular trail through the winter garden is a delight for all the senses. Elsewhere visitors can enjoy the splendour of bare trees against frosty blue skies in The Glades, towering evergreens in the Dell, wintry reflections on the lake in the Far End and panoramic views of snow-capped peaks from The Terraces and Furnace hillside.
ANGLESEY ABBEY, CAMBS
Anglesey Abbey has 114 acres of landscaped gardens to explore and a renowned sensory winter garden – positioned to be illuminated by the low winter sun and planted with the likes of Tilia Cordata “Winter Orange” and Red-barked Dogwood for their scent, texture and bright colours. The Jacobean-style house’s iconic grove of ghostly silver birches is not to be missed and nearby is one of the finest snowdrop collections in the country – with an extraordinary 400 varieties. A gentle stroll through the wider estate on the three-mile circular walk takes in woodland, tree-lined avenues and winding paths through the historic gardens.
NOSTELL, WEST YORKSHIRE
With 300 acres to explore, visitors can enjoy the varied landscapes of meadows, lakes and woodlands at Nostell. The changing seasons bring new life and colour throughout the year and winter is no exception. Try the wellness trail, created in collaboration with Mindful Movers, a Wakefield-based mental health walking group, linking ten benches carefully placed in tranquil areas by lakes and under tree canopies in the parkland. At each bench, you’ll find words of advice and mindful activities to help you stop and appreciate the present moment. Later, marvel at the neo-classical Obelisk Lodge, built in 1777, then take in the house vista and enjoy a picture-perfect view of the fabulous Georgian mansion.
A young visitor playing in the woodland adventure play area at Nostell, West Yorkshire (Image: National Trust / Annapurna Mellor)
Winter walking at Tarn Hows, Cumbria (Image: National Trust / Annapurna Mellor)
DINEFWR ESTATE, NEAR LLANDEILO, CARMARTHENSHIRE
The 800-acre Dinefwr Estate is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the country’s first parkland National Nature Reserve. The ancient woodland, equally beguiling in winter as in summer, is home to some of the UK’s oldest trees – including more than 300 oak trees, some of which are 400 years old. Enter Castle Woods and climb up to Dinefwr Castle (managed by Cadw) for views over the landscape influenced by the famed 18th century designer, Lancelot “Capability” Brown. Enjoy vistas of seventeenth century Newton House, historic home of the Rhys Family, at the centre of the estate. You might catch a glimpse of an otter or woodpecker in the 800 acres of parkland and woodland. The local White Park Cattle, an ancient rare breed, historically linked to Dinefwr, might be tucked up in the cattle shed for winter but there’s plenty more to see.
TARN HOWS, LAKE DISTRICT
Enjoy spectacular views of the Lake District’s fells on this easy, accessible walk around a tree-lined tarn for all the family. With tramper all-terrain scooters available to borrow, visitors who are less mobile can keep pace with their walking companions. The full trail takes in almost two miles of some of the most beautiful scenery the Lake District has to offer and takes around one hour at a gentle pace. And it’s equally stunning in the winter when everything is frosted, the trees are bare and the water gleams in the low seasonal sunlight. Beatrix Potter and her husband William Heelis negotiated to buy the estate containing the picturesque tarn for £15,000 in 1930 – relying on the National Trust to be able to appeal to the public to raise enough to buy back 2,090 acres. So you’re literally walking in the late author’s footsteps.
BLICKLING ESTATE, NORFOLK
More than 4,600 acres of historic woodland, parkland and farmland surround this stunning Jacobean mansion with ancient yew hedges in the heart of Norfolk’s beautiful Bure meadows. The 55-acre formal gardens, the result of three centuries of careful planting, are the perfect place to lose yourself for an hour or two, even in winter, while the parkland is perfect for exploring on foot or by bike or with a canine companion. Try the four-mile multi-use trail, which goes around the perimeter of the park and is accessible for buggies and young children, as well as those using wheelchairs and mobility aids. Afterwards, explore the Walled Garden and enjoy a seasonal produce snack at the Stables Café.
Visitors on the bike track at the Blickling Estate, Norfolk (Image: National Trust / Rob Coleman)
GET OUT AND ABOUT TO BOOST YOUR MOOD
“Spending time in nature and in green spaces or bringing nature into our everyday life can boost our mood, improve our physical health, and reduce feelings of stress and anger. It can help us to switch off and get away from day-to-day pressures and feel a sense of connection to the world around us. One in four of us experiences a mental health problem each year, yet many don’t get the support they need. Nature and community can at times play an important role in managing anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems.
“Sometimes it can feel harder to get outside in winter, especially when it’s cold and the light is limited, but for many of us it can be the most beneficial and important time. Doing something enjoyable outdoors, such as listening to music or meeting a friend, can make it easier. Many of us don’t have easy access to green spaces, such as a garden. We also know there can be significant barriers, like childcare commitments, a lack of accessible spaces, working hours, or rising transport costs.
“These barriers can prevent participation in everyday outdoor activities that most people enjoy, like spending time in your local park. They also reinforce the social isolation that many of us living with a mental health problem experience. So other options to explore are things like community allotments, local parks, or walking apps like Go Jauntly. There are also many fantastic nature-focused services being run by our network of Local Minds, like ecotherapy, which has been proven to help with mild to moderate depression and boosting self-esteem. And other projects like walking groups or peer support through community allotment projects. Our partnership with the National Trust aims to create more opportunities for people living with mental health problems to experience the benefits of nature.
“If you’re struggling with your mental health, nature can be a helpful tool, but it’s not a cure-all. Support is available, and reaching out can be an important first step. Whether it’s talking to someone you trust, contacting a helpline, or seeking professional help, you don’t have to face things alone.”
- Stephen Buckley is Head of Information at Mind
The Walled Garden in winter at Rowallane Garden, County Down (Image: National Trust / Annapurna Mellor)
ROWALLANE GARDEN, COUNTY DOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND
Unusual plants, seasonal colour palettes and striking features make Rowallane a must-visit at this time of year. Carved into the County Down landscape, it’s grown from its 19th-century beginnings at the hands of Reverend John Moore and his nephew Hugh Armytage Moore, but their vision – to create a place where visitors could leave the cares of the world behind and immerse themselves in nature – lives on. Stroll through the mix of formal and informal spaces with breathtaking vistas across the County Down countryside. Take a stroll among winter flowering viburnums, mahonia and the fragrant flowers of witch hazel. Also look out for sarcococca; otherwise aptly known as the Christmas Box, with its strong scent. A warren of walks are available across the estate, including a Woodland Walk which leads walkers around the Victorian Rock Garden and into the Old Wood, and a farmland trail to the summit of Trio Hill, with views over County Down.
TRELISSICK, CORNWALL
Surrounded on three sides by the River Fal, the estate commands an impressive position, looking down Carrick Roads to Falmouth, and no trip to Trelissick is complete without a gentle stroll around the panoramic parkland, with maritime views, or a walk in the secluded oak woodlands. From Trelissick to the 18th century quay at Roundwood is a popular circular one-mile route, or there is a longer four-mile route. For plant enthusiasts, hidden paths twist through the garden and offer their own spectacular views. Wherever you choose to explore, the culture and wildlife of the river is never far away this winter.
MOTTISFONT, HAMPSHIRE
Set amid picturesque riverside gardens, Mottisfont is at its beautiful best at this time of year. On a winter’s morning the huge lawns and towering trees surrounding this 18th century house, once a medieval priory, are tinged with frost, and mist rises from the garden’s many waterways. From mid-January there are snowdrop displays and snowdrop poetry on a self-led walk, and free guided garden walks. Carpets of daffodils start to appear from February and a fragrant winter garden is a feast for the senses – discover the garden team’s top 10 winter garden plants, from delicate hellebores to richly scented witch hazel. A wander along the sparkling chalk stream takes you on a pleasant loop out to meadows behind the house and back to the garden, or try a longer, downloadable walk across Mottisfont’s estate or up Stockbridge Down a few miles away, just some of the 1,600 acres of glorious woodland, tenanted farmland and downland the Trust looks after in the local area.
Visitors walking along the riverside in winter at Mottisfont, Hampshire (Image: National Trust / James Dobson)
CALKE ABBEY, DERBYSHIRE
Stroll across the 600-acre grounds shaped by centuries of estate life, watch fallow deer roaming the grounds and come face-to-face with the Old Man of Calke, the estate’s oldest tree. It’s more than 1,000 years old and is a relic of the ancient wood pasture that predates even the original 12th century Augustinian priory. Many centuries of pollarding have given it a squat, tree-man appearance. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Tramway Trail, an accessible figure-of-eight route which follows the old horse-drawn tramway that linked Ticknall to Ashby. It’s suitable for cyclists, walkers, wheelchairs and pushchairs so you can tailor your adventure to suit you. Dogs are free to roam the parkland under close control.
CLIVEDEN, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
High above the River Thames with breath-taking views, the magnificent gardens at Cliveden have been delighting visitors for centuries. The extraordinary estate, home to one of the National Trust’s most significant sculpture collections, offers 80 acres of year-round interest and colour, from the geometric bedding scheme of the parterre, to an Oriental-inspired Water Garden and Lord Astor’s sculpture collection and the impressive Cliveden Maze. There are spaces for everyone to enjoy, for quiet reflection or time with loved ones at any time of year. Stroll through Cliveden’s woodlands this winter and follow paths dusted with frost and falling leaves. Explore tree-lined rides and viewpoints framed by the season’s rich colours. Keep an eye out for the estate’s quirky treasures – from a flint grotto to a giant slice of a Californian redwood – left behind by the families who have called Cliveden home.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
