Hampshire Walks

December sees The Ramblers annual Festival of Winter Walks get underway. The event is the UK's biggest walking festival and includes over 30 walks in Hampshire over the Christmas break.

Led by experienced walk leaders, the walks are a great opportunity to get off your cosy sofa and get some fresh air and exercise.

The New Forest

The walks range in terrain, pace and distance from three to ten miles - walks are also graded to suit both beginners and the more experienced countryside trekker.

In the New Forest, there are five post-Christmas walks to choose from starting on 27 December with a leisurely five miler near Brockenhurst.

If you fancy really stretching your legs a bit more and getting some sea air and coastal views, there's a 7 miler from Milford on Sea on 28 December.

Elsewhere, the Andover Ramblers will be leading three moderate walks, a 8 1/2 miler in the Vernham Dean area near Andover on Christmas Day. 

There's also a traditional Boxing day walk of 7 1/2 miles around Winchester, or you can kick-start your New Year's exercise routine with a 6 1/2 miler up onto Martinsell Hill and back on New Year's Day.

St Catherine's Hill

Hampshire also has a Ramblers walking Group for people aged in their 20s and 30s. The group run leisurely walks for those who enjoy the country, chat, fine food and the odd pub stop.

The group are running several walks over the Christmas spell - there's an easy 7 mile pre-Christmas walk on Sunday 23 December from Stockbridge to Houghton.

Or if you want to start your New Year's resolution to walk more early, there's a hilly 11 miler on Sunday 30 December in Winchester walking along the South Downs Way and St. Catherine's Hill.

Most Ramblers' walks are off-road in rural areas so walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential.  Some walks include a stop at a teashop or pub, but you'll also need to take some refreshments.

You don't have to be a member to take part in the walks. You can check full information on all the walks in Hampshire from the Ramblers website.