The post Christmas Day walk is a tradition in itself; it’s an excuse to get out of the house, let the kids run off some steam, and for grown-ups, the fresh air can help cure a headache or two. 

There are of course plenty of great walks around the UK, but this festive season there’s one that’s well worth adding to your radar, for both the festive season or even just a scenic walk later this winter. 

Hamsterley Forest offers everything you could want; beautiful woodlands, a mix of trails ranging from easy to challenging, and heaps of space so kids and dogs can enjoy heaps of space to run about and explore. 

At 2,000 hectares it’s County Durham’s largest forest, and is a haven thanks to the abundance of trails for cycling, mountain biking and walking. Add in the wildlife ranging from roe deer and adders to salmon on the beck, and it’s not difficult to see why this is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. 

However there’s one particular trail that needs to be on families’ radar; the Riverside Trail. This short walk includes heaps of sculptures of characters from Julia Donaldson’s classic stories the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s Child. Essentially, an ideal place to let the kids run off all of that post-Christmas excitement energy (and get everyone out for some well-deserved fresh air). 

For 2025, there’s also a fun Stick Man and Santa trail for families to take on, to help Santa deliver his final present, with plenty of hidden letters throughout the walk for children to find, and discover who the special gift is for. 

With plenty of fun for the whole family including festive extras, it’s no surprise that the team at Forestry England have previously named it as one of their top picks of the ’12 walks of Christmas’, specifically giving a shout out to the Riverside Trail, a 1.5mile-long walk that’s a hit with families.

They explained: “This short walking trail is pushchair and wheelchair friendly and winds alongside the banks of Bedburn beck. As well as having fun exploring the woodland, children can discover the Gruffalo sculptures, adding excitement about what they’ll discover around the next corner.” 

If you want to visit, there’s a café where you can either sit in or take food/drinks with you while you go on a walk. The forest is dog-friendly, and there are also play areas for kids to enjoy. 

In terms of getting there, there is a car park on site, with prices ranging from £3-£8.50 depending on how long you plan to stay. (Stays under 20 minutes are free, if you can get someone to give you a lift and simply drop you off). It’s worth noting that there aren’t any public transport links in to Hamsterley Forest. 

You can find out more on forestryengland.uk/hamsterley-forest. 

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