Ten great guided walks in the UK | Travel

Guided hikes in Anglesey

Head to Anglesey this winter and learn how shipwrecks, princes and tragic lovers shaped this idyllic island. Formerly a Bronze Age copper mine, then (thanks to its fertile soil), the breadbasket of Wales, Anglesey today has a nibbled coastline of tiny coves and fishing harbours, fronting a bosky interior where red squirrels thrive. You can fashion your day to suit your interests, or combine that guided hike with a headrush of thrilling experiences – all offered by Knowdownia, North Wales’s new, itinerary-free tour company. Try out the world’s fastest zipline, surf in remote bays, or admire Snowdonia’s mountain range while thundering over twisty dirt tracks on a gravity-driven quarry kart.
Guided walks available all year. A one-day experience costs from £325 for four people and includes pickup and drop-off anywhere in North Wales; knowdonia.com

Puffin-spotting in Northern Ireland

For bird lovers, the half-day guided Gobbins Walk is an absolute gem. After falling into disrepair for decades, Northern Ireland’s classic trail has finally reopened – and walking in winter adds drama to its wild beauty. Trailing a path that cuts through narrow tunnels, bridges and staircases cut into the theCauseway’s coastal cliffs, you’ll witness the only mainland colony of puffins in Northern Ireland, plus kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots. Add to this, the chance to spot dolphins, alongside atmospheric tails of smugglers and privateers, and you’ve pretty much a pitch-perfect family outing.
The walk costs £20pp adults, £14pp children. Book through Ballygally Castle, which offers overnight stays from £60 B&B; hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle

Foraging in the Malvern Hills

Join this guided tour of dense woods, hedgerows and undulating hills in the frost-tinged Severn Valley with food writer Clare Knivett, and you’ll learn the sort of tips that were second nature to our ancestors. These walks focus mostly on plant identification and Clare’s knowledge of wild fruits, flowers and plants that can harm or heal, is second to none. In January and February, you can expect to forage for winter herbs such as cleavers (good for stimulating the lymphatic system to help ward off seasonal chills), alongside chickweed, nutrient-dense nettles, ground ivy and wild garlic. Afterwards, learn useful recipes as well as tips on living more seasonally.
This two-and-a-half-hour walk costs £35pp (minimum of four booking); foodandforaging.com

Stargaze on Exmoor

Draw your kids’ eyes away from their screens and lift them to the star-filled skies of Exmoor. Thanks to minimal light pollution, Exmoor national park has some of the best dark skies in the UK, and on a cloud-free night you can expect to see thousands of dazzlers, even the Milky Way, just by using your eyes. The Pinkery Centre for outdoor learning here has a guided stargazing event in February that includes a fun bushcraft adventure. The centre has 15 en suite bunk-bed rooms sleeping four to six people.
The Pinkery Night Sky and Bushcraft Adventure takes place on 21 February. More details from exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/stargazing

Mother and daughter bonding in Scotland

Cut through those tricky adolescent tensions on this guided walk for mothers and teens around Lothian’s gorgeous Yellowcraigs beach, known for its sandy stretches surrounded by forest and grassland, and with views out to Fidra Island (the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island), this is the perfect setting to help clear away anycommunication cobwebs. Run by WanderWomen, the half-day bonding experience takes the focus off hot topics through mindfulness sessions, reflection, meditation, walking, fire-making, sea swimming and forest bathing. And with other mothers and daughters alongside, there’s also the chance to forge new friendships.
Mama and Teen Daughter guided walk is on 23 January and costs £70pp (£20 with Visit Scotland discount). More information from wander-women.co.uk

Discover the City’s secret gardens

London’s Square Mile is home to 376 open and green spaces – and with offices and tower blocks currently swapped for WFH, now is the perfect time to uncover the quiet beauty of the City’s hidden treasures. The new City Secret Gardens walk, run by Blue Badge guide Katie Wignall, explores some of the best and most unusual gardens in the area. Each one, from hidden oases to the more famous spots like St Dunstan-in-the-East and Postman’s Park, has a fascinating history.
The walk on 12 February costs £20pp. More information at lookup.london

History walk in Manchester