5 Wonderful Weekday Winter Walks

To discover all the benefits of talking a walk, and if you need a little motivation during the winter season see our blog.

For an easy two-kilometre walking trail and a great day out, head to Great Notley Country Park mid-way between Chelmsford and Braintree.

Starting at the café, follow the path through the children's play trail area and down towards the lakes, where you'll spot an abundance of water fowl and perhaps some overwintering birds.

Why not take a seat at one of the many benches around the lakes and enjoy the tranquility? Take your time, reflect and spend some time in nature.

Listen to the sounds of the birds. If you're lucky you might spot or hear woodpeckers if you venture into the woodland nearby.

Continue on your walk and you'll come to the wildflower meadows and then you'll be back at café, where you can relax with a hot drink and snack depending on the day and time you visit.

Check café opening days and times, plan your visit on our place page.

With idyllic countryside, wide variety of walking trails and magnificent views, Hadleigh Country Park is an ideal destination for a day out for those who enjoy a range of walks, well surfaced paths and sweeping views.

Throughout the park, you’ll discover walking routes ranging from a kilometre and a half long to a nine-kilometre loop of the park. You can stroll through pastures and meadows, or take a level walk from Benfleet to Leigh-on-Sea (or in reverse) along the sea wall.

Start at the Hub café near the car park, stroll to the top of the hill and take in the view where on a clear day you can see London. The paths close to the centre are accessible for people who use electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Looking to keep the grandchildren happy? Then Hadleigh is ideal with its small play park areas. Finish with a refreshing drink and snack from the Hub café (see the opening times here) .

Plan your visit to Hadleigh Country Park.

Please be aware that both the existing pump tracks are closed from 12 October to early December 2026 for improvement works.

For woodland walks, bird watching and historic trails take a trip to Belhus Woods Country Park. The park has over 300 acres to explore and is a haven for walkers and bird watchers alike.

Starting at the café (see the opening times here), meander through ancient woodlands (which date back to the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age) along flat walking routes, and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

You can take a stroll through the woodlands and coppiced plantations where you’ll find a wide range of flora and fauna, whatever season you visit in. Major tree species include English oak, field maple, hazel and hornbeam.

During the winter, the park is home to bird life including mute swans and tufted ducks on the lakes. Woodpeckers and kestrels frequent the wooded glades. You might also see small flocks of finches, siskins and redpolls.

After your walk around the lakes, through the ancient woodlands and grassland meadow, why not finish at the café and enjoy a hot beverage and a treat?

Discover all of the walking routes at Belhus Woods.

With spectacular open spaces, and walking routes through acres of historic parkland, Weald Country Park is a popular place for those who enjoy a stroll through the ages.

Originally a medieval deer park during the 12th century (you can purchase food to feed and get close to the resident herds in the deer enclosure) Weald has grassland paths, woodland walks, both short and long, and a Stick Man trail for those with younger family members.

For a simple circular route why not start at the café (see the opening times here) and take a stroll past the fallow deer enclosure and down towards the lakes. You'll enjoy some wonderful views across the park and see the resident waterfowl gliding on the lake.

Thanks to the wide open spaces there is plenty of space for everyone and the vast landscape makes the ideal place for reflection.

As a Grade II listed park and garden dating back to the 12th century, why not take a trip back through time and explore the Heritage Discovery Walking Trail and bring the park’s history to life.

Plan your visit to Weald Country Park.

Please be aware that woodland management and restoration works are taking place at Weald during winter 2026. Read more about what we are doing and why.

Nestled on the east coast of Mersea Island where the Blackwater Estuary meets the Colne Estuary is Cudmore Grove Country Park. Perfect for those who enjoy waterside walks with bird spotting opportunities.

This Site of Special Scientific Interest is home to an abundance of flora and fauna and offers a range of accessible walks and routes throughout the park.

As a flat site, you can take a refreshing stroll along the beach, a walk around sea wall or take one of the walking paths that circle and cross the park (most of the walking paths are accessible for wheelchair users).

For birdwatchers, Cudmore Grove during the winter is a haven for migrating birdlife with sea ducks and grebes and up to 15 different types of waders can be seen on the mudflats on the Colne Estuary.

From the car park, cross the grassland meadow and go past the World War Two pill boxes and you'll come to the slipway. You can turn right and take a stroll along the beach or turn left and take a walk along the sea wall.

From the sea wall you'll see the grazing marsh where you might spot wigeon, teal and large flocks of brent geese. Landscape Restoration works, including new fencing, have taken place at Cudmore to protect nesting and breeding birds on the marsh and other wildlife on the borrow dyke, such as water voles.

There’s also a bird hide so twitchers can enjoy birdwatching away from the elements. The hide overlooks a large pond and can be found to the north east of the car park.

Plan your visit to Cudmore Grove Country Park.

You might also like Marsh Farm Country Park for waterside walks and wildlife.