After a gluttonous month spent gorging over the festive season, we’ve put together our favourite winter walks to help you shed the pounds in 2018

After waddling back into work at the beginning of January (we did anyway), many of us are feeling inspired to spend some time working off our winter insulation. What better way to start your 2018 trim-down by taking a stroll around Bristol’s gorgeous Georgian streets, and green open spaces.

The Downs

The Downs is of course the first word in winter walks. Head north from The Bristol up Park Street (a nice steep incline to really get the legs pumping) and onwards through The Triangle up Whiteladies road to Stoke Bishop and you’ll be rewarded by the vast expanse of grass that is The Downs. This open parkland is afforded spectacular views over the rocky cliffs of the Avon Gorge and Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, the perfect reward after all the legwork that took you up here.

The Harbour

If you don’t quite fancy the hills involved in trekking up to The Downs, why not take a stroll along the waterfront? Head west from The Bristol along the harbour to take in all the sights and sounds Bristol’s busy waterways have to offer. There’s plenty to keep you entertained as the route takes you past M-Shed (one of Bristol’s best museums) and on to Brunel’s SS Great Britain and it’s associated museum. For a bit of novelty value, you can then cross over to the other side of the river for just 50p using the tiny old fashion ferry – cute!

Brandon Hill

Once again starting off with a steady plod up Park Street, this time you’ll take a left before you reach the top at Great George Street to arrive at Brandon Hill. Although this is one of Bristol’s most popular summer picnic spots it’s absolutely stunning in the winter. With panoramic views of the city it’s the perfect spot to watch the winter sun go down and there’s even a play area for the little ones and a nature park. Of course, no visit to Brandon Park would be complete without scaling Bristol’s skyline.

Leigh Woods

Bristol’s very own ‘inner-city woods’ are just a short hop over the suspension bridge from the quaint streets of Clifton Village - the other side of Brandon Hill from The Bristol. A stroll through woods is just what the doctor ordered to blow out any remaining Christmas cobwebs. As an added bonus the woodlands also offer the most incredible views of the Avon Gorge and for those who prefer open fields to wooded paths, the Ashton Court Estate is just round the corner.