Wrap up warm and explore this gorgeous estate
Enjoy a woodland walk at Speke Hall (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
If you’ve got time off over the festive period or are looking for things to do with the kids while they’re off school, a winter walk can be the ideal way to spend the day. According to the latest forecasts from the Met Office this week the weather should remain dry and very cold – ideal conditions for a refreshing stroll in the great outdoors.
Maximum temperatures won’t be much warmer than 7C at the start of the week, although sunny intervals are forecast for Manchester. Towards the end of the week temperatures will plummet with highs of just 4C forecast for Friday, with some wintry showers on the cards too.
So if you are going for a walk in the coming days be sure to wrap up warm – hats, gloves and scarves are a must. Definitely bring some Christmas chocolate in your pocket for a snack along the way, too.
There are lots of walks to do in and around Greater Manchester, but for one that’s relatively easy with beautiful surroundings, head over to Merseyside and visit Speke Hall in Liverpool. Operated by the National Trust, Speke Hall is a beautiful timber-framed Tudor manor packed full of historic features and Victorian influences.
The hall may not be open but it provides a gorgeous backdrop to a winter walk (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
The hall itself is closed for the time being, but visitors can still explore the gardens and the wider estate, with the manor house providing a stunning backdrop. Speke Hall boasts a garden with features a traditional orchard, neat lawns and a kitchen garden, while the lager estate has areas of semi-ancient woodland and acres of fields.
It’s a beautiful place to explore on a crisp winter’s day. The North Lawn offers gorgeous views of the front of the hall and you can follow the paths around the old moat, looking out for the evergreen topiary along the way.
As we head into January, you’ll spot thousands of snowdrops in the trees by the South Lawn, which will be followed by crocuses as we head into spring. Venture into the Secret Garden in the north-west corner of Speke Hall’s grounds. It’s accessed via a tunnel at one end and a winding path at the other, with a small stream flowing through it.
Explore the woodland which makes up the wider estate(Image: Liverpool Echo)
For a woodland walk venture to the Clough at the corner of the South Lawn or for elevated views of the hall follow the Bund path, which also provides a view point for Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The wider estate at Speke Hall also includes Stockton’s Wood, which features a semi-ancient woodland, and acres of open meadows.
If you want a longer walk, pick up the Coastal Reserve path which takes you to the Speke Garston Coastal Reserve. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest as well as being home to the old airport runway.
The gardens are Speke Hall are open from 10.30am to 4pm on December 29, 30 and 31. The on-site restaurant is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm. For further opening times check the National Trust website. Admission for the gardens only starts from £14 for adults and £7 for children.
The Walk, Speke, Liverpool L24 1XD
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