The three best Boxing Day walks in Scotland for refreshing outings this winter

The top 10 winter walks in the UK for people to embark on have been named - and three of them are located in Scotland.

While some people prefer to wrap up cosy inside during the winter on Boxing Day, many love to head outdoors for a bracing walk after a day of festivities. Luckily, Holiday home operator Verdant Leisure has compiled a list of the "driest and best" walks across the UK using rainfall averages, visitor ratings from sites such as TripAdvisor and social media popularity data.

The research found that Seven Sisters in Eastbourne, East Sussex, is the best wintery walk in the UK. With a five-star TripAdvisor rating and over 14.6 million engagements across social media, the Seven Sisters — which stretches across Eastbourne to Seaford — offers ocean clifftop views and refreshing coastal walks.

The highest-placing Scottish walk on the list, with a 4.5-star rating on TripAdvisor, is John Muir Way in Dunbar. Stretching to the town of Helensburgh just northwest of Glasgow, the mesmerising route offers a journey through Scotland's landscapes and heritage.

Following just behind in fourth place, also with a 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, is Belhaven Beach. Also located in East Lothian, it consists of a wide stretch of sandy beach spanning around a mile in length, making it a perfect spot for a frosty beach saunter.

The third and final Scottish walk that appears on Verdant Leisure's list is the Burns' Trail in Ayrshire, which has a rating of five stars on TripAdvisor. The walk takes you through Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns, and the surrounding woodland and parks, as well as the beautiful River Doon that may well be frozen over.

The Burns' Trail in Alloway takes you through the birthplace of the famous Scots poet (DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The top 10 winter walks in the UK:

1. Seven Sisters, Eastbourne, East Sussex
2. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
3. John Muir Way, Dunbar, East Lothian
4. Belhaven Beach, Dunbar, East Lothian
5. Sycamore Gap, Crag Lough, Northumberland
6. Kielder Water and Forest Park, Hexham, Northumberland
7. Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire
8. Dunstanburgh Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland
9. Barnard Castle, County Durham
10. Burns Trail, Alloway, Ayrshire

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