Winter woodland walks to enjoy

Our woodlands are at their most atmospherically sculptural in the winter, coated in a glimmering frost as they raise their bare branches to the sky. A woodland wander in winter might reveal flocks of finches, the far-off cry of an owl or an elusive roe deer darting away into the undergrowth – wherever you are in Yorkshire, there will be plenty to enjoy on a crisp winter walk.

Moorlands, York

Rhododendron purple in spring and fiery orange in autumn, Moorlands in winter is the perfect atmospheric woodland wander. Bring little explorers with you for a chance to explore the tree house and wooden mushrooms, and enjoy Moorlands in all of its misty glory. Spot the last of the season’s fungi, listen out for greater spotted woodpeckers drumming – and those particularly lucky might even spot a woodcock.

Image of a misty woodland with a carved tree stump in the foreground reading 'Moorlands Nature Reserve'

Potteric Carr, Doncaster

Filled with thousands of overwintering birds and glimmering in the cold winter sunlight, Potteric Carr is a mosaic of wetland and woodland. The reserve is home to over 230 different bird species, including marsh harriers, owls and willow tits – and over the winter months you may be lucky enough to spot a starling murmuration wheeling overhead. Don’t forget to stop by the café for a hot drink after your walk, and browse our shop for last-minute Christmas gifts.

Adel Dam, Leeds

An inviting blend of woodland and wetland, Adel Dam offers tranquillity and close encounters with wildlife on the north-west fringe of Leeds. Kingfishers are Adel Dam’s star species but there are many other birds to look for from two hides, a viewing screen, and the paths around the reserve. Keep an eye out for woodland birds including great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays, finches and tits, as well as gooseanders and little grebe on the water.

Hollinhurst Wood, Castleford

If you fancy a walk to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a woodland, Hollinhurst Wood is the place to go. Although not a particularly large reserve, the woodland certainly packs a punch – as well as being one of our best reserves for fungi, particularly quiet visitors might spot a treecreeper or even a tiny wood mouse scurrying through the undergrowth.

North Cliffe Wood, Market Weighton

One of our loveliest woodlands for a wander at any time of year, North Cliffe Wood is brilliant for a varied winter walk. Frost coats the boughs of the broadleaved woodland and the grassy ride, and shimmers its way across the lowland heath; visitors listening carefully will hear both green and greater-spotted woodpeckers drumming as spring approaches, and you may even spot a red or fallow deer disappearing between the trees.