Our Favourite Night Walks

Many of us are used to walking during daylight hours, but heading out for a stroll once night has fallen can be just as rewarding. With a feeling of peacefulness descending as darkness falls, it’s a great time to reconnect with all your senses and experience our natural world in a new way. But heading out into the night can be daunting, especially the first few times, so to help guide you every step of the way, we’ve pulled together a few of our favourite places for a nighttime stroll. Whether you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the UK’s nocturnal inhabitants, spot stars, or just get a fresh perspective on a familiar landscape, we've got a walk for everyone.

An icon of engineering, Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge is a Grade I listed structure that spans the Avon Gorge. It's the perfect place to escape for a walk after work and take in the familiar sights and sounds of the city in a different light. 

Start out at Clifton observatory on Clifton Down, where you can check out amazing views of Bristol lit up against the night sky, before picking up the Bristol Triangular City Walk onto the bridge. If you’re in time for sunset, the bridge is a great place to stop and catch the sun slowly sinking as night falls. Once across the bridge, you’ll need to pick up the Avon Trail on the other side and follow the river before reaching Leigh Woods and soaking up the tranquil setting. It’s a great place to catch a glimpse of elusive nocturnal animals, with 17 bat species calling these woods home.

Find out more

If you’re looking to get back to nature, this is the walk for you. A popular circular route, you can park up in the car park near the train station and make your way around the whole route, or if you’re arriving by train, you can finish your walk in Lewes and catch your train from there. 

Following well-marked tracks across easy-to-navigate terrain, this walk allows you to appreciate and connect with the sights and sounds of the countryside at night.

The pretty village of Glynde in East Sussex is an old estate village and it still feels like you're stepping back in time when you visit. Once you’ve had your fill of the bucolic atmosphere, you can head west on the public footpath toward Mount Caburn, a Bronze Age hill fort within a designated nature reserve of chalk download. At 480 feet, you’ll have a steady climb upwards before descending the hill and continuing west toward Lewes with views of the River Ouse. 

For those planning on completing the circular route, you’ll need to pick the path eastwards path the golf course and Saxon Down before turning south to head back to the village via Glynde Place, an Elizabethan Grade I listed manor house that dates back to 1569. 

Explore the route

If you want to head out a little earlier and catch the sun as it sets, this is the trail for you. With impressive views over the Marlborough Downs towards Swindon, it’s a great place to watch the sun dip between the downs. 

Setting off on The Ridgeway, commonly known as Britain’s oldest road, this five-mile route is well-marked and easy to navigate in lowlight conditions. The site of an ancient Iron Age hillfort said to be where Cynric of Wessex defeated the Britons in 556AD, parts of the chalk grasslands have remained untouched for centuries, which means it is home to a wealth of habitats. Although many of the rare flora and fauna may go overlooked on a night visit, you may be blessed by some of the area's nocturnal inhabitants supported by this unique habitat.

Although there is a car park at Barbury Castle with toilet facilities, it shuts half an hour after sundown. Fortunately, the Thamesdown Transport service No 70 bus stops at Draycot Foliat, which is just a short walk away.

Discover the route

For those seeking celestial inspiration on their nighttime strolls, Mam Tor is the place to head. Another Iron Age hill fort, Mam Tor, is found just outside the village of Castleton in the Peak District. Blessed with little light pollution, on a clear night, you should be able to spot a range of constellations. And, if stars aren’t your thing, catching a glimpse of the impressive limestone crags of Winnats Pass in the distance more than makes up for the hike. 

The ground is fairly challenging with steps and uneven ground in places, as well as steep drops either side of the hill, so a reliable torch and sturdy boots are a must. However, the path is well-walked and easy to follow.

Parking is available at the National Trust Mam Nick car park, or for those arriving by bus, the number 200 and 272 bus services drop off nearby. If you're planning to use public transport, you'll have to walk a short distance on the road, so you may want to consider wearing hi-visibility clothing to ensure you’re seen by oncoming traffic. 

Take on this path

Managed by The National Trust, Penbryn beach is a rural and unspoilt beach backed by a dune system and cliffs, and home to a host of rare species. A lovely location for a nighttime beach stroll, you're likely to have the beach to yourself, save for the odd seal. 

You can follow the footpath through the woods and a fern-clad valley, but you’ll face a fairly steep half-mile climb down to the beach with several steps and moderately rough terrain. There's a tarmac track down to the beach if you're looking for a more straightforward route. Either way, just make sure you check the tide times before you venture here.

As a designated Dark Skies Discovery site, don’t forget to pack up a hot drink and a picnic blanket to get some stargazing in whilst you’re here. Plus, if you’re vigilant, you may even catch sight of bottlenose dolphins known to visit the area.

Find out more

If you’re looking to get your steps in with a quick walk at the end of the day, you can’t beat this half-mile stroll with views out over Derwentwater. While the Lake District may be known for its impressive fells and more challenging routes, there are plenty of lowland paths ideal for night walking. 

Starting in the centre of Keswick, this short walk takes you out on Lake Road through the beautiful gardens of Hope Park towards Boat Landings, where you may be lucky enough to hear or even spot a Tawney Owl in the woods. The trail ends at Friar’s Crag at a viewing point looking down towards Derwentwater and into the Borrowdale Valley, so it's a good idea to layer up so you can sit for a while and take in the view. On clear nights you may see a host of stars or even catch the moon reflecting in the ripples of the lake.

Although mostly level, you may come across areas of rougher terrain, so we recommend taking a torch with you.

Check out this route

If you’re planning to venture out at night with the whole family in tow, you want a safe, easy-to-navigate and accessible walk, and Tyne Green Country Park is just that. A fifteen-minute walk from the centre of Hexham, it’s easy to reach by foot if you live in town or are arriving by public transport. 

Tyne Green Country Park was presented to the people of the area by Lord Allendale in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and has remained a popular recreation ground ever since. Although the park has much to recommend it during the day, visit at night, and you’ll have the place virtually to yourselves. 

The river walk is our top pick for a nighttime jaunt, as it's straightforward to follow, and the ground is solid and level so is ideal for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The path follows the river through the park for four miles, so it’s up to you to decide how far you want to stretch your legs. 

Watch out for the park’s nocturnal inhabitants, and in autumn, bask in the colourful canopies lining the park. 

Explore now

If getting away from it all is what you need, but you don’t have hours to drive out of the city, then this is the walk for you. A proper hill walk in the heart of the city, it showcases all that is great about Edinburgh.

At 251m high, Arthur’s Seat is the highest of a group of hills known as the Salisbury Crags, formed from the remains of an extinct volcano which last erupted over 350 million years ago. Making up part of Holyrood Park, the path is mostly easy to follow with good accessibility, but there are places where it does get a little wild, so walking shoes are a must.

As well as getting the heart pumping, this walk offers incredible views of the city lit up, especially the Forth Bridge and the route up the Royal Mile to the Castle. Plus, it’s easily accessible by foot or public transport, so is ideal if you’re looking to escape on a post-work stroll. 

Discover the route

Although many people travel abroad to catch the Northern Lights, there are quite a few places to see them in the UK. The historic town of Moville, on the eastern part of the Inishowen peninsula, is one of them. 

Start your walk at the shorefront and follow the path following the rocky coastline until it gives way to more expansive sandy coves. There are plenty of seats along the path so you can sit down and admire the view, or if you prefer and the tide is out, you can take your outdoor blanket and find your own spot on the beach. 

September and March are the best times to visit to catch the Northern Lights due to the earth’s axial tilt and how our atmosphere encounters solar wind. However, if you can’t visit during this time, fear not, as the views across Lough Foyle are pretty special when lit by the moon’s ethereal glow.

Find out more

If this article has inspired you to head out on a night walk, then why not take a read of our guide to nightwalking for some more inspiration and top tips for getting started? Or if you’re ready to give it a go, then make sure you have all the kit you need for your adventure. Alongside your usual walking kit, like your walking boots, waterproof jacket and pack, you might want to consider investing in a head torch or flashlight to help illuminate your path.

SHOP HEAD TORCHES

SHOP FLASHLIGHTS & TORCHES