Enjoy a Boxing Day walk at The Vyne (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Enjoy a Boxing Day walk at The Vyne

12:00am Wednesday 26th December 2012 in Leisure

THE days following the anticipation, excitement and festivities of Christmas can feel a little flat, but help is at hand from the National Trust to get outdoors for an exhilarating walk.

The Vyne in Sherborne St John is open from today, December 26, offering the perfect opportunity for winter walks in picture-postcard landscapes.

Although it’s chilly out there, new life is stirring in the gardens in winter, so there’s plenty to see and enjoy. At keep an eye out for some floral gems, such as delicate yellow winter aconites and pink vibernum, reminding us of the delights of spring to come.

Look up into the trees to witness a traditional sight – great clusters of mistletoe decked with pearl-like berries. Surprisingly, winter is also a great time to indulge the olfactory senses, and visitors to The Vyne can enjoy delicious fragrance from flowering daphne and mahonia.

Circular walking routes at The Vyne take in woods, meadows, and the impressive lake; don’t forget to nip into the cosy bird hide to check out some of the lake’s winter visitors!

For a winter challenge, set out on an adventure with The Vyne’s free geocaching course, and discover hidden treasure using a handheld GSP device. The Vyne’s downloadable nature trail encourages children to look for and identify plants and outdoor ‘residents’, including swans, hens and fish.

For those wanting to stretch their legs further afield, the beautiful wilderness of the New Forest Northern Commons offer adventure seekers an inspirational landscape, with gently worn paths through woodland, heathland, mire and grassland.

There’s nothing like a winter walk to build up a bit of an appetite, so after a stroll, retreat to the cosy interior of a National Trust tea room for a delicious warming treat. The Vyne’s roaring log fire will warm chilled hands and feet.

So, wrap up warm and experience some outdoor delights, from avenues of frost-covered topiary, and borders packed with sensational scent and colour, to ice-rimmed lakes and breath-taking vistas.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/southeast.