The days following Christmas in the UK are often marked by a collective urge to get outdoors, shake off the aftereffects of festive indulgence, and reconnect with the countryside. This year, the National Trust is at the heart of this seasonal migration, inviting Britons to explore a tapestry of winter walks and rural traditions—while also finding itself at the center of heated debates over land use, animal welfare, and the future of rural life.
Across Warwickshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, the National Trust has rolled out the welcome mat for families, dog walkers, and anyone seeking fresh air. According to CoventryLive, three properties near Coventry—Charlecote Park, Packwood House, and Baddesley Clinton—are offering a range of walks that cater to all ages and abilities. Charlecote Park’s mown pathways wind through parkland and along the rivers Avon and Dene, providing picture-perfect winter scenes. Visitors can spot fallow deer in the early morning mist or admire frost glittering on the long grass, and dogs on leads are welcome on designated routes. For those with mobility needs, scooters and wheelchairs are available for loan at all three properties, ensuring accessibility for everyone.
Packwood House offers its own brand of wintry charm, with frost-dusted gardens, blustery canal walks, and rolling fields. The Welly Walk, a favorite among families and four-legged friends, promises puddles to jump in and paths to explore. Baddesley Clinton, meanwhile, boasts a five-mile circular walk that meanders through what was once the great Forest of Arden and along the Stratford-upon-Avon canal. Walkers can reward themselves with a steaming bowl of soup or a warming drink at Packwood’s café or Baddesley’s restaurant. The message from the National Trust is clear: winter is a special time to experience the countryside, even when the weather turns damp and chilly.
This sentiment is echoed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where the National Trust encourages people to embrace the delights of the season. As reported by Worcester News, Berrington Hall offers three marked walks through parkland with sweeping views across miles of countryside, all suitable for dogs on leads. Brockhampton estate, set in 1,700 acres, features four distinct routes through orchards and fields. The Clent Hills, with their far-reaching views and the mysterious 'Four Stones' monument, offer yet another option for walkers craving a dose of Midlands scenery. Croft Castle and Parkland, perched on the English-Welsh border, is a haven for those fascinated by ancient trees—even in winter, the leafless foliage is described as mesmerizing. Croome estate and Hanbury Hall round out the list, each offering historical features and dog-friendly footpaths. And of course, no winter walk is complete without a stop at a cosy tearoom for a hot drink or a seasonal treat.
But while the National Trust’s properties are drawing crowds eager for outdoor adventure, the organization is also facing scrutiny and controversy over its management of rural spaces. About a month before December 27, 2025, National Trust officials ordered farmer Nick Beynon, aged 62, to remove his horses from a hilltop grazing spot at Rhossili cliffs in Swansea, South Wales—a place where horses have grazed for over a century. According to The Independent, Beynon received a letter citing health and safety concerns after complaints about a stallion and the number of horses exceeding the agreed grazing limit. Beynon, whose family has farmed the land for generations, said, “It was quite a nasty letter. It’s just come out of the blue. They’re trying to say I have to provide information that I have grazing rights. The main problem is that the boundaries are not fenced and the animals are escaping.”
He explained that his horses had been escaping due to a foot gate that was “not suitable,” and that he had asked the National Trust to fix it. “They can’t be bothered to spend some money and fix a gate which would cost a couple of hundred pounds,” he said. Beynon faces the prospect of having to sell some of his beloved animals if forced to reduce the herd, but he remains determined to keep the horses on the land as a family tradition. Fellow farmer Rob Morgan called the demand to sell horses in winter “impossible” and “insensitive.”
The National Trust defended its position, stating that the presence of a stallion who had repeatedly escaped onto roads and into the village posed a risk to public safety and the welfare of the horses themselves. “He pushes his way through visitors onto the road, car park and into the village. This is why we are concerned about not only public safety but the horses’ welfare,” the Trust said in a statement. They insisted that there was already a secure boundary in place and that moving the horses was necessary for the safety of visitors, the welfare of the animals, and the ecological health of Rhossili.
As if these local disputes were not enough, rural communities are also bracing for broader changes. On Boxing Day, December 26, 2025, thousands gathered across England for traditional hunts—an annual spectacle that has become a flashpoint in the culture wars between town and country. The Government’s announcement of plans to ban trail hunting, which involves hounds following a scent laid for them, has sparked a fierce backlash. Will Bryer, joint master of the Duke of Beaufort Hunt, told the crowd in Gloucestershire, “It is somewhat ironic, is it not, that the Government choose to announce their intentions to destroy trail hunting just at a time of year when we reaffirm our beliefs. We’re under assault, we’re under siege and like all fights it’s going to get messy. But we must, we must stand united.”
Jane Bowen, chairman and master of the Grove Rufford Hunt, echoed these sentiments outside The Crown Inn in Bawtry, South Yorkshire: “It just shows that the strength of popularity is still there despite all the bad press that we get. We are misunderstood. They refuse to engage with us on any level… We have adapted from 20 years. We’ve adapted our way with trail hunting and we have moved on. And I wish the Government would do the same in respect of past histories. They’ve gone. That has happened.”
The Government, for its part, argues that the ban on trail hunting is necessary to close loopholes in the existing Hunting Act 2004, which outlawed the pursuit of foxes with hounds. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated, “This Government is committed to banning trail hunting, which is too often used as a cover for illegal fox hunting, and has strong public support across the country. This builds on previous animal welfare reforms delivered by this Government, including giving police greater powers to prevent dog attacks on livestock, protecting farmers and animals alike.”
The tension between rural communities and policymakers is palpable. A poll by ORB International, conducted between December 12 and 14, 2025, found that 65% of voters believe the Labour Government neglects rural communities, and 76% think the Government prioritizes urban issues. Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner lamented, “Its warped priorities have put taxing family farms, raising rates for rural businesses and banning trail hunting above policies that would benefit rural people. While the partial changes to the family farm tax are a step in the right direction, the Government must desperately learn the fundamental lesson of this policy debacle, which is that it needs to work with the rural community—not legislate against it.”
As the National Trust continues to offer much-needed respite and recreation to the public, it also finds itself at the crossroads of complex debates about land, tradition, and the future of the countryside. For many, the winter walks are a chance to enjoy Britain’s natural beauty and heritage. For others, they are a reminder of the ongoing struggle to balance conservation, community, and change.
