Sometimes, the build up to Christmas can seem chaotic and relentless. Then in a flash it is all over, leaving you with some vaguely warm memories and a mountain of clearing up!

As a result, the post-Christmas period can be a bit of an anti-climax unless of course you’re heavily into going to the sales. We were insulated from this, thanks to our awesome team of walk leaders, who managed to offer a staggering 9 walks over the twelve days of Christmas (25th December to 5th January).

Fiona compiled this document listing all of the walking options available over the Festive period.

There was no chance whatsoever of descending into the conventional post-festive seasonal gloom. Despite the damp weather, 137 walkers took advantage of our varied walks programme ranging from 4 to 13 miles in length. It even included a pre-Christmas dinner walk on Christmas Day.

There were lots of opportunities in the following days to walk off the excesses of the festive season. For example, on New Year’s Day, there was a 10-mile hike from Holmwood Common to Leith Hill Tower and on the 3rd January, there was the very popular (if inappropriately named) ‘How to Walk Off Cake’ - a 6-mile walk around Walton on the Hill that included even more cake!

Having survived the winter solstice and all the celebrations we can hopefully look forward to some lighter evenings and warmer days.

A year with plenty of scope for exciting walks with MVR lies ahead.