A winter walk on the wild side!

WRAP UP WARM, HEAD INTO THE OUTDOORS AND FIND SUSTENANCE AT A NEARBY PUB

- By DEBORAH HALL

WALK in the fresh air is a great way to stay active during the festive period.

It is also a way of working off some of the extra pounds ready for the excesses of Christmas. Saying that, you might be more tempted out on a cold, crisp day by the promise of some refreshment en route where you can have a warm and fuel up for the next leg of your ramble - or the thought of a pub at the end of your walk might be just what you need to spur you on.

A good walk in the East Yorkshire countryside will help clear your head and give you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery in a whole new light, perhaps with the added sparkle of a frost or light covering of snow. Just make sure you wrap up warm and ensure you have sturdy footwear.

Here, we take a look at some of the walks around East Yorkshire that would be good to experience at this time of year, with an all-important hostelry nearby.

Tophill Low

Spend the day wandering through the woods, wetlands and grasslands marvelling at all kinds of wildlife. Its two reservoirs, 'D' and 'O' dominate the reserve and have SSSI status for their massive wildfowl numbers.

Around the perimeter, a network of marshes, ponds, woodlands and grasslands result in an annual 160+ bird species, with over 60 readily visible even in midwinter. A visitor centre provides panoramic views over the reserve, where you might spot anything from otters to dragonflies, kingfishers to barn owls, depending on the season.

The very nature of the reserve means it is off the beaten track but there is a choice of pubs in the locality, including the Dacre Arms and the Black Swan at Brandesburton, the New Inn and Hare and Hounds, at Leven, and the White Horse at Hutton Cranswick.

Pocklington Canal