Walk Into Style with Cotton Traders | sharing a few of my favourite walks and how I am styling my winter walks!

Have you heard the saying "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"?  It evolved from a quote shared by Alfred Wainwright in his 1973 book Coast to Coast.  And whilst I can completely agree with the sentiment, I am still honest about being a fair weather walker!  I am not a fan of long, grey January, at least February is shorter, but I can't wait for spring to start appearing.  

I do agree that getting outside is one of the best things we can all do for our mental health, me included.  I always feel better from breathing in the fresh air and enjoying space and nature around me.

And if we are going to get outside more, let's make it colourful, stylish and practical!  And Cotton Traders have got a fabulous collection which gives us everything we need for a stylish seasonal walk, and it is affordable!  Cotton Traders want to remind us that going for walks really can raise our spirits and adding a pop of colour to our winter wardrobe creates a feeling of happiness.

This is a gifted blog post.

Styling my winter walks with Cotton Traders

Cotton Traders All-Weather Jacket in Dark Rose is waterproof, has a cosy lining, a generous hood, is machine washable and I love the longer length to protect from wet weather keep your legs warm!

My favourite walks

Where do you like to go for a walk?  I am always on the lookout for a new location, somewhere I can go with my husband or my friends, meet up with family and even better if I can combine it with a cup of tea and a delicious piece of cake.

First up, I have the woods right on my doorstep, literally!  Our cottage in the woods, is in an AONB, in old beech woods and and is an area famous for it's chairmaking.

My photographs for this post were taken by my son on a walk in our woods (obviously not actually 'ours' but you know what I mean). 

​I do get a bit frustrated with the mud during the winter months so a good pair of walking boots for women are essential!  I do favour my Dubarry of Ireland leather boots but they are a big investment buy.  These Unisex HydraGuard Walking Boots from Cotton Traders are lightweight, waterproof, breathable and have plenty of cushioning, I am wearing them with the Arch Support Cushioned Sole Boot Socks also from Cotton Traders.

All items I am wearing from Cotton Traders are linked on my Instagram highlight 'Walk Into Style'.  On my Instagram I am using affiliate links which means if you buy something I receive a very small commission, it does not cost you any more but helps support my blog.

The soft touch scarf from Cotton Traders adds another layer of warmth and complements the colour pop from the all-weather jacket perfectly!

I'd rather have crisp cold days than wet, grey ones!

Cliveden Woodland Walking Trail

One of our favourite walks as it is so close by and there is a large car park (free if you are a National Trust member), is the woodland walk at Cliveden,  It is a fairly easy walk if you keep to the upper end and aren't tempted to walk all the way to Cliveden itself.  But there is a play trail for the children, picnic areas and you are rewarded with the most spectacular views of the River Thames.  Wear good walking boots as it can be a bit uneven and muddy in places.  No café on this walk unless you do go up to the house, which is another fantastic walk, park in the main car park and enjoy the walk up to the house, you are rewarded with a stunning view of the house as you walk up the drive, explore the gardens then get tea and cake in the National Trust Café.

Waddesdon Manor

There is so much to do at Waddesdon, but if you park in the main car park, you can then take a leisurely walk up to Waddesdon Manor, dogs are welcome but need to be kept on a lead due to the livestock grazing.  You can get a cup of tea in the Stables Café or something more substantial to eat, they offer Sunday Roasts and Fish and Chips for example,  Make sure you explore the more formal gardens, and there is a beautifully restored Aviary, filled with exotic and colourful birds.  The Rothschild family are big conservationists and carry out breeding projects for endangered species.  We love to meet friends at Waddesdon for a walk then get a pub lunch afterwards!

If you are looking for Walking Boots for Women check the HydraGuard range from Cotton Traders

Unisex HydraGuard Walking Boots from Cotton Traders are lightweight, waterproof, breathable and have plenty of cushioning, I am wearing them with the Arch Support Cushioned Sole Boot Socks.

Marlow Lock

This is a very easy walk but such an beautiful view of the River Thames at Marlow. Park in Marlow town and meander along the footpath that runs past All Saints Church into St Peter Street and onwards along the second footpath to Mill Road, don't miss the very rare Victorian Post Box on the wall just as you enter the footpath that leads to Marlow Lock.  Relax a while at the lock, watch the boats come in and out, soak up some sunshine (hopefully) then head back to the Two Brewers for lunch or a drink!

I often take blog photos here - as you can see on my fashion post with Elizabeth Rose and my recent post with Pension Buddy about retirement planning.

Little Marlow

Little Marlow is a pretty hamlet between Marlow and Bourne End, it has walking access to the River Thames and two great pubs - our favourite being The Queens Head.  Enjoy the quaint cottages in the village, take a photo of the old phone box, wander along the footpath, across the railway line and down to the river then come back from a drink in the pub - it has a pretty garden for better weather days!

If you are not local to Marlow then I really recommend visiting for a night or a weekend stay!  It is a beautiful small town on the River Thames with some fabulous shops and beautiful walks - plus it is a fantastic foodie area with The Hand & Flowers and The Coach from Tom Kerridge, and Bray is only a short drive!

Waterproof Trousers from Cotton Traders

These waterproof fleece lined trousers from Cotton Traders are amazingly soft thanks to the lining, they are cosy and warm and come in unisex sizes.  I am wearing a Small in the 27" leg, they are available in navy, deep khaki and black.

Not local to me but I also absolutely love to visit the seaside!  There is nothing better than a walk by the sea.  I love West Wittering (our closest beach), Brighton and Hove, the Kent coast and Dartmouth in Devon.  But then I also enjoyed my brief stopover at Portishead on the way to Monmouthshire, although on the Bristol Estuary it still evoked a feeling of relaxation and calmness.

If you'd like to 'shop my look' then please visit my Instagram highlight where I have linked everything I am wearing for this post - look for the Walk Into Style highlight.  Your support of my blog is very much appreciated.

Sharing my favourite local walks in and around Marlow in Buckinghamshire

It's not easy getting these two to pose for photographs but they are a popular addition to my blog and they absolutely love going out for walks of course.  Katy (looking at the camera) is our older Westie, she is now 10 and then Bonnie is our baby - even though she is 7 but she is still so much smaller.  The mud they pick up on walks in our woods is a challenge to deal with and does put me off some days.

Love from
Michelle xx


Disclaimer: all items from Cotton Traders were gifted to me for the purpose of this blog post and to share on my Instagram - they are linked on my Instagram highlights (Walk Into Style) and are affiliate links - but if you purchase using one of my links I earn a small commision and this helps to support my blog work, thank you.

Pin it for later!