England
Keat’s Walk – an Ode to Autumn
Winchester, Hampshire
Follow in the footsteps of the Romantic poet John Keats, who, captivated by the local landscape, penned his famous ode To Autumn, the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, while staying in Winchester in 1819. Starting at the tourist information centre in the Victorian Guildhall, the two-mile self-guided circular walk traces his daily route past the cathedral across the water meadows to the medieval almshouse of the Hospital of St Cross. visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/keats-walk-ode-to-autumn-p1116801
Arley Arboretum
Worcestershire
A prime location to enjoy autumn’s spectacular show, Arley is one of the oldest arboretums in the country. Established two centuries ago and home to more than 300 species of trees, its vibrant red acer glade comes into its own at this time of year. There are 30 acres to explore, and a number of child-friendly rambles include a dinosaur trail and fairy trail. arleyarboretum.co.uk
Ashdown Forest
East Sussex
The place that inspired AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories, this 6,500-acre sweep of woodland and heath is threaded with a mapped network of 10 paths and woodland trails, most around two to three miles long, as well as a 14-mile circular route. After a yomp in the woods, swing by Ashdown Park Hotel, home to the tallest Wellingtonia tree in Sussex, with wild deer roaming across its parkland, for a Winnie-the-Pooh Tea (£10.95 per child). ashdownforest.org, maps can be downloaded or picked up at the Forest Centre.
Craven Arms
Shropshire
There are 30 acres of riverside meadows to explore when starting out from the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, just south of Craven Arms. Six circular, family-friendly walks take in castles, hill forts and wide-angled views. The four-mile Sallow Coppice circuit is particularly lovely, bathed in autumnal hues and with views of the fairytale, turreted medieval manor house Stokesay Castle. shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
Horsey Beach
Norfolk
Between late October and early January you can see baby seals along the east Norfolk coast near Winterton-on-Sea and Horsey. The 11-mile coastal walk between the two villages takes in the whole colony, but there’s a shorter, three-and-a-half mile circular route around Horsey village and its beach. Head across fields full of wintering birds such as waders to the track over the dunes and down to the beach to see the seals. nationaltrust.org.uk
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
A new self-guided walking tour around Shrewsbury’s back streets was launched this year. This under-the-radar county town is packed with fascinating places to investigate, from a haunted prison to what’s been dubbed “the grandparent of the skyscraper”, Flaxmill Maltings – the first multi-storeyed, iron-frame building in the world. The downloadable illustrated guide and accompanying grid reference map features 19 points of interest along a one-and-a-half mile, three-hour route. originalshrewsbury.co.uk
Bedgebury National Pinetum
Sussex/Kent Border
Home to a world-leading collection of conifers and more than 12,000 specimen trees in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the Hidden Secrets of the Pinetum walking trail is a good one for families. It’s around three-and-a-quarter miles and takes one-and-a-half to two hours. You can pick up a map at the visitor centre and wooden markers guide you through the forest. There is also an audio guide which you can download. Look out for birds, fungi (including the scarlet-spotted fly agaric) and the vibrant autumn foliage reflected in the lake by the visitor centre. forestryengland.uk/bedgebury
The Red Squirrel Trail
Isle of Wight
This 32-mile, largely flat trail meanders through woods, farmland and along the coast and can be broken into bite-sized chunks. The Sandown to Shanklin leg, at just over five miles, is popular with families, with plenty of attractions along the way, including the traditional seaside pier, a zoo in an old fort and a dinosaur museum. Sandown’s beach stretches along the esplanade all the way to Yaverland Beach, a fossil-hunting hotspot. The island has one of the highest concentrations of dinosaur fossils in the world. visitisleofwight.co.uk
Dark Sky Trail, Danby Lodge National Park Centre
North York Moors
Launched this year, this short (just under a mile) family-friendly trail runs through the grounds and woodland at Danby Lodge, ideal for dark skies season. Families can pick up a clue sheet from the visitor centre then follow the stars placed along the trail to navigate the route and solve 10 clues about the constellations. northyorkmoors.org.uk, £5, includes a prize for completed clue sheets
Cotswold Farm Park
Gloucestershire
Home to Countryfile’s Adam Henson, and more than 50 rare and native breeds of farm animals, there are also two free family-friendly wildlife walks (one-mile or two-mile) through the rolling AONB hills. The route is signposted with arrows and information boards, and printed maps are available at the shop. Afterwards, refuel at the Ox Shed, which dishes up seasonal, locally produced food, or head to the farm’s pick-your-own pumpkin patch. cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk
Lanhydrock
Cornwall
The National Trust-owned Lanhydrock Estate near Bodmin has 1,000 acres of parkland, heath and mixed woodland threaded with walking trails. The Lanhydrock Respryn Ramble is a one-mile, flat, circular walk, which crosses an old bridge and meanders along the River Fowey and on through woodland with ancient oaks, hornbeams and horse chestnut trees. Keep your eyes peeled for otters, kingfishers as well as traces of Cornwall’s tin mining past – and conkers. nationaltrust.org
Melbourne
Derbyshire
This five-and-a half mile yomp in the country has plenty to keep young nature lovers happy, from the myriad wildfowl including swans, ducks, geese and great crested grebe on the tranquil waters of Staunton Harold Reservoir to the fallow and red deer-grazed parkland of Calke Abbey and broadleaf Robin Wood, which in autumn puts on a spectacular display of colour. nationalforest.org/visit/activities/parklands-woodlands-walk
Bellever Forest
Dartmoor
Take a guided four-hour walk with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. This four-mile trek is muddy in parts, with a steady climb up to Bellever Tor, where there is a chance of seeing the native ponies. The walk explores Dartmoor’s range of habitats – a landscape, which, moulded by millennia of settlement, is now starting to return to health with the help of conservation grazing by the ponies. Suitable for children 12 years and over. dpht.co.uk, £12, next walk 25 October
The Worcestershire Beacon
Worcestershire
A big hill with a well-laid path, this circular three-mile (roughly one-and-a-half hour) walk takes you to the top of the Malvern Hills’ highest peak (1,394ft). At the summit there is a toposcope, a brass disc pinpointing places of interest visible on a clear day, designed for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. You can gaze out over 14 counties with panoramic views west across Herefordshire to the Black Mountains and over the Severn Plain to the east. visitthemalverns.org
Forest of Dean
Gloucestershire
Follow the purple markers through the trees on this four-and-a-half mile sculpture trail, featuring 18 artworks, each a fascinating interpretation of the forest environment and the area’s history. “Cathedral” is a 15ft-high stained-glass window suspended from the tree canopy, while “Iron Road” is made from 20 sleepers on a former railway line carved with images of the forest. forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
Allen Banks
Northumberland
Kids can forage for fungi such as giant puffballs and yellow stagshorn (which look like red deer antlers) on a forest walk during the autumn at Allen Banks, the largest area of ancient woodland in Northumberland. There are also 70 species of bird found here, along with red squirrels, otters and roe deer. This deep wooded gorge cut by the River Allen is threaded with waymarked trails such as the two-and-a-half mile Morralee Tarn Walk. nationaltrust.org.uk
The GM Ringway Trail
Greater Manchester
This new 300km walking trail showcases the green spaces, waterways and countryside around Greater Manchester and has been designed around existing footpaths and parks. Divided into four sections (the Southern Start-Up, the Exhilarating East, the Noble North and the Western Wind Down), each features five one-day hikes. The Southern Start-Up follows an almost traffic-free route from Manchester’s city centre to the Peak District and the walks, such as the six-and-a-half mile Sale Water Park to Didsbury Village section, are the most family-friendly in terms of length and difficulty. gmwalking.co.uk
Copythorne and Cadnam Common
New Forest
There are more than 140 miles of tracks and footpaths to explore in the New Forest, with more than 7,000 animals to be found grazing here. New Forest ponies are one of the biggest attractions and you can see them grazing the commons on the four-mile Copythorne and Cadnam Common circular hike, which starts at St Mary’s Church and takes in rhododendron-lined woodland tracks, the Cadnam River and areas of open grassland and heath. thenewforest.co.uk
Wales
Ogmore-by Sea
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale Trail walks are perfect for families in autumn, including Vale Trail One around Ogmore-by-Sea, with beach-combing and foraging on the shore, ancient stepping stones across a river, sand dunes to explore and two castles. It’s an eight-mile walk, but there are options to cut it down. To make sure the children don’t get bored, download the Vale Tales app, which brings to life the history and folklore behind the trails, with tales of treachery and pirates. visitthevale.com
Worm’s Head
Gower
The shipwreck on the gorgeous three-mile expanse of Rhosili Beach is the stuff of childhood fantasies. And the very real chance of being marooned, cut off by the tides if you get the timings wrong, adds to the adventure on this three-and-a-half mile tramp over the headland, via the remains of an iron age fort, to Worm’s Head (the name coming from the Old English wyrm, which means sea serpent), the most westerly point on the Gower peninsula. nationaltrust.org.uk
Cwm Idwal
Eryri
With world-famous rock formations and a glacial lake carved out by giant ice sheets, along with rare plant life for budding botanists, this challenging three-mile walk is a good way to get to the heart of dramatic scenery of Eryri (Snowdonia). Smaller children can walk around Llyn Idwal, clambering around the Darwin Idwal Boulders (large fractured rocks), while more adventurous teens can scramble up Devil’s Kitchen to Glyder Fawr. visitwales.com, nationaltrust.org.uk
Milford Haven Waterfront
Pembrokeshire
During Covid, a group of children and teenagers created a series of family-friendly walking trails bringing the industrial heritage of the town to life. The three waterfront walks tell the story of the town’s history from the Vikings to the Tudors, with pirates, whalers and Shakespeare thrown in for good measure. Visitors can access more information via QR codes, discovering snapshots of the town’s history and enjoying eye-catching original artwork by the students. milfordwaterfront.co.uk
Llangollen History Trail
Denbighshire
Ancient castles, industrial heritage and an old abbey; history comes to life on this six-mile circular walking trail following the Llangollen Canal (designed to carry slate from nearby quarries) and the River Dee before passing the Horseshoe Falls (a weir designed by Thomas Telford in 1806) and heading up to the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, once the second richest in Wales, and then 13th-century Castell Dinas Bran for a spectacular view down over the town of Llangollen. visitwales.com
Newborough Forest
Anglesey
Home to one of the largest dune systems in the UK and now a haven for red squirrels, there are 12 trails to tramp here, including the one-and-a-half mile Red Squirrel Discovery Trail, which meanders through the trees. Keep your eyes peeled for them as they scamper through the trees and across the forest floor, collecting nuts to store for winter. Information panels along the way tell the story of this conservation success story. naturalresources.wales
Scotland
Mar Lodge Estate
Aberdeenshire
The BBC’s wildlife “watches” (aka Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch) set up camp at the Mar Lodge Estate in Aberdeenshire a few years ago. A vast wilderness spanning 29,000 hectares, it containing five of the UK’s highest peaks. During autumn, when the red deer stags rut, their roaring and clashing antlers can be heard across the glens. There are a number of low-level, family-friendly walks around the Linn of Dee with views of the rushing falls. The one-and-a-half mile Glen Lui Trail weaves through the pinewoods, where you might spot red squirrels. nts.org.uk
Aviemore
Cairngorms
Sarah Hobbs leads guided hikes around Aviemore and Strathspey with a difference – her storytelling walks are laced with forgotten tales and ancient folklore. As you wander through the woods, she shares local stories of long-dead kings, witches, highwaymen and fairy folk, interspersed with the odd Gaelic song and washed down with some foraged wild tea. The Aviemore Story Walk is a gentle, slow-paced meander and suitable for children over three. storywalks.scot, £20, under-fours free
The Hermitage
Perthshire
Postcard-pretty Perthshire dubs itself Big Tree Country and in autumn the wooded hills are a vision of vibrant hues. The Hermitage in Dunkeld was originally designed as a pleasure ground in the 18th century for the Dukes of Atholl. Follow the path through towering Douglas firs beside the River Braan, keeping your eyes peeled for the totem poles scattered among the trees, to the thundering Black Linn waterfall, the old stone bridge above its foaming pools and the 18th-century folly Ossian’s Hall. This popular family walk takes a couple of hours. nts.org.uk
Loch Leven Heritage Trail
Perth and Kinross
Thousands of migrating wildfowl rock up at Loch Leven in a spellbinding seasonal spectacle each autumn. At four miles long, this is the largest lowland loch in Scotland. It is home to the RSPB Loch Leven, with its birdwatching hides, and the larger Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, while skirting the water the Loch Leven Heritage Trail is a 13-mile path. Wander along the water to spot the roll call of visitors, from pink-footed geese to whooper swans, teal, wigeon and tufted duck. pkct.org/loch-leven-heritage-trail
Castle Douglas
Dumfries and Galloway
Mushroom expert Jesse Beaman leads guided foraging walks during the autumn in Galloway Forest Park, often dubbed the Highlands in the Lowlands. A mycology enthusiast, she shares her passion, explaining how to identify, forage, cook and preserve the fungi you find. The walks last between two to three hours and cover two to three miles. foragingscotland.com, £49, under-16s £36
Loch an Eilein
Cairngorms
Cradled by the Rothiemurchus Forest, this picturesque loch has a ruined castle on an island in the middle thought to date back to the 14th century. The easy, flat three-mile trail around the loch is popular with families. After tramping through the pines, head down the lane to The Barn, the Highland estate’s rustic wooden café. rothiemurchus.net
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