The best walks to embrace the autumn season

Full of golden light, crisp air and glorious colours, autumn is the perfect time to get outside for a walk. With plenty of wonderful spots to explore in the UK, here are our top picks to fully embrace the cosiest season of all. 

North Devon

Exmoor National Park

11.1 miles/21 min drive from Golden Coast

A haven of peace and tranquility, Exmoor National Park is the perfect place for an autumn stroll. With vast, breath-taking countryside to explore and plenty of local wildlife to spot, you’ll enjoy a wonderful adventure at the park. Be sure to take a look at their range of seasonal events - you might find a hidden gem!

Heddon Valley

16.8 miles/33 min drive from Golden Coast

For a bracing autumn walk, there’s no better place than Heddon Valley. Take a stroll alongside the river, meeting the sea and cliffs and exploring the old lime kiln before making your way back. With glorious shades of orange, yellow, red and purple glistening whichever corner you turn, Heddon Valley is a must to truly enjoy the beauty of the season.

North East England

Hamsterley Forest

13.5 miles/45 min drive from Heather View

With lush woodland, a fitness trail and a fantastic adventure playground (proudly guarded by the Gruffalo sculpture), this is the perfect place for a family walk this autumn. The playground stands just the right distance through the woods for little legs, leaving plenty of energy for play, and with the Shaun the Sheep Glow Trail app, you can find lots of photo ops around the forest.

Northumberland National Park

8.6 miles/16 min drive from Riverside
38.1 miles/57 min drive from Heather View

With a number of walking routes from easy to strenuous and plenty of space to simply enjoy the fresh air, Northumberland National Park is the ideal spot to explore this autumn. Whether you fancy a countryside stroll, a hill climb or a wander to a waterfall, there’s so much to discover in this wonderful park, and with the gorgeous colours of autumn, there’s no better time to visit.

Plessey Woods

36.1 miles/49 min drive from Riverside
41.3 miles/58 min drive from Heather View

Boasting bursts of colour every autumn, there are fewer places as perfect for a delightful day out than Plessey Woods. With winding nature trails, riverside routes and wild meadows to explore across 100 acres, it’s a wonderful spot for walkers, cyclists, families and picnickers. There’s even a special art trail for children through the woodland, so keep your eyes peeled for a troll or fairy door! After a fun-filled adventure, be sure to get cosy in the cafe and warm up with a hot drink.

Hulne Park

17.1 miles/26 min drive from Riverside

With vast parkland, fantastic walking routes and a Gothic tower, Hulne Park is the perfect place to enjoy a walk this autumn. The park extends over 3000 acres, all within a walled enclosure, and consists of estate forestry, farm and sawmills. Discover a Priory, Brizlee Tower and Alnwick Abbey in the midst of the park or simply wander the grounds enjoying the beautiful autumn colours.

Holystone Wood

23 miles/39 min drive from Riverside

With tranquil waterfalls and an abundance of autumn colour, this woodland is well worth a visit this Half Term. Once the site of a 12th century nunnery, Holystone is incredibly peaceful, making it the perfect spot for some wildlife watching or a relaxing stroll.

Bamburgh Castle and Coastal Walk

15.9 miles/29 min drive from Riverside

This lovely circular route takes you through the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, beginning in Bamburgh and offering stunning views of the coast. On your adventure, you’ll catch a glimpse of the famous Bamburgh Castle, which dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era and has a long, rich history. With the castle standing proudly over the coastline, it can bring some truly breath-taking (even a little spooky!) views, perfect for the autumn season.

South West Scotland

Mabie Forest

21.9 miles/52 min drive from Queensberry Bay

Escape to a beautiful forest buzzing with nature with a trip to Mabie Forest. With plenty of open space, spectacular views and lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting, it’s a wonderful spot to enjoy an afternoon full of peace and tranquility this autumn.

Ayrshire Coastal Path

12.5 miles/22 min drive from Viewfield Manor

Running 106 miles along some of the finest panoramic coastlines in the UK, this walk takes you along clifftops, up gullies and over rocky shores. The closest parts of the route to Viewfield Manor are Toon to Irvine or Irvine to Ardrossan, both of which will give you glorious coastal views. Autumn is a great time to visit to take advantage of the fresh sea air.

Repentance Tower Circular

4.5/11 min drive from Queensberry Bay

Just down the road from Queensberry Bay, you’ll find part of Hoddom Castle, Repentance Tower. Originally a watchtower in the 1500s, the tower offers fabulous views across the Solway Firth and into the Dumfries and Galloway countryside. To reach it, you’ll follow a route through luscious woodland, with plenty of wildlife to spot along the way.

South East Scotland

Yester Castle (Goblin Ha')

17.5 miles/33 min drive from Thurston Manor
22.2 miles/39 min drive from Pease Bay
30.9 miles/53 min drive from Coldingham Bay
31.2 miles/53 min drive from Scoutscroft

What better way to celebrate spooky season than exploring the ruins of a castle said to be built by an army of hobgoblins? Yester Castle is tucked away in the woods, near the small village of Gifford, and is well worth a visit, especially in October. The castle was built in the 13th Century by Sir Hugo De Gifford, who was believed to be a wizard, and legend says he made a pact with the devil to summon an army of hobgoblins, who he then ordered to build him a space to practice his dark magic.

The site has a reputation for being haunted, and even without people’s strange tales, there’s no denying it’s one creepy spot! To reach the ruins, you’ll need to venture through the woods, giving you a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the rich autumnal colours.

Carberry Hill and Monument

26.1 miles/29 min drive from Thurston Manor
30.8 miles/35 min drive from Pease Bay
39.5 miles/49 min drive from Coldingham Bay
39.8 miles/50 min drive from Scoutscroft

Carberry Hill is a beautiful woodland walk steeped in Scottish history. The Battle of Carberry took place in 1567 after a number of Scottish Lords objected to the rule of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary surrendered herself on the hill to the Lords while her husband, the Earl of Bothwell, made his escape. A commemorative stone can be found at the hill’s summit, and along the way you can enjoy wandering through the glorious woodland. If you keep your eyes out you might even spot some of the local wildlife!

With wonderful scenery and views over Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth and much of East Lothian, Carberry Hill is the perfect place for an autumn stroll.

John Muir Country Park

7.3 miles/13 min drive from Thurston Manor
12 miles/19 min drive from Pease Bay
20.7 miles/33 min drive from Coldingham Bay
21 miles/33 min drive from Scoutscroft

Located on a beautiful stretch of coastline in Dunbar, John Muir Country Park is perfect for families, couples and natural history enthusiasts. There are many species of plants, insects and birds to discover in the park, and many walking routes to enjoy, making it a fabulous place to explore in autumn.

Central Scotland

Loch Leven National Nature Reserve

31.9 miles/45 min drive from Erigmore

With more freshwater ducks than anywhere else in inland Europe and links to Mary Queen of Scots, Loch Leven National Nature Reserve is the ideal blend of history and nature. The reserve boasts a rich mix of wet grasslands, raised bog, willow and reed beds, alongside an amazing range of plants and fantastic viewing opportunities to watch the wildlife.

Thousands of wildfowl from many different countries use the loch for short and long-term stopovers, so it’s a great place to visit any time of year, but the orange, yellows and reds of Autumn are hard to beat!

Lady Mary's Walk and Laggan Hill

24 miles/39 min drive from Erigmore

If you’re after a relaxed, easy walk bursting with vibrant autumn colours, this route is perfect for you! On your stroll, you’ll make your way through thick woodland and follow a rushing river before climbing Laggan Hill. It’s a great route for a gentle stroll, and is perfect for four-legged friends as there’s lots of opportunity to give them a run off the lead.

Drummond Hill

24.7 miles/42 min drive from Erigmore

With three forestry trails to choose from Kenmore, Drummond Hill is the perfect spot for an autumnal stroll. The Black Rock Trail offers a steady climb with gorgeous views over the village perched on the shore of Loch Tay. The walk is all off-road woodland trails, making it stunning in autumn and ideal for dog walks!