Summer is, sadly but somewhat bittersweetly, coming to an end. This is to be expected – after all, it is how seasons work – but still stings, as we say goodbye to the long hot days and wave a weary hello to the painful sting of the autumn wind.
But the ‘sweet’ part of the encroaching autumn is especially sweet, from the arrival of conkers to the legitimisation of pumpkin spice as a coffee ingredient once more. More importantly, autumn is prime walking season, whether you’re a walking enthusiast or simply looking for an excuse to get out of the house. If you’re looking for a little inspiration in this regard, look no further than these incredible autumn walks.
Northumberland
Our first destination is the far north-easterly shores of Northumberland; inspiration for a thousand poems, the first sight of home for a thousand sailors, and the best walk amongst a thousand coastal walks. One of the best walks can be found in the Simonside Hills, which sit just on the far edge of Northumbria National Park, south of Great Tosson. These hills are easy enough to clamber, but you’re still best bringing some quality walking boots to keep your grip on the paths ahead – particularly with the wetness of autumn and the bracing North Sea winds!
The Brecon Beacons
Sneaking our way across Britain and down, we find ourselves in South Wales – more specifically, amongst the sublime majesty of the Brecon Beacons. This huge swathe of tumultuous mountain landscape is truly idyllic, and its townships steeped in both history and culture.
In the summer, a quiet bend in the River Usk hosts the best music festival on the planet; in the autumn, the walks around Crickhowell are calm in every which way but the weather. Another excellent destination within this sprawling national park is Pwll y Wrach, a nature reserve in the north with some beautiful woodland.
The Yorkshire Dales
Back up north, we come to the Yorkshire Dales – a thrillingly expansive national park that reaches up from York to the very end of the Pennines – and all the way across the North-West to Kendal, too. There’s too much in this incredible region to cover in two paragraphs, but one stand-out takes the form of Malham Cove. Malham Cove is a geological delight that simply must be seen to be truly believed – and the walks that surround it aren’t half bad either.
The Chilterns
Finally, we come to the Chilterns National Landscape – a beautiful stretch of rolling hills and greenery west of London, and which plays host to some of the most provincial-English village names you’ve ever heard: Stokenchurch; Ibstone; Cadmore End; Speen. Russell’s Water (west of Pishill – no joke) is a great start for a long day’s walking through Warburg Nature Reserve!