The UK's most beautiful autumn walks

As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, thoughts turn to cosier evenings spent keeping warm indoors.  

But the arrival of autumn also brings a colourful transformation across the UK, with red, orange and yellow leaves giving the landscape a breathtaking glow. This provides one of the best opportunities to get outside for a walk or take a trip in your campervan or motorhome to enjoy what the British countryside has to offer.  

With so much choice, it can be tricky to narrow down exactly where to make the most of the season’s scenery.  

However, research suggests that spending time near water can improve your health and wellbeing, so this a great place to start. 

We analysed more than 10,000 Tripadvisor reviews of UK waterways - including lakes, reservoirs, canals and rivers - to find the 7 most beautiful autumn walks, according to visitors. 

Read on to see the full list. 

1. Linacre Reservoirs - Chesterfield, Derbyshire 

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In first place is Linacre Reservoirs in the Peak District, where nearly 6% of all reviews mention that autumn is the best time to visit. The beauty spot has a 4.5/5 overall Tripadvisor rating, with reviewers highlighting the diversity of trees and the stunning colour transformation they offer during October and November. 

2. Tarn Hows - Coniston, Cumbria 

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Coming in second is Tarn Hows in the Lake District, which offers a 3km circular walking route ideal for taking in the autumn colours. The area counts a 4.5/5 Tripadvisor rating, with around 5% of reviews highlighting autumn, with one noting: “I visited here on a lovely autumn afternoon, and I have never seen it looking so pretty.” 

3. Knypersley Reservoir - Biddulph, Staffordshire 

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With just over 4% of Tripadvisor reviews for Knypersley Reservoir including mention of autumn, the beauty spot took third place in our list of best autumnal walks. Overall, the area scores a rating of 4.5/5, with one reviewer saying: “the autumn colours were beautiful” and another highlighting that autumn is “the best time to go."

4. Ladybower Reservoir - Upper Derwent Valley, Derbyshire 

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Fourth in the ranking is Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District, with its distinctive Y-shape overlooking the Upper Derwent Valley. It counts an overall Tripadvisor rating of 4.5/5. Just over 3% of its 831 reviews mention autumn, with one visitor saying: “it was absolutely beautiful, especially with all the autumn colours.”  

5. Newmillerdam Country Park - Wakefield, West Yorkshire 

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Another stunning autumn walk location is Newmillerdam, which has a 4.5/5 overall Tripadvisor rating. The country park comes fifth in our list, with 3% of its 936 reviews mentioning autumn in a positive light. One visitor noted the “lovely, peaceful wonderful autumn colours”, with another saying that “it is beautiful all through the year, but particularly in the autumn.” 

6. Lake Vyrnwy - Powys, Wales 

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Lake Vyrnwy offers a truly magical backdrop for an autumn walk – something that Tripadvisor reviewers agree with, giving the beauty spot a 4.5/5 rating. Almost 3% of reviews highlight autumn as a good time to visit, putting the lake at position six in our list. One walker commented that it is: “surrounded by a lovely mix of beech, oak and larch woodlands. These look glorious in early November with autumn colour.” 

7. Turton and Entwistle Reservoir - Edgworth, Lancashire 

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Finally, in seventh place on our list of best autumn walks according to Tripadvisor, is Turton and Entwistle Reservoir in Lancashire. The area has an overall 4.5/5 review score and around 2% of those reviews include mention of autumn. One stated that it was: “absolutely beautiful, you could be in Canada!”, with another visitor saying they had “been going for years now, especially every autumn when the colours are breathtaking.” 

Methodology 

We took a seed list of 100 of Tripadvisor’s most popular UK bodies of water and analysed their reviews to find the total number that included mention of autumn with a positive sentiment.  

We then ranked these as a percentage of the total reviews to find a top 7.