See the ‘strikingly beautiful’ North Wales trail among Britain’s best autumnal walks

Autumn is well and truly upon us and there is no better time to get out for a walk amongst nature.

With this in mind, The Telegraph has come up with a list of Britain’s 10 best autumnal walks which includes locations from the Scottish Highlands all the way down to Afan Forest Park in south Wales.

Introducing the list, the news outlet said: “Autumn is a magical season for walking.

“Britain’s green and pleasant lands transform into a kaleidoscope of colour, a leafy masterpiece painted in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows.

“The palette is warm and rich, with golden hues, and there’s always a mesmerising sense of change in the air.

“Nature is in transition and our broadleaved canopies are ever-evolving.”

The Telegraph continues: “Hiking from September to November is a wonderful assault on the senses too.

“There’s the crunch of frosty leaves underfoot, the cosy warmth of a scarf wrapped around your neck, and the earthy aromas of falling vegetation.

“The roars of rutting deer and the pitter-patter of foraging squirrels fill the air, while morning mists and sun-dappled light add romance to the landscape.

Native wild animals in the UK

“In autumn you’ll also dodge the summer crowds. Trails will be quieter, car parks less log-jammed and the sense of escapism enhanced – plus you’ve still got a decent chance of dry, sunny weather.

“For these reasons, autumnal ambling is ideal for the whole family, whether you’re after a gentle stroll in a National Trust deciduous woodland or a big adventure exploring a mountainous forest.”

Britain’s 10 best autumnal walks

Britain’s top 10 best autumnal walks, according to The Telegraph, are:

• Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
• Ashridge, Hertfordshire
• Kielder Forest, Northumberland
• Whinlatter Forest, Cumbria
• Borrowdale, Cumbria
• Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway
• Newborough Forest, Anglesey
• New Forest, Hampshire
• Glen Affric, Highlands
• Afan Forest Park, Neath Port Talbot

Why Newborough Forest is among Britain’s best autumnal walks

Start/end: Newborough Beach car park (Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, LL61 6SG)

Duration: 4.2 miles, around 2.5 hours

Newborough Forest was named among Britain’s top autumnal walks, described as the best for coastal views.

You can access Ynys Llanddwyn from Newborough Forest and Beach. (Image: Patrick Glover) The Telegraph explains: “Beaches and forests are not natural bedfellows, but at Newborough on the Isle of Anglesey sand and tree come together in surprising harmony.

“This coastal-woodland collaboration is strikingly beautiful, with rolling dunes and golden sands backed by a forest of tall Corsican pines.

“Shaped over thousands of years by the wind and sea, this unique landscape was named Wales’ first coastal national nature reserve in 1955.”

According to the news outlet, one of Newborough’s best walks was the four-mile Saint, Sand and Sea Trail, “which explores pine forests, beaches, dunes and the lighthouse-topped tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn”.

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“In autumn Newborough Forest flushes with mustard, ochre and copper hues, while migratory wildfowl including brent geese, shelduck and wigeon are joined on the salt marsh and estuary by redshanks and plovers,” The Telegraph continues.

“Or, if you’re not enthused by birdwatching, there’s also the chance to spot mischievous red squirrels dancing through the pines.”

If you are looking to get that little bit extra out of the walk, download the trail’s accompanying audio guide (via the National Resources Wales website) and learn about the legend of Saint Dwynwen.