Autumn is on its way, and although many don’t want to let go of summer, there are elements of autumn that really get us excited. Whether you’re mad for Halloween or just love a cosy night in, autumn means all things crunchy and, as the Danes say, ‘hygge‘ – plus, walks and hikes become a thing of extreme beauty in the orange hues and misty mornings. Now, the outdoor experts at GO Outdoors have analysed TripAdvisor reviews and average rainfall to reveal the best places for an autumn walk, and a gorgeous Peak District spot has appeared near the top.
Go Outdoors has created a seed list of UK walking routes that are especially scenic during autumn using a range of news articles. For each, they took the following:
- The number of Tripadvisor reviews that mention the following keywords and calculated these as a percentage of total reviews:
- autumn
- leaves
- golden
- colours
- crisp
- misty
- chilly
- trees
- woods
- forest
- orange
- season
2. The average monthly rainfall for September-November for the closest location to the walk.
3. The walk’s average rating on Tripadvisor.
Which Peak District spot was named as one of the best autumn walks?
Coming in third place, Derbyshire’s Padley Gorge bagged a score of 8.35 out of 10. Home to beautiful wooded landscapes, this gorge thrives in autumn, with nearly one in four (23.9%) reviews mentioning ‘autumn’. The gorge also has various easy-to-moderate trails, including the Padley Gorge and Burbage Brook walk, making it an accessible destination for walkers of all levels to explore in this season.
What’s more, the waterfalls and stunning views of the Peak District truly cement Padley Gorge as one of the best autumn walk spots, and it’s relatively accessible from Manchester – perfect for us to explore on a day trip.
Which other UK spots were named best autumn walks?
Taking the top spot as the best place for an autumn walk is the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, with a score of 9.3 out of 10. The forest boasts a TripAdvisor rating of 4.8 out of 5, and it’s clear that visitors are drawn to it during the autumn, with 84 reviews mentioning the word ‘autumn’. With a range of trails to explore and wildlife like deer to spot, the Forest of Dean offers the perfect backdrop for any autumnal adventure.
Following in second place is Winkworth Arboretum, with a score of 8.51 out of 10. With over three quarters (78.2%) of reviews mentioning ‘autumn’, it is clear that the Surrey-based arboretum comes to life during this season. Managed by the National Trust, it is home to over 1,000 tree species, with many changing colour in the autumn months. With relatively low rainfall, averaging just 62mm from September to November, visitors can generally expect drier conditions for their autumn strolls.
Top places in the UK for an autumn walk (w/ overall score):
- Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire – 9.30
- Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey – 8.51
- Padley Gorge, Derbyshire – 8.35
- Cragside, Northumberland – 8.03
- Richmond Park, London – 7.71
- Sheffield Park & Garden, East Sussex – 7.55
- Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire – 7.40
- Stourhead, Wiltshire – 7.24
- Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Gardens, North Yorkshire – 7.24
- New Forest, Hampshire – 6.92
- Regent’s Park, London – 6.92
How to get to Padley Gorge
Instagram post via @fastpacker
Padley Gorge is just under a 1.5 hour drive from Manchester, just north of Grindleford.
You can also get to Padley Gorge on the train from Manchester Piccadilly (sometimes changing at Sheffield), getting off at Grindleford station – it’s then just a few minutes’ walk to the start of the Padley Gorge trail.
Visit the National Trust website for more information.