WINNING TIP: Llanthony Priory, nr Abergavenny

My perfect autumn walk begins at the romantic ruins of this priory, pictured, in the Ewyas Valley. From here it's a steep climb up the wooded hillside until you get views, shared with sheep and wild ponies, of the Black Mountains. You finally reach Offa's Dyke where the neat rolling landscape of Herefordshire is revealed. The icing on the cake is back in the valley at a tiny pub hidden in the vaults of the priory (llanthonypriory hotel.co.uk), where you can warm up. Bliss.
bertie03

Seven Sisters, Eastbourne, East Sussex
A spectacular walk along chalky roller coaster cliffs. I like to start as early as possible with a reviving coffee in one of the cafes of genteel Eastbourne before tackling the first (of many) steep inclines of the day up to Beachy Head. The cliff edge is bleak and there are no fences protecting the vertiginous drop, and in the early autumnal mist it's a great place to contemplate the meaning of life and wonder of nature. After that, it's up and down, up and down along the grassy cliffs to Birling Gap with its stunning beach and Cuckmere Haven, where the river meanders down to the sea. We wind down at Seaford with a pint and a pie in a cosy pub.
lucyrm

Dovedale steps, Derbyshire
"Aaah! He's going to go in." We watched in fascinated horror as the next foolhardy person tried to negotiate the Dovedale steps. We'd managed two steps and gingerly turned back as today the great stones strung across the Dove river were as slippery as giant ice cubes. Luckily, the man we were watching made it. It was a fun end to a hilly walk, which had started at Ilam Hall across Lindale to the Dove, sunlight bouncing off the pyramid-shaped Thorpe Cloud hill. A circular route back led us over fields, past the Izaak Walton Hotel (izaakwaltonhotel.com), named for the author of The Compleat Angler, back to Ilam Hall (peakdistrict.nationaltrust.org.uk/ilam-hall).
cathos

Walking over Wansfell Pike to Troutbeck, Ambleside, Cumbria
This is a walk with a bit of everything: woodland, waterfalls, open fells fantastic views. Leave Ambleside by walking through the woods by Stock Ghyll waterfalls. Emerge from the woods to climb Wansfell Pike and then descend to Troutbeck. To return directly to Ambleside turn right – but if you want refreshment turn left and walk along the road to The Mortal Man (themortalman.co.uk). From the pub follow a footpath on the right by the post office. This path leads over the shoulder of the fell and through Skelghyll Woods. It's worth diverting to the viewpoint at Jenkin Crag, before heading back to Ambleside.
gdeanouk

Helvellyn via the Wythburn route, Cumbria
On a crisp, clear autumn day the walk to the summit of Helvellyn, the third highest mountain in England at 3,117 feet (950m), is truly exhilarating and awe-inspiring. The return walk from Wythburn car park is perfectly suitable for families and can be accomplished in less than four hours. On a good day you get a 360-degree panorama of the Lakeland from the top, with the mist gently hovering over the tranquil lakes and lower fells and crags below.
walkingenglishman.com/lakes16.htm
frankieallen

Northumberland Coast Walk
This path offers some of the best coastal walking in Europe, and in autumn you will have it all to yourself. The dramatic landscape is scattered with castles, coves and cliffs, and punctuated by tiny seaside villages. There are puffin and tern colonies on Coquet Island, sweeping beaches at Alnmouth and the mudflats at picturesque Lindisfarne. Warm up with a cup of tea after a stroll around the magnificent gardens at Howick Hall, the erstwhile home of Earl Grey, or stock up on delicious Craster kippers. At the Ship Inn in Low Newton (shipinnnewton.co.uk) they brew their own beer, with wonderful names such as Sandcastles at Dawn. The sunsets on this coast are beautiful – dusk at Bamburgh Castle takes some beating.
northumberland-coast.co.uk
troutiemcfish

Betws-y-Coed, Snowdonia
Nestled in the hills and forest above Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed are the beautiful lakes of Llyn Geirionydd and Llyn Crafnant. This walk covers varied terrain: forest, rocks, rolling hills and lakes and a disused slate mine. Refreshments were at hand at a delightful little cafe on Llyn Craftnant that sells scrumptious cakes, hot chocolate and local real ale.
Take the B5106 to Trefriw, then follow signs for Llyn Crafnant
eyeshy

Regent's Canal, London
On a crisp autumn day, especially in the morning when the water is so calm, there is no nicer way to travel than a walk along the Regent's Canal. The east side is my favourite with many snack bars and coffee hubs where you can sit and watch the Hackney posse rock about. Better yet are the charming houseboats that are docked up, especially towards trendy Broadway Market, which have taken to selling goods and sometimes even put on live music. The best place to start is the opening near Angel tube, and head east all the way to Victoria Park.
aleshaoner17

Lea Valley walk from Limehouse to Ponders End, London
This is a lovely stroll at any time of the year, but in autumn the combination of trees, leaves and water is particularly lovely. For an 11ish-mile walk, I recommend heading north from Limehouse to finish up at Ponders End, where you can catch the train back to Liverpool Street station. For a shorter stretch start or stop at Markfield Park, about half a mile from Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale tube/train stations. En route you pass the surprising and stunning Three Mills, the Olympic Park (albeit through security fencing), and breathe in the fresh air of the great green expanses of Hackney, Walthamstow and Tottenham Marshes – and then you're in the countryside with narrowboats and fishermen.

My favourite place to break the walk for a bite to eat is Pistachio's in the Park Cafe in Markfield Park (pistachiosinthepark.org.uk) which runs alongside the Lee Navigation. For a coffee early on in the route, and good food too, you can detour to the Counter Cafe (thecountercafe.co.uk) in Hackney Wick.
Further information: walklondon.org, imvisitinglondon.com/limehousecut.html
maryloose