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Autumn might be the perfect time of year to get away from home and to enjoy a walking break.  

After the heat of summer, the cooler temperatures can make for enjoyable days out exploring a new area. And as you near the end of the day’s walk, the pull of a meal prepared for you back at the hotel restaurant is something to which you can look forward. 

 
If an autumnal change of scenery appeals, here are five perfect locations for a short walking holiday, each close to a hotel from our partner Coaching Inn Group. 
 
Ramblers members and supporters receive 10% off bed and breakfast (or room only) until March 2026 at any of Coaching Inn Group’s beautiful historic inns in some of the UK’s best market towns and villages. You can also enjoy 10% off food and drink when dining. Book here using code the RAMBLERS.  When dining, please show this offer or your Ramblers card to the team. Some exclusions and T&Cs apply. 

 

North York Moors 

Cool, crisp days are ideal for walking under the famous big sky views of the North York Moors. Try walking from Helmsley to the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey at Rievaulx, through ancient woodlands as the leaves turn to gold. Or climb Sutton Bank for views over the Vale of York and the Dales beyond. Helmsley has plenty of cosy cafes and independent shops to buy winter woolies for your next visit. 

Stay at: The Feathers Hotel, Helmsley 

 

Dartmoor, Devon 

The wooded valleys of Dartmoor are home to abundant wildlife all year round, and the valleys are sheltered from the weather’s extremes. You could explore Yarner Woods, one of the oldest nature reserves in the country, via the Miles Without Stiles accessible circular route. In glowing autumn light Dartmoor’s distinctive granite tors looks even more striking. Haytor Rocks is a good place to start, with the dramatic rocky tor a short walk from the car park. 

Stay at: The Moorland inn, Haytor 

 

North Norfolk Coast 

Walk along the North Norfolk Coast in autumn and you’ll be rewarded with the sight of huge flocks of migratory birds who visit from the Arctic. Geese, ducks, and wading birds arrive in their hundreds of thousands, ready to spend the winter on the mudflats and saltmarsh creeks. Time your walk for the incoming tide and the flocks will be close to the shoreline. From late October you can also spot seals, and if you are really lucky, their fluffy pups. Blakeney Point, not far from Holt, is an especially good place to see them. 

Stay at: The Pheasant Hotel, Holt 

 

Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire 

The ancient sites of Stonehenge and Old Sarum, and the wide, open countryside surrounding them are even more atmospheric in the autumn. The crowds are smaller, and soft light and mists make the area even more mysterious to explore. And if country walking doesn’t appeal due to the weather, you can explore the historic towns of Amesbury and Salisbury instead. 

Stay at: The George Hotel, Amesbury 

 

The western Cotswolds 

The low, rolling hills of the Cotswolds offer walking surrounded by brightly coloured autumn trees. The limestone escarpment to the west, easily accessible from the M5, is dotted with wooded hills for gorgeous views and historical discoveries. Walk up Bredon Hill to find the Iron Age hillfort, the earthworks of a medieval castle, and Parson’s Folly, a small tower that brings the height of the hill to exactly 1,000 feet. 

Stay at: The Tudor House Hotel, Tewkesbury