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Walking in London and the South East
From sweeping landscapes to ancient woodland, there are lots of places in London and the South East where you can enjoy gentle strolls and invigorating hikes in nature. Find your next local walk here.
Find your perfect autumn walk in the South East
As the leaves start to colour, curl and drop, there is much fun to be had crunching along woodland walks. It’s a seasonal rite of passage to chase and catch falling bronze leaves, throw them like confetti and swish through the crispy drifts gathering at path edges. Many misty mornings can also be spent losing yourself in picking blackberries for a pie, searching out horse chestnut trees for conkers or eat an apple straight from a tree. The woodlands are bursting with great colours and textures at this time of year to make wild art. Make the most of the changing seasons at your local National Trust place in the South East
Winkworth Areboretum, Surrey | © Andrew Butler 
Sheffield Park and Garden, West Sussex | © National Trust Images/Laurence Perry
Top autumn walking spots in the South East
The National Trust‘s only arboretum, Winkworth, is one of the best places in the country to see the fiery shades of autumn. The Japanese maple leaves provide a red carpetlike walkway and the oaks, beeches and grasses turn golden all along the hillside to the lake below.
Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex
Ablaze with reds, russets and yellows Sheffield Park is one of autumn’s most spectacular sights. Head Gardener Andy Jesson says: “The fiery hues are also reflected in the lakes, giving a doubly dramatic display. In the early morning or late afternoon, the effect of water and landscape is magical”.
Cliveden’s spectacular estate overlooks the River Thames. When walking through winding woodland trails you catch glimpses of it, glinting invitingly below. It’s a tranquil experience, watching the flickering reflections in the river surface as it makes its lazy way to London.
The slopes around this ruined medieval castle bathe the surrounding picturesque Kent landscape in shades of red, gold and bronze. For Senior Gardener Richard Huggett the highlights of Scotney Castle in autumn are the purple 100-year old Japanese maples below the bastion and the views over the Weald from the wilderness camp.
Nymans is one of our autumn jewels with fine views over the Weald and a wooded valley where you can immerse yourself in rich autumn colours. The romantic gardens are vibrant with the red foliage of American Nyssa and Liquidambar trees.
National Trust walks in the South East
- Walking in Surrey
- You’ll find no shortage of leg-stretching walks in Surrey with plenty to see along the way. Wander through ancient woodlands in the Runnymede countryside or take in some of the best views of the Surrey Hills on a leisurely stroll at Box Hill.Find out more
- Walking in Hampshire
- In Hampshire, you can explore the beauty of the summer landscape on one of our many downloadable trails. There are acres of ancient woodland, parkland and meadows to stroll through at The Vyne, Mottisfont and Hinton Ampner. Some of the walks take in quiet lanes and pretty villages too. Or discover the wild heaths, streams and panoramic views of the New Forest. There are walks of varying lengths to suit different abilities and ages, with snippets of fascinating history and nature detail.Find out more
- Walking in Sussex
- From country lanes to hilltops and open parkland to coastal paths, breathe in the summer air on some of Sussex’s finest countryside and coastline walks. Walk in the footsteps of Rudyard Kipling’s storybook characters at Bateman's and discover the Petworth views that inspired England’s greatest landscape painter, JMW Turner.Find out more
- Walking in Kent
- From discovering the Chartwell estate and the surrounding countryside, exploring the woodland and wildlife at Sissinghurst Castle Garden and enjoying the panoramic views at Toys Hill, here are some of the best walks in Kent.Find out more
- Walking in London
- From acres of parkland at Osterley Park, to the meadows, wetlands and woodlands of Ham House discover where to go for the best walks in London.Find out more
- Walking on the Isle of Wight
- There is plenty to discover on a walk on the Isle of Wight including dinosaur fossils at Compton Bay and Downs, secluded creeks and waterways at Newtown National Nature Reserve and the cliffs and farmland of Mottistone Gardens and Estate. Here are some of the best walks on the Isle of Wight.Find out more
- Walking in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
- Make the most of the summer with spring walks in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. From gentle wanders through meadows to longer jaunts across the rolling Chiltern hills, there are lots of walks for the whole family to enjoy.Find out more
Our partners
We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
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