Autumn is a great season for hiking. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold; you can get some crisp, clear days where you can see for miles; and the trails aren’t clogged with tourists. But best of all is that nature puts on a radical show of colour as the leaves turn from green to red, yellow and brown. We may not have a ‘Fall’ as spectacular as New England but there are plenty of places in this country to enjoy a hike among the colour changing trees of autumn.

The Peak District is hard to beat. Limestone outcrops and peat moorlands give way to deep valleys which reward walkers with rich wooded areas. Exmoor National Park also has steep wooded ravines and areas of ancient oak woodland over 400 years old. The park’s mild coastal climate ensures an autumnal display long after trees in other parts of the UK have shed their foliage.

Westonbirt Arboretum holds species of trees and shrubs from global explorations and boasts one of the finest tree collections in the world. The 600-acre landscaped estate is administered by the Forestry Commission and bursts into a kaleidoscope of colours during October and early November. A number of special walking trails lead you through some of the most colourful areas on the estate.

The Forestry Commission is also responsible for the environmental protection and economic expansion of England’s largest wooded area - the New Forest. Originally established between 1066 and 1086, the New Forest conserves a unique mix of native English trees, including beech, oak, horse chestnut, yew, ash and sycamore.

The Woodland Trust is a charity dedicated to the protection of native woodlands. It has plenty of woodland walks waiting to be discovered, such as at its largest protected property at Penn Wood in the Cotswolds.

The other great protective body - the National Trust - also has a number of properties perfect for viewing autumn foliage. Sheffield Park has hundreds of trees and shrubs planted especially for their seasonal colour, while Stourhead boasts various species of maples, oaks and hardwoods, including a 70ft tall redwood tree that turns a cinnamon brown in autumn.

Don’t forget to pack your waterproof hiking boots – it could get muddy on the trails!