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Step into autumn with a stunning seasonal walk; take in the gorgeous golden tones, collect conkers along the way, and feel the satisfying crunch of leaves beneath your feet.
Reconnect with nature amongst the trees, spot English wildlife, and admire the autumn vistas from some of the best viewpoints in the county.
Read on for our guide to beautiful autumnal walks in Hampshire.
Keats’ Walk – Winchester
The natural beauty of autumn in Winchester inspired English romantic poet John Keats to write his ode ‘To Autumn.’
Follow the daily route Keats took during his stay in Winchester in autumn 1819. Starting at Winchester Tourist Information Centre, enjoy a self-guided walk in the poet's footsteps from the city to St Cross, passing through the landscape which inspired his famous poem.
Route distance: 2 miles
Starting point: Winchester Tourist Information Centre
Find out more about Keats' Walk - Ode to Autumn
Tall Tree Trail – New Forest National Park
Walk beneath canopies of golden colour and immerse yourself in autumn in the New Forest.
The circular Tall Tree Trail will take you alongside some of the oldest, tallest, and most impressive trees in the National Park with a multitude of colours overhead and crunchy leaves beneath your feet.
Huge conifers dating back to 1859 line the walk along with the incredible Douglas firs and mighty redwoods of the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive.
Route distance: 1.5 miles
Starting point: Brock Hill Car Park or Black Water Car Park
Find out more about the Tall Tree Trail
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Bolderwood Deer Spotting Walk – New Forest National Park
During October fallow and red deer start their courting actions in the New Forest, making autumn an exciting time of year for deer spotting. Listen out for the clash of antlers echoing across the forest and if you’re lucky you might spot the rutting action of stags fighting for the attention of female deer.
From Bolderwood (where you may be able to spot deer at the viewing platform) there are three walks of varying distance: The Deer Watch Trail leads you to the deer viewing platform overlooking fields where wild herds of fallow deer are regularly seen; the Jubilee Grove Trail leads you past the deer fields; and the Radnor Trail continues to the Blackwater, a tributary of the Lymington River.
Route distance: 0.5 miles (The Deer Watch Trail), 1 mile (Jubilee Grove Trail), or 2 miles (Radnor Trail)
Starting point: Bolderwood car park
Find out more about the Bolderwood Deer Spotting Walk
Butser Hill – South Downs National Park
Take in the stunning views of autumn from the top of the highest point in Hampshire: Butser Hill. At 270 metres high, you can sit with your flask and take in the vistas of the surrounding hills, valleys, and farmland and admire the colours of autumn.
‘The dragon of Butser Hill’ is a short interactive walk designed especially for children and for more of a challenge continue along the 100-mile South Downs Way stretching from the historic city of Winchester in Hampshire right across to Eastbourne in East Sussex.
Route distance: 0.75 miles (for the dragon of Butser Hill walk)
Starting point: Butser Hill car park
Find out more about the South Downs Way
Meon Valley Trail and Old Winchester Hill – South Downs
The Meon Valley Trail provides car free access into the South Downs. Once a railway line running from Fareham to Alton, the trail now spans 11 miles through picturesque countryside, from West Meon in the north to Wickham in the south.
Just a slight detour from the Meon Valley Trail sits Old Winchester Hill. This popular beauty spot has been famous since the Victorian times. Boasting stunning views across the valley to Beacon Hill and down to the sea, it is the perfect place to take part in some autumn bird watching with a good chance of spotting a red kite or buzzard overhead.
Route distance: 11 miles
Starting point: West Meon
Find out more about the Meon Valley Trail
Farley Mount Country Park – Winchester
Farley Mount is a large area of beautiful downland and woodland outside Winchester. The Country Park is ideal for walking with fine views over central Hampshire.
The Country Park is named after the famous monument to a horse, named "Beware Chalk Pit", which carried its owner to a racing victory in 1734, a year after having fallen into a chalk pit whilst out fox-hunting. The views all around the Hampshire landscape are stunning, and the monument can also be seen from many distant places, particularly when the autumn sun is reflected from the white walls.
The Clarendon Way, a 24-mile waymarked route linking the cathedral cities of Salisbury (across the border in Wiltshire) and Winchester, runs through Farley Mount Country Park.
Route distance: Various distances from the Farley Mount monument
Starting point: Monument car park, Farley Mount Country Park
Find out more about Farley Mount Country Park
The Test Way
Pick up part of the 44-mile Test Way to take in the riverside of the famous Test this autumn.
The long-distance walking route begins with a dramatic start, high on the chalk downs at Inkpen, to follow much of the course of the River Test to Eling where its tidal waters flow into Southampton Water.
The Way has been divided into eight sections: choose between water meadows or tidal marshes, riverbank picnics or cosy pubs, steep hills with exhilarating views or cool, peaceful woodland.
Route distance: 44 miles (divided into shorter sections)
Starting point: Various locations in the Test Valley
Find out more about The Test Way
Basingstoke Canal Towpath Trail
The golden reflections from the trees in the water and the gentle falling of autumn leaves into the waterway bordered with traditional canal boats along its banks, make the Basingstoke Canal seasonally scenic this time of year.
The Basingstoke Towpath Trail offers lovely views of the canal and its wildlife. Stretching the full length of the canal from Penny Bridge to its junction with the River Wey at Woodham. There are many sections of the canal to choose from with sights along the way including Odiham Castle, the Deepcut flight of locks, aqueducts, scenic villages and historic buildings.
Route distance: 33.5 miles
Starting point: Penny Bridge
