Seasonal walks that the whole family can enjoy

Autumn colours and frostier days — what better time to enjoy nature, writes Fran Power

WELCOME to our guide to 25 wonderful autumn walks for all the family. Our expert writers and hikers, Helen Fairbairn and Roisin Finlay have chosen routes from across the entire country to tempt you outdoors.

They include a gentle lakeland loop, a tougher hike that rewards you with views of the Blasket islands, a beach you can only reach by foot, and a stroll along the forest paths of an old country estate. There’s even a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to climb.

The early days of parenthood can put a brake on the most adventurous of hikers — as explorer and hotelier John Burke, who scaled Mount Everest, can attest. On page 7, he reveals how he dealt with the change of pace when baby Hanorah came along.

Our walks writer Helen, a mum herself, remembers those early days well. “If they’re still at the buggy or backpack stage, it’s all about finding trails with accessible terrain,” she says. “But the goalposts change as the kids grow. As they become independent, you can introduce short but interesting routes with lots of potential for exploration. By the time they’re physically confident, they’ll revel in challenges like short hill climbs or scrambling off the trail.

“Kids love to prove how strong they are and it won’t take long before they’re striding ahead just to impress you.”

For artist and designer Helen Steele (see page 8), who is mum to three teenagers, walking has always been important. These days, however, not only does hiking give her time to reconnect with nature, but she also has that all-important chance to catch up with her kids.

To cater for all types and ages of family, then, we’ve featured all levels of route here. No matter how arduous or easy the trails are, though, they all have one thing in common — somewhere delicious to stop for a cup of tea (or something stronger) and a bit of a treat afterwards.

There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning gold, and there’s no better time to boot up and step outside to explore.