1. River Exe, Exmoor, Somerset

A stroll up the River Exe from the Exmoor village of Winsford is an autumn treat for the eyes and ears.

The young river comes crashing down from the moor and the footpath shadows it closely on the south bank among alders and beeches that blaze gold and red against the green of the tight little valley.

Getting there M5 (Jct 27), A4361 to Tiverton, A396 north to Coppleham, minor road to Winsford. Map OS Explorer OL9

2. Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey (NT)

More than 1,000 tree and shrub species, established on a hillside overlooking lakes. The gold, silver and scarlet of turning maples, and the yellow of lime leaves, stand out boldly against the background of evergreens. Cherry trees add a striking dash of scarlet, becoming darker crimson as the season progresses. Photographers find great reward here.

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Getting there A3, A3100 to Godalming, B2130. Rail to Godalming. Map OS Explorer 145 (nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-winkworth arboretum)

3. Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

An ancient and unique landscape — where the Winnie-the-Pooh books were set — it blazes with russet-coloured bracken at this time of year. The scrub along the hill slopes is bright with haw berries and rosehips, and with the delicate yellow foliage of silver birches. On the woodland margins are oaks, beeches and sweet chestnut, all on the turn. Bright scarlet fly agaric fungi thrive here under the big trees.

Getting there A22 through East Grinstead and Forest Row to Wych Cross, left to Ashdown Forest Centre (1 mile). Rail to East Grinstead. Map OS Explorer 135. (01342 823583; ashdown forest.org).

4. Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

The great old oaks look magnificent in their autumn coats of many colours, but the real reason for setting off into the forest at this time of year is that it’s a wonderful walk to do with the kids after you’ve filled their imaginative little heads with colourful tales of Robin Hood. The Major Oak (well over 800 years old), is a half-hour stroll from the Visitor Centre.

Getting there A6075, Ollerton to Edwinstowe; right on B6034 to entrance (½ mile) Map OS Explorer 270. (01623 823202; www.sherwoodforest.org.uk)

5. Bardney Lime Woods, Lincolnshire

Around Bardney, to the east of Lincoln, 2,000 acres of rare and lovely lime-tree woods are beginning to turn lemon yellow, a particularly striking sight when the sun shines through them. These woods are fabulously rich in fungi, too: 350 varieties at least. Join a Fungus Foray and feast your eyes on dog stinkhorn, jelly fungus,and dead man’s fingers.

Getting there A158, Lincoln to Wragby; right on B1202. Map OS Explorer 273 Fungus Foray 10-noon, October 24, £3. (01526 399943; limewoods.co.uk).

6. Grizedale Forest Park, Cumbria

A popular forest with many well-marked trails that lead walkers and mountain-bikers to superb views over to Coniston Water and Windermere. Tarns and pools reflect the autumn colours of old oakwoods and there are fine panoramas across the southern fells of the Lake District, where the heather and bracken are turning a fiery fox-red.

Getting there West of Windermere, between Hawkshead (B5285) and Newby Bridge (A590). Bus: tel 01228 606705; 01539 445161. Map OS Explorer OL7 (Grizedale Forest Park Visitor Centre 01229 860010).

7. Cragside, Northumberland (NT)

Forty miles of footpaths wind through the grounds and the wider estate. Azaleas, cherries and maples offer a fiery spectacle, the rowan trees are in full scarlet berry and the herbaceous borders and rock garden heathers are at their most varied in colour. The graceful Iron Bridge (a pioneering steel construction of the 1870s) is open again across Debdon Burn for the first season in 30 years.

Getting there A1 to Alnwick, B6341 to Rothbury; Cragside signposted here. Map OS Explorer 332. (Cragside 01669 620333; national trust.org.uk).

8. Dollar Glen, Perthshire

Start from the top of Dollar town and follow the steep path up Dollar Glen beside the tumbling burns of Sorrow and Care to the atmospheric ruin of Castle Campbell. Hazels, silver birch, oak and hawthorn are all in their autumn glory, but the pride of the place is the rowan or mountain ash. It’s been a great autumn for wild fruit, and the rowan berries are hanging in great scarlet clumps like premature Christmas decorations.

Getting there A91 from Perth or Stirling. Buses (www.traveline.info) from Glasgow, Stirling, Alloa, St Andrews. Train to Alloa (3 miles). Map OS Explorer 366

9. Elan Valley, Mid Wales

These lovely oak woodlands, provided with a visitor centre and ranger service, are set on their hillsides above a string of beautiful lakes. Sulphur-yellow gorse, purple-brown heather and pale silver moor grass cover the far hills, the rowan berries are in their pomp, and the woods themselves are full of exotic-looking fungi — 83 species and counting.

Getting there Signposted from Rhayader on A470/A44. Map OS Explorer 200 Fungus Foray October 2-5 and 17, meet at Visitor Centre. (01597 81088; elanvalley.org.uk).

10. Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh

William Gilpin landscaped the Crom Estate on the shores of Upper Lough Erne in the 1830s, and he knew what he was doing, particularly with regard to the trees. The Crom woods cluster along the lakeshore and the islets, the acid yellows of lime and conker-brown of horse chestnut contrasting with the persimmon hues of beech trees, all reflected in the water — a treat for painters and photographers alike.

Getting there A25 to Newtownbutler; Crom Estate (3 miles). Map OSNI Discoverer 17. (02867 738118; nationaltrust.org.uk).

And 20 other options...

ENGLAND

1. Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon

Red, yellow, orange and purple in the “hot” spots of this Royal Horticultural Society garden (01805 624067; www.rhs.org.uk).

2. New Forest, Hampshire

145 sq miles of farmland, heath, ponds, wetlands and woods in autumn colours.

3. Stourhead, Wiltshire

Landscaped grounds, classical temples, bridges and autumnal trees reflected in the misty great lake (01747 841152; nationaltrust.org.uk).

4. West Dean Woods, Chichester, West Sussex

Oak, beech, ash and mighty old yew, threaded by quiet paths.

5. Wakehurst Place, West Sussex

Blazing colour at this outstation of Kew Gardens (01444 894066; rbgkew.org.uk).

6. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

A rich patchwork of trees, ponds, industrial relics and open views.

7. Westonbirt, Gloucestershire

Classic arboretum in Royal Family territory, starring the National Maple Collection in its full autumn pomp.

8. Oldhill and Lidcombe Woods, Gloucestershire

Pheasants, fungi and glorious trees in the heart of the Cotswolds near the gold stone villages of Stanton and Stanway.

9. Epping Forest, Essex

Gnarled old beeches, hornbeams and oaks in the forest where Dick Turpin hid out and Queen Boadicea made her last stand against the Romans.

10. Bradfield Woods, Suffolk

Ancient woodland of ash and alder, still coppiced today, home to fox, stoat, weasel, dormouse, deer, nightingales, tawny owls, frogs, newts, toads ...

11. Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

The green lung of the industrial Midlands turns gold and red at this time of year.

12. Nor Wood, Cook Spring & Owler Car, Sheffield

Yellow, red and gold of maple and larch beautify this wood where a coal mine once stood.

13. Halldale Wood, Derbyshire

Steep Semi-natural ancient woodland of birch and ash, striking in autumn colours.

14. Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire

Deep-sunk woods under the Brontë Moors.

15. Strid Woods, Wharfedale, North Yorkshire

Dramatic churning river gorge under the orange skirts of oak and ash.

16. Poetry Path, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria

A year in the life of a fellside farmer through poems and carvings in the woods along the turbulent River Eden.

WALES

17. Gwydyr Forest, Betwys-y-Coed, Conwy, North Wales

Autumn colours at their ripest, with oaks ablaze against dark fir and spruce.

SCOTLAND

18. Priorwood Garden, Melrose, Borders

Home-grown dried flowers to bring colour to any gloomy November kitchen (www.nts.org.uk/property/50)

NORTHERN IRELAND

19. Drumlamph Wood, Maghera, Co Derry

One of Northern Ireland’s few tracts of ancient woodland — venerable hazel and oak wood, bog, river and rush pasture. Look out for red squirrels stocking up for winter.

20. Ness Wood, Co Derry

Oak, birch and hazel frame a thunderous fall of the Burntollet River at Shane’s Leap.

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