Autumn is here - and the National Trust says get your boots on

Autumn is officially here - at least according to Barra.

And that means vistas of vivid foliage and harvests of hedgerow berries. And walks, of course.

Conservation charity, the National Trust, says it is marking the change of the seasons with the launch of a handy guide to its most popular walks in Northern Ireland.

The Little Book of Great Walks is available at selected Trust places and features 18 rambles of varying difficulty, length and terrain. All 18 walks, plus further details and suggestions, are also available online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walksnearyou

The beauty of many of these walks is that a Trust tea-room can always be found nearby, with the promise of hot drinks, tasty nibbles and a rest for weary bones.

Routes in the new publication are split into themes such as ‘history’ and ‘wildlife’.

One trail through Crom estate in Co Fermanagh is just over an hour long, yet offers beautiful tranquil scenery and an opportunity to spot red squirrels, otters or fallow deer.

At Mount Stewart in Co Down, three miles of new walking trails have recently been launched, opening up previously unseen parts of the demesne – which remain largely unchanged and are one of the best surviving examples of an 18th century Irish country estate.

Meanwhile, a two-hour meander through the 6,000 year old sand dunes at Portstewart Strand will bring you to the Bann Estuary, a salt marsh where you can enjoy the sight of shelducks swimming alongside other waders.

If a steep climb to work out the hamstrings is more your thing, the summit of Divis Mountain offers views of Belfast below, and on a clear day, glimpses of the Scottish, Cumbrian and Welsh uplands.

National Trust Coast and Countryside Manager, Andrew Upton said the new publication, produced in association with the walking experts at Cotswold Outdoor, is timely and could help spur people on to get more exercise and fresh air.

“The great thing about this handy new booklet is that it caters for all tastes and abilities, so there are walks through woodland and coast, mountains and countryside,” he said.

“Everyone will have their own favourite walk at a special place near them, and there are always new walks to discover.

“Here at the Trust, we’re very committed to increasing public access to green spaces and to encouraging children to exercise more and use their imagination instead of being stuck indoors in front of screens.

“The more that people get out and about regularly, the more public health and wellbeing will be increased, as well as a sense of the beauty, joy and fun of nature.”