AUTUMN is upon us, with the leaves falling and days shortening, and there are certainly worse places to be than the Isle of Wight.

For any revellers intrepid enough to brave the bitter weather, the season is a time where eye-catching nature is in abundance.

There are a number of walks to enjoy during the blustery days, here are five of our favourites.

Shanklin Old Village to Ventnor seafront (4.0 miles)

Isle of Wight County Press: A scenic rock cleft in the Upper Greensand crags, north of Bonchurch. Credit: Wikimedia.A scenic rock cleft in the Upper Greensand crags, north of Bonchurch. Credit: Wikimedia.

Mastering the incline from Highcliff Road in Shanklin will set you on a trail through the woods towards Bonchurch and Ventnor.

There are a number of alluring spectacles along the way, including the Devil's Chimney — a scenic rock cleft with steps descending into the Bonchurch Landslips between Bonchurch and Luccombe.

A Solar walk then allows wayfarers to experience the scale of the Solar System while strolling along the Esplanade towards Ventnor.

Ryde Esplanade to Quarr Abbey (2.8 miles)

Isle of Wight County Press: A couple of the friendly faces you'll encounter at Quarr AbbeyA couple of the friendly faces you'll encounter at Quarr Abbey

Starting at Ryde Esplanade, it should take around an hour to complete this scenic walk.

From Ryde, you’ll traipse past Spencer Road and Ryde Golf Club. Most of the walk takes place on footpaths and quiet roads, with various animals making themselves known along the way.

The path is guided by a wide-ranging selection of trees, and the final destination offers — Covid pending — a small art gallery, a cafe, breathtaking monastery and some of the most welcoming bovine you could hope to encounter.

Tennyson Down (7.0 miles)

Isle of Wight County Press: CP reader Julie White sent us this image of Tennyson Downs, which offers stunning views.CP reader Julie White sent us this image of Tennyson Downs, which offers stunning views.

A captivating downland walk, with hypnotic views of the iconic Needles, a 19th-century fort, a Cold War rocket test site and a monument to a Victorian poet laureate whose name it bears.

Depending on Covid measures, the Needles Old Battery tearoom is available for a pit stop to warm up.

An ideal route for dogs which can be spread into several shorter walks if preferred, with rest stops along the way.

Parkhurst Forest Walk (1.6 miles)

Isle of Wight County Press: Parkhurst Forest. Credit: Mark Pilbeam.Parkhurst Forest. Credit: Mark Pilbeam.

A compact trail which welcomes numerous birds and red squirrels, its location is worth seeking out despite being a little off the beaten track.

A short and picturesque walk, this woodland park is an ideal escape from the hurly burly of everyday life.

A throwback to a time when an escape into nature didn't involve staring at a cellular screen and and Facebook wasn't even a twinkle in Mark Zuckerberg's eye.

Western Yar circular walk (3.9 miles)

Isle of Wight County Press: Former railway trackbed by the Western Yar. Credit: Paul Coueslant.Former railway trackbed by the Western Yar. Credit: Paul Coueslant.

This breathtaking walk follows the same route as a section of the former Newport to Freshwater Railway line which closed in 1953.

The old railway line is now a public bridleway and cycleway, with a farm shop, cafe and toilets situated at Kings Manor Farm on Copse Lane in Freshwater.

There is a large long stay car park at the Green in Yarmouth close to the start of the walk.