If months spent locked down inside our houses has proven anything, it’s just how much we rely on the great outdoors. Nature is a crutch, a means of helping us to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life, and even just the mental image of wide open fields, big skies and glassy lochs can make our anxious, overworked brains feel temporarily soothed.

Unsurprisingly, research has proven that spending time outdoors is thoroughly good for us. Being surrounded by nature and green spaces has been scientifically proven to lower levels of inflammation in the body, while the antimicrobial essential oils released by trees have been proven to boost our mood and immune system function. That’s not to mention the positive effects that come with getting a solid dose of Vitamin D from the sun.

As it happens, Autumn is one of the very best times to get outdoors in the UK, when forests come alive in a blaze of amber, dark skies fill with stars and frosty dew clings to the leaves like scattered diamonds. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the very best back to nature escapes for Autumn, from hiking holidays to bird-watching breaks (with the odd al fresco hot tub thrown in for a spot of luxury). Wellies at the ready!

Autumn holidays UK: 7 beautiful nature escapes for a weekend away, from hiking to glamping