Three spectacular autumn walking trips

Alpine walking in Switzerland

If you are looking for a classic Alpine walking holiday, then head to Kandersteg in Switzerland where there are "cuckoo-clock houses, blinding-white peaks and flower-pricked meadows full of cowbells and yodelling", says Vincent Crump in The Sunday Times. It is possible to walk around the mountain lake of Oeschinensee in a day, or you can take a cable car that cuts the circuit to seven miles. The Victoria Ritter (00 41 33 675 8000) makes an ideal base to set out from, and it also does a "mean fondue", says Crump.

Inntravel offers a seven-night walking package based at the Victoria Ritter from £609 per person excluding flights. For more, see www.inntravel.co.uk or call 01653-617906.

Autumn colours in New England

"Nowhere sums up autumn colour quite like New England," says William Schomburg in The Independent. Soak up the scenery in luxury by staying at the Mayflower Inn in Washington, Connecticut. Rooms come with fireplaces and four-poster beds and glorious views of the hotel's gardens. After you've settled in, head to the nearby Steep Rock Reserve for walks through beautiful woodland.

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Doubles cost from £297 for room only at the Mayflower Inn. Call 00 1 860 868 9466 or visit www.mayflowerinn.com.

Follow in the footsteps of Hobbits

New Zealand has some of the best walks in the world. Unfortunately, as the location for the Lord of the Rings film, it has attracted a lot of fans, but as long as you avoid the over-populated Milford Track in favour of Routeburn Track on the South Island, you can feel like only Frodo Baggins has been here before you. A three-day, 20-mile walk will take you from "the snow-capped alpine saddle between Fiordland and Mount Aspiring national parks, with views into the Dart Valley which starred as Isengard in the Lord of the Rings", says Crump.

All Ways Pacific offers guided treks of the area from £429 per person. See www.all-ways.co.uk or call 01494-432747.

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.