This venerable event is one of the UK’s most extensive hike-fests, and the 2024 programme includes dawn chorus strolls, walks and riverboat trips, as well as haiku-writing hikes, and ambles on Orford Ness (lovely for walking in early spring, too, and this month worth pairing with nearby Halesworth’s theatrical INK Festival, finishes 14 April; inkfestival.org). 

Further south, Dedham Vale is a particular delight – in the lushness of late spring, it looks just like a Romantic painting. Explore it on Ramble Worldwide’s walking break, staying at Flatford Mill and Willy Lotts’ Cottage, as featured in Constable’s Haywain. 

How to do it: The Crown & Castle in Orford (01394 450205; crownandcastle.co.uk) offers B&B doubles from £144 per night. Ramble Worldwide (01707 537231; rambleworldwide.co.uk) offers a five-night Constable Country guided trip from £639 per person including full board accommodation.

For more information, see discoversuffolk.org.uk

June

Where: Aberdeenshire

Midsummer is marvellous up in northern Scotland – the days last forever – you just need to avoid the midges. This is best done over in the east, so opt for Aberdeenshire. The vast and varied region offers 165 miles of coast, 263 castles and some epic drives, such as the North East 250 (northeast250.com), a loop via seashore, Speyside and Cairngorms – far less busy or buggy than the uber popular North Coast 500.