Powis Castle in Wales has been voted the favourite place to walk in our online poll.

The castle’s parkland was one of eight places across the nation championed by celebrities to represent the best places for a walk.

Members of the public then voted online for their favourite as part of our first ever Walking Festival, sponsored by PruHealth.

The walk round the grounds of Powis Castle was chosen by weather presenter Sian Lloyd. She said:

‘I’m absolutely delighted by this. I’m thrilled they’ve won – and deservedly so because Powis Castle is the best castle in the country.’

Alison Dyer, the castle’s Assistant Visitor Services Manager, said:

‘We are delighted to win the Walking Festival vote’

‘It is a real tribute to the beauty of Powis Castle and the joy that many people receive from exploring our grand Italianate terraces, dancing statues and lavish herbaceous borders, framed by a beautiful red Welsh castle.’

Powis won with 40 per cent of the overall vote. Croome Park in Worcestershire, championed by the singer Toyah Wilcox, was second. Newton Pool in Northumberland, championed by crime writer Val McDermid, was third.

Other places featured were Ham House in Richmond, chosen by comedian Omid Djalili, Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland (TV presenter Zoe Salmon), Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire (archaeologist Francis Pryor), Windermere in the Lake District (polar explorer Paul Rose) and The Warren in South Devon (Adam Hart Davis).

The vote was organised as part of our Walking Festival which was held during the October half term. More than 62,000 people took part in walking-themed events at 376 National Trust properties across the UK.

Many more people took advantage of the mild autumn weather to go for self-guided walks on our 250,000 hectares of land and 710 miles of coastline. The Walking Festival is now set to become an annual event.