Sadly I haven’t managed that winter sun holiday yet, but I have just returned from a lovely long weekend on the Isle of Wight, which was stormy and wet. So how do you stay stylish on autumnal country walks in sturdy, practical footwear?

These boots – by FitFlop – are pretty cool, right? Sometimes I don’t think FitFlop quite get it on point with the design as they can look a bit clunky and unflattering, but I love the boxer boot style of this pair. The reason they look more slimline than the brand’s usual shape is that they feature a new, slimline sole which offers the ultimate in comfort (they really are a joy to wear). They also come in black, brown and a lovely bright yellow (below), as well as the grey I’m wearing here, all of which have a cosy, furry lining. Great for keeping out the Arctic wind.

But you probably don’t want to risk your suede boots once the rain arrives, even if you have taken the precaution of spraying with a good protector. And why should you take that risk when there are such amazing wellies on offer? I’ve written about Hunter’s amazing lace-up rubber sneakers before (here) but my latest find are these ankle boots by Ilse Jacobsen.

These are the coolest yet, in my opinion. They are fleece lined with a lovely pop of colour and really, really easy (unlike some wellington boots) to slip off when you get home. They come in so many colour options too: you can try these black ones with blue or yellow instead of orange on the sole, or the brave can opt for a bright red or yellow pair. Who said winter was dreary?