Destinations
Best autumn spots UK: complete guide to leaf-peeping
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Off peak road tripping in the autumn means lower prices, and better availability on your perfect van. The summer crowds have passed and campsites are quieter.
Not to mention the spectacular views, this is a gorgeous time for exploring the country as everything turns gold, red and orange. Earlier nightfall beaconing for cosy campfires and a cup of something warm and mulled in hand.
We’ve pulled together some of the UK’s best spots for a short break this autumn; from spectacular forests and woodlands trails perfect for leaf peeping, to arboretums, and deer rutting hotspots. Discover the best places to soak up autumn in the UK at its very best this year.
Top spots for UK autumn staycations
1. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Forests and woodlands are obviously a winner if you want to roam or kick about in the bright colours of autumn leaves. The UK’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucestershire is our first choice for a leafy wander – its 600+ acres of woodland house over 16,000 trees representing 2,500 species from around the globe. If the kids baulk at “nice walk in the woods”, entice them with the Westonbirt Gruffalo sculptures, play and nature trails, and the fab treetop walkway.
Also recommended for magnificent colours of autumnal tree's :
Tollymore Forrest, County Down (also a top pick for Game of Thrones fans)
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, Powys, in the Brecon Beacons National Park
2. King Alfred’s Tower walk, Wiltshire
The leafy destinations above will all yield gorgeous autumn walks. Also well worth a hike is the five-mile King Alfred’s Tower walk at Lyme Park Wiltshire, climbing through woodland to reach the eponymous 160ft folly. The views from the top are spectacular; be sure to snap plenty of shots for social media brags.
More suggestions for UK autumn walks:
Glenfinnan Viaduct Trail, Highlands – the “Harry Potter” railway
Savill Garden Art in the Park Exhibition, Berkshire
3. The New Forest, Hampshire
This national park has heaps of autumnal highlights just ripe for seasonal staycations. Check out the New Forest’s ancient woodland or attractions and activities such as theme parks, wildlife centres and tours including walking, cycling, boating or by bus.
4. Deer rutting, Dumfries and Galloway
The deer rutting season is one of the great wildlife spectacles. This is the time that Each year during October, male deer, known as stags or bucks, embark on one of the greatest wildlife spectacles. Stags fight each other to assert their dominance, and to impress the female deer. And while this might sound a little like nature's answer to a Friday night cage fight, it’s quite a profound sight.
5. The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
A former royal Tudor hunting ground and one of the surviving ancient woodlands in England. It's remarkable landscape has lured many a TV and film production, including Harry Potter, and the latest Star Wars film. The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley covers around 600 square miles, and has over 20 million tree's. With a colour palette that will knock your woolly socks off, it is a leaf peepers heaven.
So whatever your destination this autumn, sort your travel and accommodation in one booking, by hiring a van and driving headfirst into this gorgeous time of year.