DISCOVER YOUR LOCAL AREA

Short and sweet, autumn’s colours are glorious but they don’t wait forever. Luckily Leeds and the surrounding area have a wealth of beautiful woodland areas, parks and open spaces packed with nature’s bounty, so there are no excuses not to see autumn colours at their best. Stuck for ideas for an autumn walk? Lace up those boots and try these for size:

HARROGATE PINEWOODS: Almost 100 acres of semi-natural woodland south-west of Harrogate town centre is a striking mix of Scots Pine, birch, holly and oak – so lots of colour options. Look for bats and wildlife preparing for winter.

KNARESBOROUGH: Half an hour from Leeds, Knaresborough’s medieval streets and winding stairways are pretty enough, its location – surrounded by thick woodland – is even better. Nidd Gorge dates back to at least 1600 and is made up of five woods which hug the River Nidd. Look out for the stunning woodland sculptures.

KILBURN WOOD: A North Yorkshire wood offering waymarked trails around the cliffs of Sutton Bank and Roulston Scar to White Horse Bank. Located in close proximity and visible for many miles is the Kilburn White Horse.

PEARSONS WOOD: A patch of woodland and natural habitat maintained by Thirsk Community Woodlands Group, this is small, but with a great mixture of tree varieties. Perfect if you’re seeking peace and quiet. A great place to take children for a small walk on the wild side. Visit the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk