Turn over a new leaf this autumn
ANCIENT forests ablaze with auburn and gold, an arboretum packed with exotic trees, and a steam train snaking through golden gardens – autumn here is just as impressive as ‘the fall’ in New England, says KATIE ROWE.
ADMIRE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL TREES
SOME of the world’s rarest trees are to be found at Westonbirt Arboretum near the historic town of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, decked out in their autumn finery over 600 acres of countryside. Just 40 minutes from Bath you’ll find a wooden wonderland painted with the rippling reds of Japanese maples and the sharp yellows of hickory trees, as well as candyfloss-scented katsuras. Explore a meandering assortment of trails and paths at your leisure, including those found in Silk Wood, a dog-friendly area that makes up two-thirds of the arboretum.
SPOT RED SQUIRRELS AND ROE DEER
NOTHING quite prepares you for your first encounter with Northumberland’s dramatic landscapes, and in autumn, with the golden light that the changing of the season brings, it feels even more enchanting. If you’re not used to rambling, rugged moorlands, opt for the woodland trails and riverside walks of Allen Banks and Staward Gorge instead. Owned by the National Trust, it’s one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in Northumberland, which means you’re guaranteed to
GO IN SEARCH OF PONIES AND FUNGI
THE medieval woodlands of the New Forest are even more magical when bursts of autumnal colour give the entire area a warm glow. Stroll past towering oak, beech, ash and sweet chestnut trees clothed in amber and copper colours, and look out for grazing wild ponies, and red and white toadstools hidden beneath carpets of leaves. Not sure where to start? The New Forest Walking Festival from October 17 to November 1 has more outdoor activities than you can shake a twig at, including wildlife, history and foraging walks.
WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF TED HUGHES
Laureate Ted Hughes lived in the sleepy village of North Tawton in the 1960s and went on to write a collection of poems, entitled Moortown, inspired by the area. Why not walk in his footsteps along part of the Tarka Trail, starting from North Tawton and heading to the quaint village of Sticklepath? Alternatively, strap on your hiking boots and clamber up Yes Tor – the second highest point on Dartmoor – for panoramic views over bronzed moors rolling into the distance.
SOAK UP AUTUMN COLOURS ABOARD A STEAM TRAIN
THE bursts of colour from the Japanese maples and dogwoods found along the autumn walking trail at Exbury Gardens in Hampshire are pretty enchanting all by themselves, but add a steam-spouting locomotive into the mix and autumn becomes even more spectacular. The compact railway chugs along a one-and-a-quarter-mile route lined with towering oaks and themed gardens blushing with rich autumnal hues, making it one of the most perfect ways to experience the changing of the seasons.
For more holiday ideas, see visitengland.com.