The leaves on some trees seem to have been changing since September, but our experts suggest the biggest changes are likely to take place in the next week, bringing an outstanding autumn display.
'Last year’s autumn colour was short lived but stunning and intense, as both the exotics and native tree species changed at the same time,' says Alan Power, head gardener at Stourhead.
'This year, we’ve seen a more gradual lead into the colour changes, which means we could enjoy a more prolonged season of interesting colours.
'There'll still come a point, soon, where both the natives and exotics are changing together, and that’s when the colour will crescendo – making for an outstanding display.'
© National Trust
With trees collected from all over the world, the formal gardens of Stourhead provide a rare chance to see a global phenomenon of colours in just one place.
The colours of the exotic tulip trees and maples, native spindle-berries, beeches and oaks are made all the more glorious when they're reflected over Stourhead’s lakes and contrasted by the stark white temples around the estate.
See extraordinary autumnal scenes at:
Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire
The site and surrounding woods of Britain’s most significant roman villa contain a wealth of interesting and colourful seasonal mushrooms; with more than 500 species recorded to date.
Sherborne Estate, Gloucestershire
At the gateway to the Cotswolds, this estate has a series of free walks, including a sculpture trail. Surround yourself in magnificent autumnal colours among the estate’s avenues and areas of woodland wilderness. Collect a leaflet at the estate office or post office and look out too for the ink cap fungi in the Cheltenham Avenue.
Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire
With its string of linked lakes, including a naturalised heronry, this wilderness style park in the Stroud valleys has been chosen by BBC Autumnwatch for one of its filming locations this season. It includes a range of deciduous conifers which, alongside the broadleaved trees and evergreen conifers, provides a sensational autumn display, and a great place to get away from it all.
Newark Park, Gloucestershire
Get an unusual view of autumn colour from the cliff top estate as you look down on Westridge Woods on the edge of the Cotswold escarpment. The semi-ancient beech woodlands spread for miles into the horizon line, weaving around Wotton-under-Edge and Wotton Hill. As their colour changes, here’s an unusual chance for you to see autumn from above.
Tyntesfield, Somerset
The wider estate is full of specimen trees and colourful varieties, but it’s the mushrooms at Tyntesfield that may surprise you. More than 630 varieties of fungi have been recorded on the Victorian estate, including many rare wax caps (the colour toadstool kind you’d most often associate with fairytales).
Holnicote Estate / Horner Wood, Somerset
Holnicote’s woods are a real highlight with a dazzling array of autumn colours provided not only by the tree canopies but also the heath and ferns. Alongside its many ancient trees and their stunning quirkily shaped boughs, there are more than 440 species of fungi. Exmoor is also one of the best places in the UK to see the annual red deer ‘rut’, as it’s home to the largest wild herd outside of Scotland.
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