Seasonal sights and strolls: autumn at Attingham

View of the autum sky through the leaves at Attingham Park — Late autumn sky through the leaves at Attingham Park

Everyone needs nature this 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' as summer days fade into autumn through September and into October and November. Enjoy the great outdoors this season and discover more about some of the trees on the Mile Walk, find out more about the Orchard, see the autumn harvest in the Walled Garden, and learn more about the fallow deer herd in the park. There's still time to get active outdoors too, take a look at our Repton run routes to get the blood pumping on the cooler days.

With woodlands, pleasure grounds, deer park, walled garden and orchard, autumn is impressive at Attingham; as summer comes to an end and before winter draws in the autumn colours of golden yellows, ambers, red, deep greens and rich browns sweep across the estate and make a beautiful setting for exploring with friends or family.

The autumn light in the Deer Park at Attingham — Autumn light creates rich colour in the Deer Park at Attingham

Can’t see the wood for the trees?

Discover a bit more about some of the trees around the Mile Walk on our downloadable trail ‘Discover the trees of the Mile Walk’. Compiled from research carried out by Dr Andy Gordon, we’ve highlighted ten trees to look out for as you enjoy a stroll around the Pleasure Grounds.

Orange and golden hues, a view up a tree — Our oldest tree is nearly 700 years old

Download the trail to your device and take a closer look on your next walk.

A single Cedar of Lebanon tree at Attingham Park — A Cedar Of Lebanon on the Mile Walk at Attingham Park

Attingham Park Shropshire

Discover the trees of the Mile Walk

Everyone needs nature and this trail takes you on a walk to find out more about some of the interesting trees around the Mile Walk.

Step out

Autumn in the Walled Garden

Attingham’s Walled Garden is a hive of activity, with seasonal fruit, vegetables and flowers grown throughout the year, and a haven for wildlife, including the Attingham bees. Bright splashes of colour can be seen in the Walled Garden and orchard at this time of year, look out for the dahlias in bloom in September and early October.

Find out more about the Walled Garden on the link below.

A view of the Glass Houses and Bothy inside the Walled Garden — The glasshouses in the Walled Garden frameyard at Attingham.

Attingham Park Shropshire

Stroll in Attingham's Walled Garden

Enjoy a stroll around our lovingly restored Walled Garden (open from 9am) and savour the sights and smells of fresh produce and flower borders.

Find out more about Attingham Park

An apple a day

While you’re visiting this season we’ll be harvesting apples in the orchard. There are over 160 trees growing 37 varieties of apples.

A view of the orchard at Attingham Park — A view of the orchard at Attingham, established c.1780s

Attingham Park Shropshire

An apple a day from Attingham's orchard

Attingham's orchard is a special place, with 37 varieties of cooking and eating apples grown.

Visit the Orchard

Wildlife at Attingham

Attingham is a haven for wildlife and home to many creatures great and small. Look out for these sights on your next visit.

The Attingham fallow deer herd
From September onwards the deer can be seen feeding on the acorns and conkers that fall to the ground from the trees in the park – they’re a great source of food for building the herd up for the rut and the coming winter.

At this time of year look out for the bucks rearing up on their hind legs to knock the branches with their antlers to knock down more. From October onwards the breeding season, known as the rut, begins. During this time there is a change in dynamic in the park and the males can often be seen testing each other’s strength and locking horns, they also be heard ‘bellowing’ during this season.

Bucks in the deer park at Attingham Park. — Bucks in the deer park at Attingham.

Please keep to the paths in the Deer Park, dogs must be on leads at all times when visiting Attingham (except for the off-lead area in the Mile Walk paddock).

Swallows and House Martins
The annual swallow and house-martin migration stops off at Attingham during September usually. They ‘hang’ around for a few days, usually at the front of the Mansion before continuing their journey south for the winter.

Dragonflies
During late summer and into the first few weeks of autumn dragonflies can still be spotted along the banks of the River Tern.

Common darter dragonfly at Attingham Park — A female common darter dargonfly on the banks of the river at Attingham Park

Get active outdoors

It's never too late to take up jogging or running, and Attingham has the perfect landscape to help even the less active of us feel spurred on. Try our Repton Run Routes which are designed with the beginner in mind building up from 1.5 km to 4.5 km through the ever-changing Deer Park landscape. You can download the routes in advance, or follow them on your phone live. The quieter times of day from 8am in the morning or later afternoon ensure no-one will see your red cheeks if you don't want them to!

Short Repton Run Route (1.5 km)

This short beginner’s run route takes you on a gentle grass path in a circular route along the river in the Attingham Deer Park. The run is 1.5 km (nearly a mile) and starts from the Deer Park Bridge.