Autumn colour at Hinton Ampner

Hues of red, gold and bronze blanket woodlands, fields and forests across the gardens and estate from mid-October, and can go on late into November.

Whether you’re looking for a breath of crisp autumnal air, building up an appetite to sample some warming treats or dusting off the cobwebs and enjoying one of our downloadable walks, there are plenty of reasons to explore Hinton Ampner this autumn.

The walled garden is still producing an array of vegetables and fruit. Giant onions dry in the golden afternoon sun while pumpkins, leeks and parsnips continue to swell in the cooler conditions.  'Autumn Bliss' raspberries are a welcome source of sugary juice for the peacock butterfly that also appreciate the heat given off by the south facing wall.

The walled garden central border has a real glow about it. The yellows of rudbeckia ‘herbstsonne’ and dahlia 'glory of Heemstede' contrast beautifully with pastel blue perovskia ‘blue spire’ and the golden oats 'stipa gigantea' translucent seed heads shimmer in the breeze.

In the formal garden, the rich red leaves of shrubs cotinus ‘grace’ and cercis 'candensis' create an impressive backdrop to the garden statuary. 

In the sunken garden vibrant salvias including leucantha, darcyii and concolor compete for attention with the vibrant dahlia ‘fastination’.  The magenta pink flowers are set off beautifully against the dark bronze foliage.  The shortening days and cooler conditions just make the dahlias flower more and this continues until the first hard frost.

From the back of the house you can gaze out over parkland littered with yellow and gold foliage from ancient oaks and beeches, interspersed with the deep red hues of Norway maple. Walk through the park and you’ll enter magnificent woodland filled with towering beeches, creating a bronze leaf canopy. 

Want to explore on your own?

Why not download one of our estate walks and get to know the surrounding area. Try our Stewkeley Walk a 1.9 mile route taking you on a gentle stroll across the estate towards the picturesque village of Kilmeston, before looping back to Hinton Ampner.