Enjoy Yorkshire's autumn colours

Discover autumn at its very best as the natural world transforms in colour right before your very eyes. Here are our top suggestions for where to enjoy the best of autumn over the coming weeks in Yorkshire.

Studley Royal water garden in autumn

Explore Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal 

Take a walk from the abbey ruins towards the water garden as summer turns to autumn to see the trees dressed in reds, yellows and golds. Wander along the high ride path to the surprise view for breath-taking views and take in the Temple of Piety as it becomes surrounded by auburn beech trees and golden horse chestnuts.

Discover the changing season at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
Visitor walking in the park at Nostell in autumn.

See the seasons change at Nostell 

As nature’s colour palette changes to hues of gold, amber and crimson, discover more of Nostell with an autumn walk through the parkland. Take in colourful landscape views from Obelisk Lodge and keep your eyes peeled for fungi growing in the woodlands. Don't miss the vibrant acers in the Menagerie Garden. We're also celebrating 10 years of the kitchen garden and hoping for a colourful harvest abundant with apples and pumpkins.

Explore autumn colour at Nostell
Corner of a red bricked hall with orange leaves on the floor

Fruitful colour at Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens 

As summer draws to an end, look out for late colour from dahlias and asters in the south border, the deep crimson ornamental vines framing the walled gardens and the orange hues of the ripening pumpkins and the trees beyond. See the garden's fruit bursting to life too, with over 40 varieties of apples and pears ripening. The colours of the different fruits range from green, golden, russet and red.

Autumn colour at Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens
A family exploring Wentworth Castle Gardens in autumn

Seasonal changes across Wentworth Castle Gardens 

Wentworth Castle Gardens, awash with autumn colour, is one of the most Instagrammable places in Yorkshire if you ask us. Head to Lady Lucy’s Walk to capture the ultimate autumn snap. It’s an avenue of towering lime trees that turn acid yellow as the weather cools down. Go on a walk in the parkland towards the rotunda and see if you can spot the red and fallow deer along the way.

Watch autumn take hold at Wentworth Castle Gardens
The grounds covered in a carpet of autumnal red leaves

See the season turn at East Riddlesden Hall  

The gardens at East Riddlesden Hall put on a colourful autumn display, as shades of oranges, reds and gold mix with the late summer blooms when the season starts to turn. Trees, laden with ripe fruit, begin to drop their crop as harvest season begins. Head to the Great Barn and discover the farming past of this once thriving agricultural estate.

Discover autumn colour at East Riddlesden Hall
Organic apple orchard at Nunnington Hall

Visit Nunnington Hall in autumn  

You can't miss the black walnut tree in its autumn splendour as you cross over the bridge at Nunnington Hall – it turns a bright yellow colour and really sets the scene for an autumnal visit. Look out for the liquid amber tree too - its leaves go bright red. Autumn fruit also adds to the colour in the gardens and the orchards will be bursting with apples and pears, including local varieties of apple such as the Yorkshire Beauty and Dog's Snout, ready for harvesting.

Admire the harvest at Nunnington Hall
Autumn sees a carpet of leaves adorn the pathways

Take in the changing colours at Ormesby Hall  

Pennyman woods comes alive in autumn, with a mix of autumnal colours from the various trees. The beech trees always look stunning in the woods, while the copper beech in the garden is at its most colourful in autumn as the leaves turn to a radiant red cascading over the lawn. Overhanging a hidden seat is the purple smoke bush, with its smoky violet, purple and blue flowers, creating a relaxing space to take in some autumn colour.

Relax beneath the trees at Ormesby Hall
Autumn tracks at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales

Soak up the colours of autumn in the Yorkshire Dales 

When autumn arrives in the Yorkshire Dales, the greens of the summer are replaced by a stunning array of rustic browns, golds and reds. Late flowers still showing include devil's bit scabious and keep an eye out for fungi in different shapes, shades and sizes.

Discover autumn's wild side in the Dales
Hayburn Wyke on the North Yorkshire coast

Coastal autumn colour 

Nature bursts into life on the Yorkshire coast in autumn. Bright berries, colourful fungi and migrating birds such as redwing, waxwing and fieldfare can all be seen arriving for the winter. At Hayburn Wyke oak trees twisted and stunted by the sea breeze overlook a waterfall and rocky bay where the woods meet the coast.

Head to the Yorkshire coast this autumn
Gibson Mill at the heart of Hardcastle Crags in Autumn

Woodland colour and fungi at Hardcastle Crags 

During autumn, Hardcastle Crags is transformed with an explosion of colour. The trees begin to drop their leaves, carpeting the woodland floor with a sea of greens, oranges, reds and golds, and sunlight peaks through the bare branches. Throughout the woodland, and in the surrounding hay meadows, there’s lots of different types of weird and wonderful colourful fungi to discover too.

Explore the woodland at Hardcastle Crags