Best walks for autumn highlights
Autumn is a time of wonder when the natural world turns a kaleidoscope of colour and landscapes come alive with wildlife activity. Exploring the parks, coast and countryside we look after on foot is a great way to experience this magical time of year, and there are lots of different autumn highlights to enjoy on local walks near you.
Please check the property homepage for the trail you'd like to explore before travelling to see if there have been any changes made due to social distancing.
What's the best time to see autumn leaves in the UK?
Officially, autumn equinox is 22 September. The best time to start looking for that first tint of autumn is mid-September, and depending on where you are, autumn colour often reaches its peak from mid-late October. Get wrapped up warm and spot those splashes of colour.
What causes the leaves to change in autumn?
These autumnal colours don't come about by accident — behind the hues lie a careful balance of natural environmental reactions, resulting in the palette you'll see in special places this autumn.
The development of autumn colour begins its process according to the conditions of the seasons that come before. It’s the steady decrease in sunlight hours during September and October that triggers green leaf chlorophyll to break down, revealing dazzling autumn tones below.
Throughout the year, factors like temperature, moisture and sunlight all contribute to the vibrancy of the autumn colours. A wet spring, a hot summer, followed by sunny autumn days and frosty nights usually makes for a dazzling leaf display.