We’ve waved goodbye to the endless days of summer, but autumn by the coast has its own magic. Beyond the quieter beaches and fiery sunsets, discover the heady hues of autumn as you rustle through golden leaves, tunnel beneath russet and blonde canopies, and climb heather-strewn hills. From wild woodlands to rugged peaks, here are ten of the UK’s top spots to experience the autumn colours near the coast.
1. The New Forest, Hampshire
Wander through magical glades and ancient woodland, to open moors and rugged cliff tops, in this enchanting forest nestled on Britain’s south coast. Lace up your walking boots and breathe in the crisp autumn air, as you hike beneath the fiery foliage along a vast web of walking routes. We love to experience the sizzling season along Hampshire‘s Solent Way, hugging the coastline from the pretty waterside town of Lymington, and dipping into dense and vibrant woodland towards Hythe.
2. Hastings Country Park, East Sussex
Rustle through woodland glens and climb to lofty clifftops in the 850-acre Hastings Country Park. Experience autumn’s kaleidoscope as you tunnel beneath red and golden woodland canopies, and emerge on coastal paths that climb to viewpoints where you can set your sights on the shores of France or inland over East Sussex. Whichever way you look, from the coast to the countryside, this stunning coastal nature reserve is tucked under a patchwork of vibrant colours in autumn,
3. Trelissick Gardens, Cornwall
When the bracken turns brown, the clifftops of Cornwall bask in the autumn glow. But beyond Cornwall’s coast and beaches, there are hundreds of acres of magical woodland where you can witness an explosion of red and golden canopies from October to mid-November. One of our favourite autumn woodland walks is along the estuary-edge trails at National Trust’s Trelissick in South Cornwall. Arrive aboard the King Harry Ferry and join the wellie brigades wandering along tree-lined trails, climb knotted trunks of ancient trees, and tumble through the meadows into a deep-wooded valley at the edge of the water before resting the night in stunning St Mawes.
4. Stackpole, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Experience Autumn’s fireworks by the sea from this grand National Trust estate nudging Barafundle Bay. Meander through woodland draped in bright seasonal foliage, wander around the lily ponds and take an invigorating stroll along the windswept cliff tops to clap your eyes on Pembrokeshire’s glittering coastline.
5. Exmoor, Devon
Collect conkers, crunch through the leaves and climb the highest sea cliffs in England, in the rolling landscape of Exmoor National Park. Between the towering Hangman Cliffs near Combe Martin (314m) and the jagged edges of the ancient Valley of Rocks, the coastline plunges into deep valleys where you can tunnel through autumn colours in the unique Atlantic rain forest where the moors meet the sea. Follow the tumbling streams inland and wend from wooded glens to high open moorland, where the dramatic landscapes bask in golden autumn light. Exmoor is guaranteed to hit the spot.
6. Coed-Y-Brenin, Wales
Strike out on a crisp walk through crunchy leaves, or ramp it up and get on your bike at Snowdonia’s world-class mountain biking haven. Whatever pace you choose to experience the trails, you can soak up the season’s myriad of colours from lofty peaks and breathtaking valleys, stopping to take in the waterfalls, the ruins of copper mines, and fuelling up at the café on sustainable venison burgers made from on-site fallow deer.
7. Marbury Country Park, Cheshire
Located just inland from the coast of north-west England, Marbury Country Park – part of the sprawling Mersey Forest – displays the blonde tints of autumn along its magnificent Lime Avenue. Harking back to its days as a grand estate, the tree-lined avenue has been planted in perfect symmetry, so you can skip through deep channels of russet-hued leaves, beneath a linear tunnel of green and golden canopies.
8. Dunwich Heath, Suffolk
Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, the heathland at Dunwich is aglow with autumn tones as the season changes. Fungi emerges from the undergrowth, red deer can often be spotted, and the purple and red speckled heath is home to an abundance of birds and other wildlife. From the visitor centre beside 9. The Lake District, Cumbria
From its wooded valleys to rugged peaks, the Lake District is ablaze with colour in autumn. For a gull’s eye view of the season’s hues, climb Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain – from where you can see across the ocean to the peaks of Wales on a clear day. Or, for an easier stroll, take a twirl around Grasmere or Buttermere, where you’ll be dazzled by the profusion of russet treetops reflected in the glassy surface of the lakes. How about getting away from it all and casting away to a wild island in the Scottish Hebrides? The autumn months can be one of the best times to visit the Isle of Skye – when the crowds and the midges have departed, the verdant landscape turns to rust and berries burst from the hedgerows. While the nights are drawing in, the golden light of the shorter days creates photo opportunities around every corner, cooler weather makes climbing Scotland’s Munros more comfortable. Feeling inspired to discover the autumn colours by the coast? Imagine coming home to a cosy cottage and hunker by the log burner after a day bedazzled by autumn colours in the Great Outdoors. Check out our collection of seaside cottages and coastal retreats in stunning locations around the UK and find the perfect base for your autumn staycation.10. Isle Of Skye, Scotland
Stay In A Cosy Cottage By The Coast This Autumn
