East
Sheringham Park, Norfolk
The park has ancient specimen trees such as the golden larch and smooth Japanese maple. There are around 100 species of fungi to spot, including nationally rare lilac mushrooms and golden bootlegs. nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park
Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk
More of the house is set to be revealed, as scaffolding for its £6m roof restoration comes down. The beech trees in the wilderness offer spectacular displays and the fruits of the orchard will begin to show. nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall
Blickling Estate, Norfolk
The Jacobean mansion and ancient yew hedges sit at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic park in the beautiful Bure meadows. Walk around the lake to see autumn colour reflected in the calm waters, or head to the Great Wood in search of weird and wonderful fungi. nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate
Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk
One of the most elegant country houses in East Anglia has eye-catching autumn foliage and fungi. Stroll down the beech-lined “Victory V” avenues, where the towering branches create tunnels of colour over your head. nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg-hall-gardens-and-estate
Ickworth, Suffolk
The Italianate palace in the heart of an ancient park is surrounded by formal gardens, pleasure grounds and woodlands. For the best colour, head for the Albana walk with its maples, chestnut, beech and oaks. nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth
Flatford, Suffolk
Walks through the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale from Flatford open up vistas of reds and golds in this small hamlet, which provided inspiration for some of John Constable’s most famous landscape paintings. nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford
Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
This time of year is ideal to spot some of the resident wildlife, with orb-weaver spiders spinning their webs and bright blue kingfishers diving into the waterways. You can also hire bikes to cycle around the fen. nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen-nature-reserve
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire
A new trail is designed for runners, walkers, cyclists and adapted-wheelchair users. Look out for the lakes, a Chinese bridge and an 18th-century folly, as well as the magnificent trees that create the perfect backdrop at this time of year. nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
The hornbeams that form Jubilee Avenue turn into a golden tunnel at this time of year, while the Temple’s collection of large columns is set against a colourful mix of beech, alder and sycamore. The main event is the dahlia displays, with more than 70 varieties in striking colours. nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill
South-East
Dunstable Downs & Whipsnade Estate, Bedfordshire
With a number of waymarked walks to choose from across the estate and nearby Sharpenhoe Clappers, autumn colour and wildlife can be seen in every habitat, from the fading chalk grassland to the Tree Cathedral. nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstable-downs-and-whipsnade-estate
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
The landscape features have been sculpted to create picture-perfect views with winding paths, serene lakes and elegant statuary and monuments. Autumn colour evolves through the garden, providing a wonderful display until November. nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe
Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
A stroll through the Disraelis’ pleasure grounds and parkland reveals the changing colours of ancient specimen trees. Head out to Disraeli’s Monument for the best views of the red-bricked Victorian manor. Closed 8-12 and 15-19 Nov. nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden
Basildon Park, Berkshire
Sitting elegantly in 400 acres of historic parkland and gardens, this 18th-century house was purchased and brought back to life by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 50s. For the best autumn colours, follow the orange walk or green walk and see beech woodland, guelder rose, maple, spindle and larch along the route. nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park
Greys Court, Oxfordshire
Set in the rolling Chiltern hills, this Tudor manor house is surrounded by intimate walled gardens and glorious wooded parkland. For a speedy stroll in autumn colour, take Sir Felix’s Gentle Path, a 30-minute route through the parkland and beech woods, or for something longer follow the 3km estate walk. nationaltrust.org.uk/greys-court
Ham House and Garden, London
One of the grandest Stuart houses in England sits on the banks of the River Thames in Richmond. There is a walled orchard of 30 apple trees and a wilderness garden, a secluded area surrounded by a hornbeam hedge with fantastic autumn colour. nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house-and-garden
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
A country retreat with views across the Surrey Hills. The pleasure ground at Polesden Lacey has a striking variety of colour, while the 1,400-acre estate, including 200 acres of ancient woodland, offers opportunity to soak up the atmosphere. nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey
Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey
Take an autumn amble through acres of wild woodland, accented with the fiery colours of more than 1,000 species of trees and shrubs, or down to the lake and boathouse. nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth-arboretum
Hinton Ampner, Hampshire
This 1,600-acre estate offers glorious autumn displays, with views of the ancient parkland beyond, full of old oaks, beech, chestnut and lime with yellow and gold leaf canopies, interspersed with the rich purple foliage of Norway maple. nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner
The Vyne, Hampshire
Set on the edge of a magnificent lake, this former Tudor powerhouse was a favourite of King Henry VIII, who loved to hunt in the fields and woods. Rippling reflections on The Vyne’s lake mirror an autumnal landscape, with focal points including the 17th-century summerhouse and The Vyne’s neoclassical portico. nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne
Bateman’s, East Sussex
Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness at the family home of Rudyard Kipling. The harvest will be well and truly under way, with damsons and plums from the orchard trees used to make treats in the tearoom. The three trails loop through woodland, past the River Dudwell and across meadows, taking in the highlights of autumn in the Sussex countryside. nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans
Bodiam Castle, East Sussex
One of the most perfect moated medieval castles in the land, with towers, reflected in the moat, looking as they would have 600 years ago. Autumn is an ideal time to climb the steep spiral staircases to incredible views across the River Rother valley. nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle
Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex
Centuries of design and care have created the gardens and lakes at Sheffield Park and Garden, famous for its autumn colour and collection of Nyssa sylvatica, with 400 of the trees raised from seed. Book until 14 Nov. nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
Petworth House and Park, West Sussex
This Capability Brown-designed 18th-century parkland is filled with veteran trees and has its own downloadable Ancient Trees walk, dotted with oaks, limes, beeches and chestnuts. nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house-and-park
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
Vita Sackville-West used seasonal planting to ensure the gardens are full of colour right up to the end of autumn. The cottage garden borders are a mixture of fiery reds and yellows through October, while the trees in the orchard are covered in fruit. nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
Chartwell, Kent
Fiery colours take over the autumn borders and woodland surrounding the family home of Sir Winston Churchill. The lakes reflect majestic trees, creating shimmers of burnt orange, yellow and gold. Inside the walled garden, the annual pumpkin display is in full throes. nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
South-West
Buckland Abbey, Devon
There are more than 700 years of footsteps here, from the Cistercians
who built the Abbey and farmed the estate, to seafarers Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake, who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country. The best autumn displays can be found on the red and blue walking trails. nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey
Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset
The intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden has a magical collection of topiary and herbaceous borders, while tranquil walks on the estate take you along the River Cary. In autumn, the productive orchard is brimming with fruit. nationaltrust.org.uk/lytes-cary-manor
Stourhead, Wiltshire
With a breathtaking lake at its centre, the garden is planned with temples and follies and a planting scheme which allows the colours to wash through the landscape seasonally. Red maples kick things off, followed by their Japanese cousins, hornbeams and chestnuts. nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead
Tyntesfield, Bristol
One of the country’s last surviving Victorian estates, the house is a masterpiece of Gothic revival style with its turrets and towers. A stroll through the arboretum, little changed in 150 years, or a woodland wander make the most of it. nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
At the unconventional home of the eccentric early 20th-century architect and artist-craftsman Charles Wade, who delighted in creating a stage for his life and passions, the garden is home to hidden vistas and unexpected delights. nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor-and-garden
Midlands
Belton House, Lincolnshire
Generations of the Brownlow family have commissioned the finest designers and craftsmen of their age to shape the estate. The Belton Park walk passes key features of ancient woodland and the site of a deserted medieval village. nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
Carved out of the ancient forests of Sherwood, Clumber Park is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres, once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. Spot the Gothic chapel from across the serpentine lake on the two-mile walking route. nationaltrust.org.uk/clumber-park
Shugborough Estate, Staffordshire
A rich blend of landscape, monuments and architecture shaped by global exploration can be found in the formal gardens, sweeping parkland and ancient woodland. The arboretum offers an easy walk on hardstanding paths, where you can see many different types of oak. nationaltrust.org.uk/shugborough-estate
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
Autumn at one of the greatest Elizabethan houses finds late-ripening crab apples on show even as their season comes to an end. There are a number of walks around the estate, ponds and park. nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall
Attingham Park, Shropshire
With woodlands, pleasure grounds, a deer park, walled garden and orchard, autumn is impressive at Attingham. The Mile Walk offers views across the River Tern to the changing colours of the trees. nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park
Berrington Hall, Herefordshire
Capability Brown’s final landscape, surrounded by the Herefordshire countryside, is one of the best places to see the new season take hold. You can pick apples from the orchard, which is home to a selection of vintage trees. nationaltrust.org.uk/berrington-hall
Croft Castle and Parkland, Herefordshire
Steeped in British history and politics, with cottage gardens, wild woodlands, an Iron Age hillfort and rows of ancient trees, Croft comes alive in autumn. Fishpool Valley is particularly atmospheric at the moment. nationaltrust.org.uk/croft-castle-and-parkland
Yorkshire and the North
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
You will notice the smell of candyfloss on the canal border as the katsura trees’ decaying leaves emit a burnt sugar smell. On frosty days, visit early to see the autumnal colours reflecting on the water in the moat – you might even hear the distant sound of the fallow deer rutting. nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
The upper gardens have the best views, but in the lower garden, you can wander along paths and over bridges crossing the River Bollin, with borders full of blooming flowers. nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank
Lyme, Cheshire
On the edge of the Peak District, Lyme is familiar to many as Pemberley in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. The 1,400-acre estate with its herd of red and fallow deer offers fantastic walks and stunning views across Manchester and the Cheshire Plain. nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme
Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire
The Italian-inspired hall is surrounded by eight acres of formal gardens, including a working walled kitchen garden. For an autumnal stomp, the wider estate, dating back to medieval times, stretches over acres of parkland and is home to rare trees. nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough-hall-gallery-and-gardens
Sizergh, Cumbria
By late October, the colours begin to really change in the limestone rock garden at Sizergh, and the Japanese maple trees range from deep butter yellow through to burnt oranges and reds. This is also the time when the herbaceous border is at its best, filled with autumn-flowering perennials. nationaltrust.org.uk/sizergh
Allan Bank & Grasmere, Lake District
The grounds are the focus here, where the low autumn sun sets the landscape ablaze with colour. The woodland walk follows a rugged path and forms a circuit that takes about 45 minutes. nationaltrust.org.uk/allan-bank-and-grasmere
Gibside, Tyne and Wear
One of a few surviving 18th-century designed landscapes, Gibside has 600 acres of gardens, woodland and countryside. The Valley Views Trail is a longer walk with wildlife and spectacular views. You may see roe deer crossing the steep dene. nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside
Wallington, Northumberland
Sitting in a rural corner of Northumberland yet only 20 miles north-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, this historic country house sits amid rolling hills, swathes of woodland and enchanting walled gardens. The River Walk and Farm Walk are both tranquil routes with a good chance of spotting the resident wildlife, including red squirrels. nationaltrust.org.uk/wallington
Cragside, Northumberland
Rocky crags, tumbling water, lakes and towering North American conifers create ever-changing scenery amid this experimental Arts and Crafts garden and its estimated seven million trees and shrubs. nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside
Wales
Bodnant Gardens, North Wales
Native and exotic trees turn to dazzling colours. The collection spans several hundred years; from stately chestnut, beech and oak in the Georgian Old Park to towering American conifers in the Victorian pinetum, and beautiful ornamental cherries, acers and other Asian species planted in the Acer Glade over the past century. nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
This estate, with its 480 acres of woodland, meadow and tenanted grassland, dazzles in autumn, as ancient trees light up in an array of reds, yellows, burnt oranges and golds. The Woodland Walk takes in the 500-year-old sweet chestnut and on a clear day the Old Golf Walk offers views towards the distant Forest of Bowland and Peak District. nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle
Erddig, Wrexham
The parkland here has been open for more than 300 years as the Yorke family did not want to hide their beautiful 1200-acre estate away, believing in the value of nature for health and wellbeing. Autumn is the time to admire the orchard and skilfully trained espalier fruit trees, which hang heavy with a selection of more than 180 varieties of apple. nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig
Plas Newydd, Anglesey
Perfectly positioned on the shore of the Menai Strait, with spectacular views of Snowdonia and Anglesey coastline, Plas Newydd is surrounded by Grade I
listed gardens. There are more than 150 acres of gardens, woods and parkland to explore, which are at their most beautiful in autumn. nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-newydd-house-and-garden
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
The elegant Georgian villa, set in the wooded Aeron valley, has been almost unaltered for more than 200 years. The self-sufficient estate includes a farm, walled gardens and lake. In the wider estate, meadows, woodland and waters provide a haven for birds, bats, otters and other wildlife. nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron
Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
In autumn, the 18th-century parkland explodes into a riot of colour that can be taken in on a walk designed by Capability Brown when he visited Dinefwr in 1775. Some of the oldest trees in Wales frame stunning views of Newton House, and you might catch sight of fallow deer and red kites. nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr
Northern Ireland
Castle Ward, Co Down
This 820-acre walled estate’s trails wind their way through atmospheric woodland, parkland and gardens, with impressive views over Strangford Lough and the surrounding countryside. From the farmyard, head out to Temple Water, where the Japanese maples will be in full colour. From there, head off the beaten track to the Lime Tree Walk, which has turned from green to gold and is a magical place to stroll along. nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-ward
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20 best autumn walks in the UK: from the Devil’s Dyke in Sussex to the Fairy Glen in Inverness
Crom, Co Fermanagh
One of the UK’s most important nature reserves, with the largest area of oak woodland in Northern Ireland, is perfect for wandering beneath the canopy. The yews are some of the oldest trees in Northern Ireland. Look out for wading birds, otters and red squirrels. nationaltrust.org.uk/crom
Florence Court, Co Fermanagh
Surrounded by lush parkland and thick woodland, with Benaughlin mountain rising in the background, this estate offers miles of walking paths and cycling trails with fascinating industrial heritage features, including a water-powered sawmill and blacksmith’s forge. The Pleasure Grounds, located beside the main house, offer sweeping vistas of the Fermanagh landscape. nationaltrust.org.uk/florence-court