As we begin to see the temperature change, autumn colours start to appear on the leaves, bringing warmth to the UK’s countryside.
This magical change of season is the perfect time to experience Britain’s sprawling waterways and extraordinary countryside. Here’s our top five favourite places to visit in the UK this coming autumn.
- Trent and Mersey Canal, Staffordshire
Running for 93 miles there’s plenty to explore along this stretch of the UK’s canal system. Why not take a trip to the towering Anderton Boat Lift which lifts barges 50 feet in the air?
It’s also worth checking out Fradley Junction which is home to the picturesque Fradley Pool Nature Reserve, surrounded by trees with a fantastic circular walk that allows you take in the falling leaves. There’s plenty of things to do and see such as:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Canoeing
- Pond dipping
Fun fact: The Trent & Mersey Canal was the country’s first long-distance canal.
- New Forest, Hampshire
Set right in the heart of Hampshire this national park really comes to life in autumn. Spread over 566 kilometres, you can enjoy a leaf crunchingly good walk and if you’re lucky, you might see wild deer and ponies roaming the ancient woodland.
There are lots of different activities to get involved in while you visit, like angling. Or if you prefer admiring the beautiful colours of autumn you can go for a stroll or cycle down the many walkways. You may even catch sight of a Pannage Pig which local farmers let roam the park thanks to unique, ancient laws.
Interesting fact: The famous writer of the Sherlock Holmes novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is buried here.
- Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
If you’re looking for breath-taking nature, this is the perfect retreat with over 15,000 different trees sourced from all over the world.
One of the most unique features at the Arboretum is the Treetop Walkway. This experience takes you to new heights with a walk through the treetops. At 13 metres high and 300 metres long it’s the best way to view the changing colours of autumn.
Fun fact: Westonbirt Arboretum was created almost 200 years ago by Victorian horticulturist Robert Holford.
- Longleat Forest, Wiltshire
This fantastic location is home to a Centre Parcs retreat. Set right in the heart of the forest it allows you to take a break from the everyday and enjoy the autumnal surroundings.
This particular forest is made up of Fir, Birch and rare giant Redwood trees, with some over 100 years old. Most of the ancient woodland is spread out over 400 acres because of the rolling hill and valleys it’s the perfect place to go walking.
Interesting fact: The forest is home to more than 2,000 species of trees with 93 of them considered rare in the UK.
- Coniston, Lake District
This is a beautiful place to visit in the North of England, located between Coniston Water and Coniston Fells there are dramatic landscapes, lakes, mountains and waterfalls and so much more to see and do. Some of the most popular activities available to experience include:
- Walking
- Water sports
- Mountaineering
- Horse riding
If you want a more relaxing way to take in the scenery you can ride the steam yacht gondola which takes you to key landmarks in the area such as Brantwood, the home of the celebrated Victorian artist, John Ruskin.
Fun fact: Coniston Water has been home to many water speed record attempts.
Hopefully these locations have sparked your interest and you go and visit some of the UK’s best staycation locations this autumn. To prepare for your journey you’ll need to pack smartly to store all your travelling essentials.
At Packmate we make sure you get the most out of your space with our clever storage solutions. We recommend using our Packmate Travel Roll Storage Bags. There’s no need to vacuum, just roll your belongings to create up to 4 times the space so you have plenty of room to pack snacks for your trip.
To discover our full range of quality vacuum storage bags, visit: https://packmate.co.uk/our-packs/