‘Ablaze with russets and golds’: readers’ favourite places for enjoying autumn

23.10.2023 - 10:29 / theguardian.com / Lake Bled

We loved Ljubljana in Slovenia during autumn, but less than an hour’s drive away is the beautiful Lake Bled. It has a rustic and tranquil vibe, its focal point being the Assumption of Mary church on its island. The lake is surrounded by mountains and forests, and it is these that bring the place alive. The leaves turn a stunning array of orange, yellow, red and purple, creating an unforgettable scene.
Colin Snoad

Welwick Saltmarsh is a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve on the north bank of the Humber estuary, 11 miles east of Hull. A walk along the flood banks on an autumn day is magical. This part of East Yorkshire is “big sky” land. On a rising tide, flocks of thousands of wading birds and waterfowl flood the sky and form swirling clouds as they come into roost in the saltmarsh. Scandinavian thrushes escaping the cold of winter float in from over the North Sea and settle in hedgerows to gorge on hawthorn berries. Hen harriers glide in to roost as the sun sets in the west and you can look across the estuary and see Grimsby Dock Tower backlit against a sky of ambers, pinks and darker inky blues.
Rob Dalziel

Walk the Soldier’s Leap at Killiecrankie, where a redcoat soldier leapt five metres across the River Garry, fleeing the Jacobites more than 300 years ago. The views from the bridge at the southern end of the gorge are spectacular in autumn. Listen for woodpeckers and keep an eye out for red squirrels and pine martens. Stop by the visitor centre to read up on history and geology and enjoy a well-earned coffee and slice of homemade cake. The area is beautiful year-round, but never more so than when autumn’s colours fully reveal themselves. Trains from Edinburgh to Pitlochry from £25 return, with onward local bus connections to Killiecrankie.
Greg Malkin

The Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire, owned by the National Trust, is best known for its spring bluebells but it’s beautiful in the autumn too. The woodland is ablaze with russets and golds, and you might even hear and see deer rutting which is incredible to behold. There are lots of different walks to suit different ages and abilities, with the obligatory National Trust shop and cafe at the end of your visit for cake and a hot drink. It’s free to enter with a suggested donation for car parking, so it’s a wonderful day out during this cost of living crisis.
Ellie Grana

Guardian Travel readers' tips

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From the charming Lake Vyrnwy hotel, perched on a hillside above the Victorian dam in Powys, there are fabulous views down the lake, where uninterrupted