For all-round All Hallows fun, visit the National Trust’s Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough. Follow the Potions and Poisons trail through the house and into the garden before joining the cackling Ormesby witches to learn their special dance. Settle down by the fire in the Victorian kitchen to hear spooky stories and terrifying tales, and on All Hallow’s Eve, you’ll find an array of fun but frightful creatures and creepy crawlies at the Kirkleatham Owl Centre.

Free autumn activities for the whole family

Listen out for rutting deers

Listen out for the bellows of stags this autumn./©Alexander W Helin/Getty Images.Red, sika and fallow deer begin rutting in October, when the stags fight over females by locking antlers or by rubbing them against trees. This is when you’ll hear the eerie bellowing of the males calling to the female does. The season usually lasts between 7 and 10 days but, if you’re lucky, you can catch this great wildlife spectacle at one of these deer spotting destinations. Just remember to stand well back, and keep dogs under control.

Find out more in our guide to the British deer rut. 

Take your teenagers outside with a real camera

How do you prise a young person away from a smartphone and out into daylight? Allowing them to play with your expensive (alright, your second most costly) camera for a whole afternoon, to see the difference. Autumn has merits aplenty for the photographer. Thick clouds and grey skies soften the light and the grey allows the brightness of the reds, golds and russets the perfect frame. What better time to inspire the next generation of photographers by heading out with them into the countryside to be creative with some real gear?

See our guide to Britain’s best locations for landscape photography

 

Go beachcombing

With crashing waves and a chill in the air, the UK’s beaches are often beautifully moody in autumn. Take a flask of hot tea and your sturdiest wellies for a spot of beachcombing. Look for polished sea glass, driftwood, mermaid’s purses or unusual shells. You may even find the odd fossil.

Read our guide to the best beachcombing spots in the UK

---

Autumn crafts for rainy days

Make and fly a retro kite

Make the most of blustery weather by making and flying your own retro kite. You’ll need newspaper, sticks, glue and string. This could be a fun rainy day project and, when the sun appears, you can launch your kite and it will be extra satisfying when it takes flight.

Here’s how to make a retro kite

Make conker creatures

If you’re looking for a less aggressive use for your conkers than bashing them into each other, try making these little animals. All you need is a bag of stick-on eyes, some matchsticks, a screwdriver (to make holes for the legs), some wood glue and a bit of patience. You may wish to soak the conkers in water first to soften them up before ‘drilling’ them with the screwdriver, but it’s not essential.

Alternatively, soak them in vinegar for two minutes, drill a hole all the way through, attach a string and get smashing.

Related content:

• How to make autumn leaf tealight jars

• How to make an autumnal wreath

• History and traditions of Halloween in the UK and pumpkin recipes ideas

Try leaf printing

Make the most of all the fallen leaves around and capture their beauty with a spot of leaf printing.  Collect some of the most striking ones you can find and then cover one side of the leaf in your choice of paint before pressing onto paper or fabric. Place a sheet of paper or paper towel over the leaf, then run a roller or rolling pin over the leaf to bring out the finer details of the veins.

Here’s how to make a festive leaf print card.

---