{"id":18572,"date":"2022-08-10T08:30:50","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T06:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=2209"},"modified":"2022-08-10T09:17:18","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T07:17:18","slug":"best-places-in-the-uk-to-see-autumn-colours","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/best-places-in-the-uk-to-see-autumn-colours\/","title":{"rendered":"Best places in the UK to see autumn colours"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By countryfile\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 10 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Crunching leaves, vibrant views and the red-tinted, golden hues of autumn make this earthy season the perfect time to visit the UK\u2019s beautiful countryside.<\/p>\n

But where are the best places to see autumn colour near you?<\/p>\n

Our forests and woodlands<\/a> are an obvious place to start. It\u2019s hard to beat the sense of magic that you get when you walk beneath the kaleidoscopic\u00a0canopies of oaks, beeches, birches and sycamore. Look for chestnuts on the floor and squirrels<\/a> and jays<\/a> in the branches above.<\/p>\n

Our parks, arboretums and gardens are also great places to visit in October and November, with many boasting statement trees<\/a> that come into their own at this enchanted time of year. Then there are the hills<\/a> and mountains, their flanks often blushing red with heather<\/a> and fading bracken. And who can resist an autumn reflection? For this, our waterways<\/a>, lakes<\/a> and coastlines<\/a> offer plenty of opportunity.<\/p>\n

So, without further ado, it\u2019s time to lace up your walking boots and head into the countryside for an autumn stomp.<\/p>\n

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Palladian bridge and the lakeside Pantheon at the National Trust\u2019s Stourhead\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Why do leaves change colour in autumn?<\/h2>\n

Fewer sunlight hours and cooler temperatures reduce the need for chlorophyll in leaves in autumn. As the pigment breaks down, the xanthophylls and carotenes become more visible, producing a stunning array of yellow and red hues.<\/p>\n

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Colder autumn months can help produce a vibrant autumn glow\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Best places to see autumn colours in England<\/h2>\n

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Reed beds at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The mosaic landscape of reed bed, grassland and open water at Wicken Fen means the diversity in which autumn colour presents itself at this reserve is intriguing . In September the sedge turns russet, which becomes golden in the evenings as the setting sun shines through the leaves. This time of year is also ideal to spot some of the resident wildlife with Orb-weaver spiders spinning their delicate webs and bright blue flashes of Kingfishers diving into the waterways. Visitors may also hire bikes instead and take a long cycle around the fen, making the most of the autumn sun.<\/p>\n

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