The great British summer is nearly over and, although we don’t always have the greatest summers on record in the UK, 2016 has been quite pleasant, but it’s not the only season worth making a visit. Spring and autumn can still be quite mild and the beginning of autumn, around September, can be particularly beautiful. The English romantic poet, Keats, describes in his poem ‘To Autumn’ as 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. There are many things that make this time of year a great time to experience, and the UK certainly has its fair share of beauty and reasons to look forward to autumn.
Enjoy the kaleidoscope of colour in Cumbria
What better time to get your camera out, or even to try your hand at painting. Colour inspiration is all around. If you have children, collecting leaves and making pieces of art with them can be a great way to get out into nature and learn a little about the flora and fauna.
Head to such places as Grizedale Forest in Cumbria, Great Wood in Somerset, or Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest in Kent for some of the best in British autumnal colour.
Getting a better glimpse of the wildlife
Autumn can be a great time to spot a lot of wildlife as the dense leaves on the trees make way for a more mottled view of what may be hiding in the woods. Squirrels are busy hoarding food for the winter and hedgehogs are also trying to put on weight for their winter hibernation. Due to the natural abundance of berries such as blackberries, rose hips, hazelnuts and other seeds, many wildlife will be taking advantage of this including birds. Look up to the skies and you may also see the vast gatherings of migratory birds. Some are flying to the UK to spend the winter here, away from their more chilly arctic breeding grounds, and others are jetting off on their own version of a summer holiday. It’s also the time when stags are at their most spectacular. It is the rutting season, where males fight to attract the females. Do bear in mind though, that this makes them highly aggressive and if visiting places such as Richmond Park and Bushy Park in Greater London, then giving them a wide berth is highly advisable. The highlands of Scotland are also a great place to see deer.
Harvest time: enjoying the fruits of your labour
Blackberry picking is a full swing in September and although the bushes are covered in spikes, the fruits are juicy and edible. There are quite a few rules to remember when picking the berries, including not picking from low on the bush as often they may get peed on by animals and not picking those by the roadside. Autumn in the UK is also a time for the Harvest Festival, a celebration of the food grown. Traditionally held near the full moon around the third week of September, it is celebrated in churches around the country as a way of giving thanks to God for the harvest. Whatever meaning it has for each individual, it’s good to celebrate the time of abundance and produce including apples for cider, blackberries for jam and pumpkin, turnip and leeks for soups. Some of the best spots for blackberry picking include: Polesden Lacey in Surrey, Hatfield Forest in Essex, Croft Castle in Herefordshire, and Hare Hill in Cheshire. For a full list of places, have a look at the National Trust’s website.
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Pumpkin picking and carving
Although Halloween is better known as a tradition in the US, Halloween is also celebrated in the UK. One of the best things about Halloween is pumpkin carving. There is no specific time when they reach maturity, but as a general rule, if you give the pumpkin a slap and it sounds hollow then it’s ripe and ready for picking. Great for carving out for Halloween, but also as a way of doing something creative with the shell of this large orange fruit. Let’s face it, the innards make great soup, but the skin is a bit too coarse to eat. Many places run competitions for the best carvings, so it’s worth giving it a go; you never know what you might win. If you want to pick your own pumpkin, there are plenty of farm shops and pick-your-own places to visit. The Royal Horticultural Society is the best place to discover more about this fruit and places, such as Wisley, grow them in their vegetable patch, sell them, and will have gardeners on hand to ask any questions.
Get cosy with a hot chocolate
As the nights draw in, and the mists appear on the meadows, no walk in the outdoors is without the joy of returning to your home, B&B, hotel or other accommodation and snuggling up. Although the UK has some semblance of seasons, the weather (which we Brits love to moan about) doesn’t change an awful lot. You still get sunny days in autumn albeit a lot cooler than summer, but you can also get rain (often lots of it) and it can be quite cold as you head into late autumn and winter. There are plenty of places to get a nice hot chocolate to warm you, alongside the other great British tradition of cake. Places in London such as Artisan du Chocolat, Choccywoccydoodah, and Paul A Young Fine Chocolates are among many cafes serving some of the best hot chocolate.
Days are getting shorter
Just because the days are getting shorter in terms of daylight hours doesn’t mean you get less time to get out and see things. Many parks open until sunset so you can still get a stroll in before dark. Alternatively, Britain’s main cities have vibrant nightlife so seize the day, it’s not quite time to slow down for winter yet.
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