The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of fun or enjoying the outdoors. On the contrary – autumn is one of the most scenic seasons in the UK, and there are plenty of exciting things happening around Britain to ensure an unforgettable autumn:
A Walk in the Park
One of the greatest aspects of the autumn season is the golden colours that envelop the country, as the leaves turn shades of yellow and brown. Walking at this time of year is magnificent, and crisp, clear days simply beckon everyone to enjoy the outdoors. Make the most of it by getting out to the nearest park to kick the leaves around, or spend a day out walking. The National Trust is hosting their own walking festival in autumn, with maps for walks throughout the country. Visitors will be able to find hotel deals all over the UK at this time of year, and can find their nearest great walks via the National Trust website.
Eating in Autumn
Autumn brings about some wonderful seasonal produce, especially in the way of fruit. Apples are one of the favourites of autumn harvest, and there are all manner of things happening around the UK to mark the occasion. The Big Apple’s Harvestime event in Herefordshire is in its 23rd year and makes for a fun weekend. Here visitors can see the apple harvest process, taste local perries and ciders, and go on guided tours of the apple orchards.
If you prefer your apples in cider form, then The Cider Making at the Hereford Cider Museum is one of many great places to pull a pint of the good stuff. The festival features traditional cider making, and tutored cider tasting among other fun activities.
Of course, you can taste all manner of seasonal foods and gourmet wares at the annual Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Bigger and better every year since it began in 1998, the festival focuses on the best seasonal food and produce. Visitors can book Manchester hotels anywhere in the city for this event – the festival is spread across the entire region, with various indoor and outdoor events. Taste wine and chocolate, lunch on street food and browse farmers markets all around Manchester.
That Old Chestnut
Autumn also sees the arrival of another traditional treat – the sweet chestnut. The flavour of roasted chestnuts is hard to resist when it’s cold outside, and you can even use them for recipes over the Christmas season. One of the cheapest – and most fun – ways to bag your own chestnuts is to forage for them. Dropped from chestnut trees in late autumn (around October), there will be plenty to find – it’s just a matter of knowing where to look! Wooded areas are the best bet, especially older, denser woodland. Go early in the day to avoid losing the best nuts to squirrels.
Conkering the World
During your foraging, be sure not to confuse sweet chestnuts with its less tasty cousin, the horse chestnut. These can’t be eaten; but you’ll find they’re still well in demand. Known locally as conkers, these rock-hard nuts are collected and polished, just in time for the conker championships. This involves conkers being threaded onto a piece of string and opponents then take turns to strike the others’ conker with their own – until one breaks. The game can be taken very seriously, with many players saving their conkers all year to ensure optimal hardness. For a glimpse of this classic childhood tradition, join the spectators at the World Conker Championships in Northamptonshire, in October.
Image by Keven Law
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
