Top 10 woods to enjoy autumn colour

Autumn is in full swing and the woods that were filled with lush green hues in summer are now ablaze with a rich palette of russet reds, bold yellows and dazzling oranges. It’s the ideal time to visit your local woodland and marvel at all this glorious season has to offer.

Head out on an early morning stroll in the autumn sunshine or go for an afternoon wander in the crisp autumn air. No matter what time of day you choose to stop by, we have you covered when it comes to the best woods to visit for autumn colour.

1. Hainault Forest, Essex

Close to London, this urban oasis has a long and important history. A remnant of the Forest of Essex once protected by the crown, it has provided wood to fire the capital’s bread ovens and venison for the king’s table. Wander more than 4 miles of surfaced paths through ancient woodland, among stately hornbeams and oaks, to see the season’s fantastic colours. Keep an eye out too for some of the magical fungi including fly agaric and jade-green elf cups and the wealth of birdlife flitting between bare branches.

2. Fingle Woods, Devon

While Fingle is a fantastic wood to visit all year round, there’s no denying it truly comes alive during the autumn. This untouched woodland is a wonderful place to experience the rainbow of colours that this season has to offer, with a wealth of trails to follow and a variety of wildlife to spot.

3. Coed y Gopa, Wales

Walk along Coed y Gopa’s waymarked trail and discover the site’s interesting past while enjoying the dappled autumn sunshine as it trickles through the trees. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Coed y Gopa is a must visit for wildlife lovers. Unusual species including lesser horseshoe bats call this wood home, roosting in the old mine workings across the site.

4. Credenhill Park Wood, Herefordshire

Just a few miles north-west of Hereford, Credenhill Park Wood is a Special Wildlife Site steeped in history. Take in the views of the Black Mountains and wander through the areas of ancient woodland. It’s the perfect time of year to spot unique fungi peeking out of the ground too – scarlet elf cup is known to grow here.

5. Cabin Wood, Killymoon

Just a stone’s throw from Cookstown, this tranquil riverside woodland was once part of the Killymoon Castle estate. Follow the circular stone path through the ancient woodland and new planting to find rich autumn colour and abundant wildlife. Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside and the castle, originally from 1671 and rebuilt in 1803. The river is a great place to wildlife watch. Look out for Daubenton’s bats, deer from neighbouring parkland, kestrels and stonechats. In autumn you might spot jays burying acorns to feed on in winter.

6. Glen Finglas, Scotland

Our largest estate, Glen Finglas is in the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The autumn colour here is truly breath-taking, and with nine waymarked routes and a wealth of wildlife to discover, it's the perfect place to visit at this time of year. You might be lucky enough to spot a red squirrel scurrying along the forest floor or a golden eagle soaring overhead.

7. Green Castle Woods, Wales 

Green Castle Woods is a few miles from Carmarthen in Wales and it makes a great place to enjoy a walk at this time of year, thanks to its extensive network of paths and rich autumn colour. Walk among the ancient woodland, stop by at the stream and see the waterfall in all its glory. Keep an eye out for interesting fungi and delicious blackberries during the autumn months.

8. Drumnaph Wood, Northern Ireland 

A truly timeless woodland located in County Londonderry, Drumnaph Wood has a mix of habitats and a wealth of wildlife to discover. Take a walk along one of the three waymarked footpaths through the reserve and see if you can spot its historical features, nature sculptures and rich wildlife. Irish hare have been seen along the wood edges and surrounding fields here.

9. Tring Park, Tring

Tring Park is a treasure trove for visitors. Once part of a sweeping aristocratic estate that was home to the Rothschild family, you can explore mixed woodland and parkland that was landscaped in the 17th and 18th centuries. Sitting in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Tring Park is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare chalk grassland. Along four waymarked routes, admire the autumnal woodland and the parkland’s specimen trees including mature beech, horse chestnut, lime, copper beech and a regimented square of Scots pine. Discover hidden follies, forest gardens and open vistas with great views, and look for signs of wildlife including red kites, long-eared owls and edible dormice.

10. Crinan Wood, Scotland

Head to Crinan Wood and experience Scotland’s very own rainforest, with endless ferns, mosses and fungi and trees dripping in lichens and bryophytes. Admire the breath-taking autumnal views across Loch Crinan to Duntrune Castle and keep an eye out for fascinating wildlife, including red squirrels and red deer.