Best Places to Visit to See The Autumn Leaves
It’s that time of year when Mother Nature puts on a dazzling display of leaf colour. Autumn is spectacular the world over with foliage in gorgeous shades of red, orange and yellow. Here are some destinations to see foliage in all its glory:
BRITAIN
Gloucestershire, England: Westonbirt Arboretum is home to the biggest collection of trees and shrubs in England. Pop over to the Forest of Dean, an ancient woodland that was once a royal hunting ground. Take your binoculars in case you see a wild boar or bird of prey. Lake District, England: See autumn’s fiery display on a walk around Lake Windermere or boat excursion; then go to Grizedale Forest, between Windermere and Coniston, to see beautiful golden colours reflected on the water. Buckinghamshire, England: The 220-hectare ancient woodland at Burnham is only 25 miles from London. See the riotous colour show by following any of the many walking trails in the nature reserve. Perthshire, Scotland: For impressive hues explore the woodland around Pitlochry. Each October, the town hosts the Enchanted Forest, a nightly event when the trees are lit up to the sound of music. Perthshire also has the world’s highest hedge. Planted in 1745, the Meikleour beech hedge is 100ft high in places. Viewing is easy and free. Just pull on your walking shoes and stroll along it third of a mile length.
EUROPE
Bavaria, Germany: Alpine forests, snow-capped mountains and historic towns are the perfect autumn setting for nature lovers. Not to mention the many local wine festivals. Transylvania, Romania: Steeped in legend, the 56-mile drive through the Fagaras Mountains with its hairpin bends is a great destination to see autumn foliage at its finest.
USA
New England: For dazzling displays of colour, this is one of the must-see spots. The red maple trees in New Hampshire’s White Mountains are stunning, the Mohawk Trail through Massachusetts’ Berkshire Mountains shimmers red and gold and the maple, birch and beech trees in Vermont take your breath away. New Mexico: For glorious fall foliage, follow the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway near Taos, an 85-mile loop through diverse scenery of mountains, valleys and national forests covered in red cottonwoods and spruces.
CANADA
Quebec: Along the coast, the maple leaves turn a stunning red. As a break from leaf viewing, you can hike the mountains or go whale watching in Forillon National Park.
JAPAN
Japan’s cherry blossoms are famous, but its fall foliage is equally beautiful. See the colours at their best in Kyoto on the island of Honshu, which is awash with temples, the remnants of the city’s imperial history, and the landscape is carpeted with maples that turn a fiery red. A short train ride away is the ancient capital of Nara, where the green trees in its huge park transform into a glorious palette of red, gold and yellow.
Image: Maroon Bells, Aspen, USA. Unsplash CC0
