Autumn is a time when the world around us lights up. We move from a sea of green to a living carpet of gold, amber and crimson. Yes, it’s leafpeeping time.
Leafpeeping is the American term that describes spending time outdoors simply looking at Autumn’s leaves. New England is world-famous for its leaf display, but leafpeeping happens all over the world and we’ve got amazing trails that run right through some of the world’s finest examples of Autumn in nature.
Why do trees change colour?
Rather than tress changing colour in the Autumn, trees are actually revealing their true colours. Green leaves appear every Spring – they’re full of chlorophyll that they use for photosynthesis over the Spring and Summer months. When Autumn arrives, temperatures drop and daily sunlight hours begin to decrease, causing the green chlorophyll to break down and change the leaves’ colour.
Weather in the Autumn changes too, but a good dry day with a big blue sky, will create a stunning backdrop to a landscape that will showcase the leaves at their finest.
Rather than pack your walking boots away until Spring, this is the time to explore the Great Outdoors. Why not try some of our perfectly-placed tours to see Nature’s finest Autumn fireworks.
Sitting on the edge of Lake Ontario and just over an hour away from Niagara Falls in Canada, is the city of Hamilton. Steeped in history, you can explore the best of the civic sights as you take in the stunning autumnal colours of Gore Park.
This is one of the best parts of following an audio trail – uncovering the local area of anywhere in the world, just like a local. This trail around Hudson, New York is no exception. Not only can you take in the downtown area, but you can also travel to the best local spots for fishing or running. If you like to keep on the move, then pull your trainers on and head to the Assabet River trail for a few kilometres.
This is an incredible trail that stretches across much of Scotland but takes in both sides of the Atlantic, with Scotland representing both itself and America in the Outlander television series. As well as fabulous castles and coastal scenery, the Outlander Filming Locations trail takes in Beecraigs Country Park in West Lothian, which was used to film scenes set in North Carolina.
Explore the colours of Kelvingrove Park in the city of Glasgow and see Boston in the 1950s, Outlander-style. The nearby University of Glasgow also represented Harvard University in the show.
And so to France! Pollock Country Park, Glasgow is alive with colour at this time of year and stood in for the countryside between Le Havre and Paris in Season 2 of Outlander. Calderglen Country Park in South Lanarkshire was used to represent the great US wilderness in Season 4 and has over 8 miles of trails to discover.
Surrey is England’s most leafy county and this trail takes in some of its finest viewpoints, as you track the North Downs Way towards Kent. You’ll take in an explosion of trees – as well as the globally-known Silent Pool gin distillery, an English vineyard and the famous beauty spot that’s connected with the disappearance of Agatha Christie.