Top Ideas For Scenic Trips Out Around The UK This Autumn

The early autumn is a wonderful time of year for a trip out in the UK, as the weather is still reasonably mild and the clocks have not yet gone back. The peak of the tourist season has passed, so the hotspots tend to be less crowded, and of course there’s the added charm of beautiful vibrant colours of russets, golds and purples as the foliage turns. 

Whether you are looking to hire a coach for a group excursion or just want a chilled day out with your family, there are many options worth exploring. Here are just a few ideas to mull over.

The Peak District

The Peak District was the first National Park created in the UK, designated in April 1951. Its central location, surrounded by the industrial cities of Sheffield, Manchester and Stoke on Trent, meant it was easily accessible to millions of people who had never enjoyed such freedom to roam the countryside before. 

The 555 square miles of park encompass lush green dales, vast moorlands, gritstone rock formations, rolling farmland, and picturesque villages. The towns of Bakewell, Matlock Bath, and Buxton are also popular tourist destinations within an hour’s drive of several major cities. There’s over 200 miles of open access land, and hundreds of footpaths and cycleways.

Some of the more popular spots can get busy on Bank Holidays, but at this time of year there’s plenty of uncrowded places to enjoy, when the landscape is alive with purple heather, rushing streams and turning trees. If stately homes and gardens are your thing, then Chatsworth House near Bakewell is one of the finest examples in the country. 

If you prefer the drama of rocky outcrops with panoramic views, then Stanage Edge is the place for you. It’s just a 30 minute drive from Sheffield, yet from the vantage point of the gritstone escarpment, you can see vast landscapes and open skies, making it a perfect place to watch the sun set and observe the stars on clear nights. 

The Cotswolds

Further to the south, the Cotswolds offer gentler charms with undulating farmland, woodlands, and parks, all punctuated by chocolate box villages. If long riverside walks followed by a meal at a cosy cafe or pub are your thing, then places such as Bourton-on-the-Water will tick all of the boxes.

It’s also the gateway to the south west of England, with wonderful places such as Stonehenge and the Avebury stone circles to explore. You could also extend your trip with a visit to the historic city of Bath, with its world famous Roman spa buildings, elegant Georgian crescents, and attractions such as the Fashion Museum and the Jane Austen Centre. 

Beach days

You might associate a beach day with summer, but they can be equally enjoyable in the autumn. Popular beaches in honeypot sites such as Cornwall and Devon are less crowded, the surrounding landscape is a glow of rich colour, and the chill of the winter sea breezes has yet to begin to bite in earnest.

It’s also a magical time to observe wildlife, as migrating birds gather en masse to begin their long seasonal journey to warmer climes. Excellent places to visit can be found along the Norfolk coast, the North East coast of England and Scotland, and parts of Cornwall and west Wales, where you can see swifts, swallows and other species as they prepare to migrate.

Starling spectacular

Later in the autumn from around November onwards, take a trip to Aberystwyth in west Wales for the spectacular starling murmurations. The birds roost under the seafront piers and swarm into the sky in vast numbers towards evening, creating a rippling black cloud formation that is ever moving and shifting shape. 

The dramatic spectacle is most active in early November, and is thought to be a way of spotting and deterring predators such as hawks, falcons and buzzards. The displays continue over the winter, until around February. 

West Wales is a beautiful place to explore if you love coastal paths, remote mountains and peaceful lakes. Further down the coast towards Pembrokeshire, there are dozens of breathtaking beaches, often with two or three miles of flat golden sand and very sparsely populated at this time of year. 

It’s a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, with a wealth of places to explore and things to do, from hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, pony trekking, watersports, and much more.