Celebrate autumn with the National Trust

As autumn swoops in, it’s not just Keats who was in love with this atmospheric season, the National Trust is too, find out more about what you can enjoy

Ask anyone what sets autumn apart from the other seasons and they’ll almost without fail say the colours – the kaleidoscope of reds, yellows, oranges, russets and bronzes – that fills the landscape are a sight to behold and none more so than at Winkworth Arboretum.

The Godalming countryside plays host to some of the best hues on offer, seek put the views on the edge of the Magnolia Wood, the top of the Azalea Steps, the lakeside Boathouse and the eastern meadow.

Colour of a different kind comes courtesy of an after dark trail, Ignite at Polesden Lacey from October 20th to November 6th. Walk through the gardens at night guided by the flickering flames and glowing tunnels of trees with illuminations along the way.

Natural light can be enjoyed with the warm glow emitted on autumn afternoons caught on the cusp of the fading summer light and the prospect of crisp autumn days to come, forget a filter on your phone camera, who needs that when you can bathe in the stunning natural light. Try The top of the amphitheatre at Claremont Landscape Garden with a view of the landscaped lake behind you and autumnal yellow trees.  Deep in the parkland at Hatchlands, among golden grasses, clambering on a fallen oak trunk presents the picture perfect mansion in the distance. The viewpoint memorial on the top of the Box Hill, boasts all of Surrey laid out behind you as a backdrop or for something different how about the public art installations by Hew Locke and Mark Wallinger at Runnymede.

We can all channel our inner child with a bit of leaf swishing – do you favour the high kick to watch the leaves fall to the ground or a flat-footed swipe to hear the rustle or perhaps you like to go full on ‘snow angel’ and really immerse yourself in autumn?

Autumn means harvest time and there are apple days to enjoy at Leith Hill, Dorking on October 1st and enjoy those rich pickings in a National Trust café with a slice of delicious spiced apple cake.

The swirling mists are the perfect accompaniment for Halloween at the end of the month so why not visit some of National Trust’s spookiest spots in Surrey and discover The Sailor’s Stone at the Devil’s Punch Bowl which marks the spot where a sailor was murdered in 1786 or Claremont Landscape Garden where landscape designer William Kent is said to linger.