Autumn, that season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’, can be the ideal time to enjoy a tour of the UK and Ireland, as the leaves turn from green to red, yellow and orange, and the countryside bursts into a final blaze of colour before winter sets in. Here are some of our favourite locations to enjoy the 'fall color' on this side of the pond.

Autumn in Kent © VisitEngland

The ancient Forest of Dean straddles the border between England and Wales and provides some of the most spectacular autumn colour in the UK. There is no better place to admire the shades of fall than at Symonds Yat, looking out across the majestic Wye Valley into Wales. This picturesque part of Britain boasts numerous chocolate box villages as well as many romantic ruins, which rise mysteriously out of the rolling countryside, such as magnificent Tintern Abbey, which inspired William Wordsworth’s famous poem.

Symonds Yat in the Forest of Dean © VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

The Highlands of Scotland offer visitors to the UK the chance to see vivid autumn foliage on the grandest scale. Deep valleys and towering peaks are fringed by pockets of magnificent woodland, often visible for miles around. Perthshire has some wonderful locations for colour chasing, and many places in Royal Deeside, for example between Ballater and Braemar, are perfect for an autumn road trip. The popular area around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park provides autumn visitors with countless colourful views.

Loch Tummel, Perthshire © VisitBritain/VisitScotland

The Lake District National Park in north west England is well worth a visit at any time of year, but the landscape really comes alive in autumn. Wonder at the beauty of the autumn foliage reflected in one of the many beautiful lakes or follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter, the famous writer and conservationist, who lived near Hawkshead and did as much as anyone to help save this unique natural landscape. Borrowdale, the most wooded valley in the Lake District, is the perfect place for an autumn walk and the National Trust property of Allan Bank near Grasmere is a good spot for enjoying autumn colour.

Borrowdale in the Lake District © VisitEngland/Alex Hare

In Ireland, the best places to experience the autumn foliage include Drumlamph Wood, near Londonderry, one of the few remaining ancient woodlands in Northern Ireland, which once covered much of mid-Ulster. The Wicklow Mountains, not far from Dublin, are as pretty as a picture in autumn and nowhere is more inspirational than the ancient monastic site of Glendalough, nestled as it is in a pretty wooded valley. Killarney National Park in County Kerry is the largest remaining native forest in Ireland where in autumn, as well as the splendid colours, visitors may be lucky enough to see red deer stags rutting.

Red deer in Killarney National Park © Tourism Ireland

The New Forest, in the south of England, is one of the largest remaining areas of woodland in England and was once the Royal Forest of King William the Conqueror. The forest covers an area of 150 square miles and is made up of woodland, heathland and pasture. Inhabitants of the forest have historic rights of pasture, and the ponies and cattle of the 'commoners' still roam freely. In fact, New Forest ponies are one of the area's main attractions and there is nothing quite like glimpsing the ponies through the trees on a bright autumn day.

Ponies in the New Forest © VisitEngland / New Forest District Council

Of course, throughout the British Isles, there are also many beautiful parks, gardens and woodlands, which boast spectacular displays of autumn colour. Many of the nation’s arboretums – specialist collections of trees – are well worth a visit. Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, in Gloucestershire is the most important arboretum in the United Kingdom, boasting over 18,000 trees and shrubs spread across 600 acres. For tree lovers, the arboretum really comes into its own each autumn, with memorable views in all directions.

Batsford Arborteum, Gloucestershire © VisitEngland / Batsford Arboretum

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, said: “While the colours of fall may not be on the scale of New England, there are many fabulous places in the UK and Ireland to enjoy the changing of the seasons and to see some spectacular displays of foliage.

“Depending on the weather of course, from early October until the end of November, when the last of the leaves are falling to the ground, visitors to the UK and Ireland can enjoy wonderfully colourful landscapes. And what better way to spend a day than exploring the autumn countryside before retreating to a friendly hostelry as the chill of evening sets in, to enjoy a hot drink (or something stronger!) beside a roaring log fire?”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made autumn tour of the UK & Ireland, taking in the best of the seasonal colour, please do contact our friendly team today.