Autumn has arrived bringing a kaleidoscope of colour waiting to be discovered. Rich browns, golden yellows, fiery reds, and vivid oranges can be found in the historic gardens and parklands cared for by National Trust Cymru.
Now is the time to experience Wales in its full autumn glory so dig out your knitwear, pull on your walking boots, and feel the crunch of leaves underfoot as you take a walk through a vibrant landscape at one of their top spots to soak up the autumn colour.
For more information, or to plan your visit, head to; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales
NORTH WALES
Bodnant Garden, Conwy
Bodnant Garden’s glowing leaves, ripening berries and late flowering plants put on a vibrant autumn show to rival even the brightest summer colours.
The 80-acre garden is home to native trees and specimens from around the world, with many at their finest this season. Crunch along pathways through The Glades where you can enjoy Japanese acers and ornamental cherries or admire the towering American conifers down in the Victorian pinetum. As you wander, look for the blue labels and signage to spot Champion Trees. Many of these are the biggest or rarest examples of their kind in the UK.
Through the shrub borders, plants are laden with an autumn bounty of berries and fruits to feed wildlife, including the giant ‘raspberries’ of the Cornus kousa and the pink and orange hooded berries of Euonymus europaeus.
If you catch a scent of candyfloss in the air, you must be near one of the Katsura trees whose leaves give a delicious scent of burnt sugar as they change colour.
Find out more; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/bodnant-garden
Chirk Castle and Garden, Wrexham
The Chirk Castle estate with its 480-acres of woodland, meadow, and tenanted grassland dazzles in vivid autumn colour. Beech trees shine golden along the winding driveway to the medieval castle, which is covered by vibrant Virginia creeper that in autumn turns from green to shades of crimson, gold and burnt orange.
Throughout the garden, you’ll discover autumn treasures like colchicum (autumn crocus), red and yellow dogwoods, sedum autumn joy, and the striking Cotinus (smoke bush). The garden comes alive with fiery hues from acers, while vines add texture to the drying ground, castle wall border, and the Hawk House.
Out on the estate, there’s different walking routes to explore and soak up the autumnal colour. Follow the Woodland Walk to visit the bird hide or see the 500-year-old Sweet Chestnut. Look for colourful Waxcap fungi – part of Chirk’s SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) accreditation. On a clear day, the Old Golf Walk offers spectacular autumnal views across the estate and it’s possible to see the Forest of Bowland and the Peak District.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/chirk-castle
Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham
The explosion of autumnal tones in the 18th century garden and across the 1,200-acre estate is enough to rival any Bonfire Night display. From the stunning red of the Japanese Maple acer at the fishpond to the striking yellow Walnuts and the flame like Copper Beech, nature puts on its own spectacular show this season.
A blaze of red Boston ivy smothers the west front of the hall in early autumn. While in the Grade-I listed garden the double avenues of pleached limes begin to turn a deep golden, a display which lasts long into the autumn months.
For a longer walk, head out onto the estate – there’s several routes to choose from. The Riverside Walk takes in Erddig’s 18th-century Cup and Saucer water feature, designed by William Emes. Alternatively, wander the Big Wood Trail to see the ancient remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle and the ornamental Big Wood itself which features a diverse range of broadleaf tree species including oak and sycamore.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/erddig
Plas Newydd, Anglesey
Autumn is a wonderful time of year for a stroll through the 40-acres of garden and 129 acres of woodland and parkland at Plas Newydd on the banks of the Menai Strait and soak up the incredible views of Eryri (Snowdonia).
Surround yourself with colourful foliage including the rich red of the Boston Ivy wrapping itself around the 16th century Grade-I listed house.
In October 2008, six red squirrels were brought to Plas Newydd where they were held in woodland enclosures for a few weeks before being released into the deciduous woodland. They bred successfully, and red squirrels can now be found throughout the estate. Autumn is one of the best times of year to spot them as they busily prepare for winter.
Wander to the West Indies to discover the vibrant yellow, orange, and red shades of the Maples and the candyfloss scented Katsura tree with its graceful, heart-shaped leaves. In the fragrant Australasian arboretum, expect a canopy of Chilean beeches.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/plas-newydd-house-and-garden
The legendary trail of Dinas Emrys, Craflwyn, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
For a truly immersive walk packed with autumn colour, this trail passes waterfalls and goes through beautiful oak woodland to reach the summit of this legendary hill, where Merlin once trod and where a dragon still sleeps.
This dog-friendly route begins at the Craflwyn National Trust car park and is a mainly gentle uphill walk with a steep and rocky section towards the end.
Look out for the dragon sculpted bench within the woods of Craflwyn as you go. Take a seat and enjoy the peace and tranquility among the oak woodland and fallen leaves or head a little further and rest near the waterfall and listen to the soothing sound of water.
At the top you’ll find the remains of a square tower and defensive ramparts belonging to the ancient princes of Gwynedd.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/craflwyn-and-beddgelert/the-legendary-trail-of-dinas-emrys
MID WALES
Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool
As the seasons change, Powis Castle comes alive in a dazzling array of reds, yellows, burnt oranges and golds in the autumn months.
Explore the borders of the Italianate Terraces which are brimming with penstemons, purple beautyberries, sedums, asters and deep blue aconites. Stroll past the 18th century statues of dancing shepherds and impressive 300-year-old giant yew hedges.
Look across the Great Lawn to appreciate the iconic view of the 13th century medieval fortress, which is made even more spectacular by the glowing autumn show of dogwoods, smokebushes, maples and acers that tumble down the slope below it.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/powis-castle-and-garden
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion
Llanerchaeron is a Welsh country estate nested in the heart of Ceredigion, in the wooded Aeron Valley, that has remained remarkably unchanged for over 200 years. With a Georgian Villa, a traditional farmyard, a walled garden, and a lake, there’s plenty to explore.
Find a quiet place to sit in nature and enjoy the spectacular display of colour in the woodlands as the leaves turn fiery red, mellow ochre and rich bronze.
The beech canopy of the Pleasure Grounds boasts yellow, orange-brown hues complemented by the vistas out into the pastures of the wider estate where you can find a myriad of insect life along with mice, voles and Jays.
Beneath the woodland canopies, fungi are fruiting with the lawns around the Villa home to waxcaps and associated grassland fungi. At Llanerchaeron there are over 17 species, making this a nationally significant site.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/llanerchaeron
SOUTH WALES
Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
A magical land of power and influence for more than 2,000 years and home to the descendants of Lord Rhys, the powerful Prince of the Welsh Kingdom of the Deheubarth, Dinefwr is an iconic place in the history of Wales.
In autumn, the 18th century landscape, Wales’ first protected parkland National Nature Reserve, comes alive in a riot of colour as the leaves on its veteran trees turn to deep yellow, rich orange and crimson red. Dinefwr ancient woodland is home to some of the oldest trees in Britain. There are over 300 oak trees; some over 400 years old, making them true veterans and providing vital ecosystems of diverse species
Look out for them as you crunch through leaves and follow the walk designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown when he visited Dinefwr in 1775. On this route discover an amazing variety of plants and insects, and spot ravens and red kites which nest in the trees around you.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dinefwr
Tredegar House, Newport
Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles. It’s the perfect setting to explore this autumn.
Take a stroll and snap a photo near the mighty oak or look out for the sweet chestnut bursting with gold and orange foliage. At Home Farm, the Boston Ivy is a sight to behold as it glows red along the formal garden walls and historical buildings.
In the formal garden, move slowly and tread lightly and you’re sure to find fungi in endless sizes and colours that look as though they’re taken straight from the pages of a fairy tale.
Find out more; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/tredegar-house
Dyffryn Gardens, near Cardiff
Dyffryn Gardens’ 55 acres are simply spectacular in autumn and the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Follow the self-guided walk which will take in all the rich autumnal colours the Grade-I listed gardens have to offer, including glorious acer trees in the arboretum that put on a dazzling show of rich reds and golden yellows.
The property’s Into the Canopies event runs until 30 November and celebrates all things autumn and the amazing living collection housed within the Edwardian gardens. A Sensory Reflection Trail has also been created and has been specially designed to help you experience nature from new perspectives.
Find out more; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/tredegar-house
Find out more; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/tredegar-house
Colby Woodland Gardens, Pembrokeshire
Once an industrial coalfield, today this peaceful valley and 19th-century estate is home to an eight-acre woodland garden that has masses of vibrant autumn colour to discover.
Wrap up warm, put on your walking boots and head out on an autumn walk. Look for squirrels nibbling on sweet chestnuts and Jays foraging for acorns in readiness for winter.
Wrap up warm, put on your walking boots and head out on an autumn walk. Look for squirrels nibbling on sweet chestnuts and Jays foraging for acorns in readiness for winter.
Soak up the marvellous autumn tones of Japanese acers, golden ginko, dogwood and sweet gum as you explore and the different varieties of colourful fungi that can be found on the woodland floor.
Find out more; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/colby-woodland-garden
