Crunchy leaves, conkers, and coffee: 6 places to enjoy autumn in the south-west

You might have already started noticing that the days are getting shorter, the air is turning cooler, and the trees across the south-west are shifting into shades of orange and red. Autumn is well and truly on its way.

Thankfully, here in North Somerset, you don’t necessarily need to travel far to make the most of the season.

In fact, there are plenty of places to take in the beauty of autumn – here are six well worth visiting.

1. Poets’ Walk, Clevedon

Poets’ Walk is a local nature reserve on Clevedon’s coastline, taking you around Church Hill and Wain’s Hill with views across the Bristol Channel.

The route takes its name from poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Alfred Tennyson, both of whom spent time in Clevedon.

Along the way, you’ll pass through woodland, limestone grassland, and even the remains of an Iron Age hill fort.

If you want to make more of a day of it, there’s a 1.5-mile circular route nearby that starts near Marine Lake.

Being so close to the seafront means you can finish your walk with a coffee before heading home, too, which will be more than welcome once the autumn winds start.

2. Cadbury Camp, Tickenham

Just a few miles away from the J Edward Sellars office, Cadbury Camp offers an entirely different autumn walk.

Another Iron Age hill fort sits above Tickenham and offers views across the Severn Estuary, Mendip Hills, and the surrounding North Somerset countryside.

Autumn is an especially interesting time to visit, as a variety of different fungi can be found around the site, making it perfect for foragers. Just be sure you’re skilled at identifying wild mushrooms before you pick any!

There are several routes in the area to choose from for a leisurely walk. The two-mile Cadbury Camp ramble offers plenty of scenery without taking up the whole day, while the 2.5-mile hill walk is a slightly harder option with steep climbs and uneven ground.

3. Tyntesfield, Wraxall

If you’re looking for a walk with more glorious autumn colours, then Tyntesfield might be for you.

The National Trust estate near Wraxall combines woodland, parkland, gardens, and its imposing Victorian Gothic house. This makes it easy to spend many hours there.

As summer fades, the gardens take on the warm oranges and golds of the season.

The Lower Gardens also fill with pumpkins and squashes ahead of the estate’s autumn harvest display in October.

If you’d rather have a more relaxed walk, the house route is around a mile long and usually takes roughly 30 minutes.

Afterwards, you can stop at one of the estate’s cafes for a tasty cake and a warm coffee.

4. Ashton Court Estate, Bristol

Spanning around 850 acres of woodland and grassland, Ashton Court has plenty to see during an autumn wander.

The estate is home to ancient oak trees, some of which are more than 700 years old. It also has a deer park that has existed for more than 600 years.

You can choose from dedicated mansion and garden walks, depending on how energetic you are (and, of course, the temperature).

There are also two cafes on the estate, so you won’t need to pack a flask to keep yourself warm.

5. Westonbirt, the National Arboretum

If you’re willing to travel slightly further afield, Westonbirt could offer a fantastic autumn day out. The arboretum near Tetbury is home to 2,500 different types of trees and shrubs.

Its maple collections are renowned, too, especially when the leaves start changing colour.

The “Perfectly Imperfect” trail runs through the Silk Wood, meandering past the Japanese maple collection along the two-mile route.

And, of course, there’s a café on site, giving you somewhere to recover after your hours of exploring.

6. Leigh Woods, Bristol

Just across the Avon Gorge from Clifton, Leigh Woods is another strong competitor for an ideal walk without travelling too far from North Somerset.

Managed by the National Trust, the woodland is home to ash and lime trees. It also offers a selection of oaks to admire.

In autumn, the woods turn shades of red and gold, while mushrooms appear across the forest floor.

There are several routes to choose from, including a gentle one-mile woodland walk that takes around 45 minutes and passes Stokeleigh Camp.

You can easily combine this short walk with a trip into Clifton later in the afternoon for a hearty lunch.

Get in touch

We can help you manage your finances so you can focus more of your attention on getting out and about this autumn.

Email enquiries@jesellars.co.uk or call 01934 875 919 to find out more about how we can help you.