The best thing about autumn walks is the fantastic array of autumn colours all around you, and you know how we at Herdy love a spot of colour!
In fact autumn is a season for all of the senses: you can see the amazing autumn colours, enjoy the smell of a real fire puffing away in a nearby cottage, hear the crunch of the fall leaves under your feet, feel the cold nip of frost on your nose, and look forward to a big mug of hot chocolate at the end in your favourite herdy mug.
Honestly, what’s not to love about autumn walks? Here are a few of our favourites.
Gummer’s How, gentle autumn walks
Gummer’s How is tucked away at the bottom end of Windermere; a beautiful Windermere walk, it’s one of the best places to spot a temperature inversion. Inversions occur during the autumn and winter months when the temperature in the valley is cooler than the air above; this leads to a foggy valley floor with beautiful blue skies higher up.
Gummer’s How has a large free carpark and a well-signed route to the top of the fell. It only takes around 45 minutes to get to the top and the views are always worth it.
Once you’re up there, there are plenty of places to enjoy a tasty lunch as you admire the views and all the fall foliage. You may even come across some members of the Luing cattle that roam Gummer’s How; they’re being used by the National Trust as conservation grazers.
There is something for everyone in the Langdale Valley and during autumn it glows with breathtaking autumn colours. If you just fancy a gentle stroll then take off along the valley floor and enjoy the comforting embrace of the fells rising up all around you. If you’re in a more adventurous hill walking mood there’s a straightforward route up to Stickle Tarn but do take care if it’s icy.
The Langdale Valley is one of the few big valleys in the Lake District without a lake in it, but it does have plenty of lush pasture; during winter many farmers bring their sheep down off the high fells to enjoy the less harsh conditions on the valley floor, so you should be able to spot a Herdwick sheep or two.
This one isn’t too far from Herdy HQ in Kendal but it’s in a tucked away part of Cumbria that few people visit so you’ll most likely have the place to yourself. The moss is owned and managed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust and there’s a short walk around the reserve as well as plenty of other short walks nearby. During the autumn the grasses and pond plants change colour so whichever direction you look there will be a lovely autumn display to see.
Loughrigg, incredible autumn colours
Loughrigg is probably one of the most popular and most climbed fells in the Lake District National Park as it sits right between Ambleside and Grasmere, but there are still plenty of quiet spots to be found if you know where to look. Our top tip is to head out of Ambleside towards Clappersgate and find the route up Nanny Brow; it’s a bit longer but the views along Windermere with all the autumn trees are spectacular.
Once you’re done you can either wind your way back to Ambleside or carry on to Grasmere to visit the Herdy shop and hop on a 555 bus back to where you started.
Thirlmere, soaring vistas & autumn colours
Thirlmere is one of those lakes (well, technically a reservoir) that most people whizz past without stopping. You’ll see it as you drive from the Herdy shop in Grasmere to the Herdy shop in Keswick. The main A591 runs along the eastern side of the lake but if you take the small road running along the western side of the lake you’ll find loads of lovely parking spots with waterfalls and lake shores to enjoy.
Our very favourite viewpoint is up on Raven Crag; there’s a walking route leading up there from the car park at the northern end of the lake. It’s a pretty strenuous hill walk, but the views from the top are some of the finest in the whole of Cumbria.
Where are your favourite places to see autumn colours?
Do ewe have a favourite spot to see autumn colours in the Lake District? What about in your local area? Let’s chat in the comments below, or join the flock on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or email us.
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