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    • Camping
    • Caravans, Campervans & Holiday Parks
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    • Self-Catering
      • Serviced Apartments
    • Themed Accommodation
      • Accommodation with Hot Tub
      • Accommodation with Swimming Pool
      • Eco Friendly Accommodation
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      • Family Friendly Accommodation
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      • Dog Friendly Accommodation
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      • Stay on a Farm
  • What's On
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    • Activities
      • Adventure & Extreme
      • Arts & Crafts
      • Canoeing, Kayaking & Watersports
      • Climbing
      • Cycling & Mountain Biking
      • Golf
      • Food & Drink Experiences
      • Nature & Wildlife Experiences
      • Shooting & Archery
      • Walking & Hiking
    • Attractions
      • Beauty Spots & Visitor Sites
      • Castles & Ruins
      • Cinema & Theatre
      • History & Heritage
      • Museums & Galleries
      • Nature & Wildlife Attractions
    • Experiences
    • Walking
      • 12 Easy Walks
      • Guided Tours
      • The Wye Valley Walk
      • Good with the Dog
      • The Offa's Dyke Path
      • Symonds Yat Rock Walks
      • The Wye Valley Greenway
      • Accessible Walks
      • Other Walking Routes & Trails
    • Cycling
      • Cyclists Welcome
      • Bike Hire
      • Cycle Trails
      • Family Cycling
      • Guided Rides
      • Mountain Biking and Downhill
    • Dog Friendly
    • Family Friendly
      • Young Families
      • With Tweens & Teens
    • Group Friendly
    • Rainy Days
    • Tours & Trails
      • Guided Tours
      • Walking Tours & Trails
      • Cycling Tours & Trails
      • On the Water
      • Driving Routes
      • Film & TV Trail
      • Myths & Legends Trail
      • Market Towns Trail
      • Heritage Trails
      • 'Feel the Love' Romantic Trail
    • Shopping
      • Local Food & Drink
      • Farm Shops & Delis
      • Christmas Gift Guide
      • Towns & Villages
      • Online Gift Guide
    • Wellbeing & Spa
  • Food & Drink
    • Afternoon Tea
    • Cafes & Tea Rooms
    • Dog Friendly Places to Eat
    • Farm Shops & Delis
      • Shops Offering Home Delivery
    • Family Friendly Places to Eat
    • Local Produce
    • Picnic Sites
    • Food & Drink Experiences
    • Private Chefs & Group Catering
    • Pubs
      • Beer Gardens
    • Restaurants
    • Vegetarian & Vegan
  • Explore
    • Getting Here
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      • Download Our Visitor Guide
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      • Wildlife
      • Boar
      • Birds
      • Deer
      • Flora
      • Bluebells
      • Daffodils
      • Seasonal Guides
      • Severn Bore
      • Trees
    • History & Heritage
      • Forest of Dean
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Freemining
      • The Wye Tour
      • The Fascinating Facts of the Dean Wye
      • Hidden Heritage
      • Agincourt
      • Myths and Legends
    • Surrounding Areas
      • Brecon Beacons
      • Cheltenham
      • The Cotswolds
      • Gloucester
    • Famous People
      • Charles Rolls
      • David and Robert Mushet
      • The Man of Ross
    • Film & TV
      • Films
      • Harry Potter
      • Star Wars
      • King Arthur
      • TV Programmes
      • Doctor Who
      • Merlin
      • Atlantis
      • Sex Education
      • Film & TV Filming Locations
    • Forestry England in the Forest of Dean
      • Membership
      • A working forest
      • A great day out
      • Wildlife
    • Tourist Information Centres
    • Towns & Villages
      • Forest of Dean
      • Wye Valley
      • Monmouthshire
      • Herefordshire
      • Coleford
      • Newent
      • Cinderford
      • Lydney
      • Usk
      • Ross-on-Wye
  • Inspiration
    • Cyclists Welcome
    • Find Your Freedom
    • Adventure Breaks
    • Foodie Breaks
      • Abergavenny Excellence
      • Beer and Boutique
      • Rural Monmouthshire
      • Severn Valley Touring
      • The Heart of the Dean
      • Tintern Treats
      • Wye Valley Perfection
    • Escape the Everyday
      • Escape the Everyday at Home
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    • Rainy Day Ideas
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    • Dog Friendly Holidays
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      • Autumn: Experience the Rich Colours
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  1. Autumn - Leaf Peeping Symonds Yat
  2. Things To Do - The Eagle's Nest Viewpoint in the Wye Valley
  3. Autumn - Leaf Peeping Wye Valley
  4. Autumn Experiences Forest of Dean - Dean Forest Railway
  5. Autumn - Leaf Peeping Tintern Abbey
  6. Autumn - Leaf Peeping Bigsweir Bridge
  7. Kingfisher Forest of Dean Autumn
  8. Autumn Activities in the Forest of Dean

You are here: Inspiration > Seasonal Guides > Autumn: Experience the Rich Colours

Autumn: Experience the Rich Colours

The season of autumn sets the forest aglow, vibrant colours cover the land, it's a wonderful time for a woodland walk and you'll find the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is one of the best places in the UK to see the rich autumn colours. 

Leaf Peeping is a term growing in popularity here in the UK. It has come from North America where people enjoy travelling to view and photograph the changing season, as the foliage turns from summer greens to the yellows, reds and golds of autumn.

With over 20 million trees in the Forest of Dean alone, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley covers around 600 square miles and is a heaven for leaf peepers. Home to a wide variety of majestic oak, ash, birch, beech, larch, sweet chestnut and many more, the foliage lights up as the days start to draw in, creating an indulgent visual feast.

We created the first ever Guide to Leaf Peeping and introduced the idea to the UK. You can download our Leaf Peeping Guide here or use our interactive map to follow our special Leaf Peeping Drive through sweeping countryside with river views across ancient woodland before delving deeper into 10 hotspots en route to enjoy breathtaking views, riverside walks, lakes and arboretums drenched in autumnal colour. It’s doable in a day at 50 miles or stay over for a Leaf Peeping escape this autumn. Or, simply choose shorter sections to combine with other activities.

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The best ways to enjoy Dean Wye in Autumn

Find Your Freedom

  1. Autumn's Finest
    Autumn's Finest
    There is no shortage of places to go to see the amazing array of autumn colours across the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, but we’ve scratched our heads and picked out the very best top 10 spots to make sure you don’t miss out.
  2. Leaf Peeping Drive
    Leaf Peeping Drive
    We have created a Leaf Peeping Drive through the region which is a total of 50 miles. Enjoy the whole route or pick up sections of it to take in the best autumn hotspots which allow you to disappear into a world of glowing oak, ash and beech trees that contrast against thick pines and yews. Download it as a PDF or use our Google Map route and follow it using GPS.
  3. Autumnal Walks
    Autumnal Walks
    We have designed three very special walks to take to enjoy the best autumnal foliage in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, ideal for leaf peepers who want to stretch their legs and explore further.
  4. Autumn Escapes
    Autumn Escapes
    Our recommended Leafy Escapes enable you to wake up being greeted by stunning autumn foliage before being treated to leaf themed activities and forest trails right on your doorstep. Cottages, hotels, treehouses and more, perfect for an autumn retreat.
  5. Experience the Autumn
    Experience the Autumn
    Come for the leaves and stay for the fun! The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley hosts an array of activities and experiences, offering different ways to experience the autumn foliage. Outdoor adventure or indoor relaxation, there's a wide range to choose from.
  6. Seasonal Feasts
    Seasonal Feasts
    The harvest is in full swing throughout autumn, with the bushes laden with berries and fungi carpeting the forest floor and meadows. Get involved in one of the foodie experiences to feast on the autumn bounty or dine in style from a seasonal menu.
  7. Autumn Arts & Crafts
    Autumn Arts & Crafts
    This region abounds with arts and crafts and we have a wide range of seasonal activities available for all ages, from pottery to mosaic, flower arranging to photography!
  8. Autumnal Family Fun
    Autumnal Family Fun
    Children’s eyes will light up when they see a pile of leaves and they will soon be running, jumping and kicking their way through the season. Find out about some more fun activities helping children to enjoy the forest in autumn.
  9. Photography Tips
    Photography Tips
    Find out why autumn is such a joy for photographers and how leaf peepers can get the very best shots with top tips from the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley School of Photography.

Find a Cosy retreat

Explore Our Highlights

Broom Hill Retreat - The Annex
Broom Hill Retreat - The Annex
The Dairy at Gage Farm
The Dairy at Gage Farm
Whitemead Forest Park
Whitemead Forest Park - Glamping Pods
Mill End Mitcheldean
Mill End Mitcheldean
Tan House Newland
Tan House Newland
Arden's Farm
Arden's Farm
Cottage Garden at the Tudor Farmhouse
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
Dippers Hut - Luxury Shepherd's Hut with hot tub
Dippers Hut - Luxury Shepherd's Hut with hot tub
The Nook Cabin outside dusk
The Nook Cabin
Woodpecker Cottage - Waterside retreat with hot tub
Woodpecker Cottage - Waterside retreat with hot tub
Resilient Woodlands Retreat – Woodsman’s Cabin
Resilient Woodlands Retreat – Woodsman’s Cabin
The Speech House Hotel
The Speech House Hotel
Picture of The Manor
Here's good news! Available Christmas in Luxury - Hot Tub / Fires - Sky cinema
Greenway Farm Caravan & Camping Park
Greenway Farm Caravan & Camping Park
The Buckstone House Coach House
The Buckstone House Coach House
The Old Chapel
The Old Chapel
Greenway Farm Glamping
Greenway Farm Glamping
Pumping Station Holidays - Family Accommodation
Pumping Station Holidays - Family Friendly Accommodation
Brambles hot tub on the private balcony.
Escape for Christmas - Romantic Bolt-hole for 2 - Balcony Hot Tub, fire and wine
Lodge Barn - aerial view of the generous outdoor space, quiet rural location and spacious accommodation at Lodge Barn
Stay at Lydney Park Estate
Pumping Station Accessible Holidays
Pumping Station Accessible Holidays
Forest Chapel Holidays - School Rooms window view
School Rooms - Luxury Best Value Holiday Accomm
Orchard Barn - outside forest of dean view
Unwrap Christmas Getaway, Hot Tub, log fire, Sky Cinema films
Nuthatch Retreat
Nuthatch Retreat
PrevPrev
  • 1Broom Hill Retreat - The Annex
  • 2The Dairy at Gage Farm
  • 3Whitemead Forest Park - Glamping Pods
  • 4Mill End Mitcheldean
  • 5Tan House Newland
  • 6Arden's Farm
  • 7Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
  • 8Dippers Hut - Luxury Shepherd's Hut with hot tub
  • 9The Nook Cabin
  • 10Woodpecker Cottage - Waterside retreat with hot tub
  • 11Resilient Woodlands Retreat – Woodsman’s Cabin
  • 12The Speech House Hotel
  • 13Here's good news! Available Christmas in Luxury - Hot Tub / Fires - Sky cinema
  • 14Greenway Farm Caravan & Camping Park
  • 15The Buckstone House Coach House
  • 16The Old Chapel
  • 17Greenway Farm Glamping
  • 18Pumping Station Holidays - Family Friendly Accommodation
  • 19Escape for Christmas - Romantic Bolt-hole for 2 - Balcony Hot Tub, fire and wine
  • 20Stay at Lydney Park Estate
  • 21Pumping Station Accessible Holidays
  • 22School Rooms - Luxury Best Value Holiday Accomm
  • 23Unwrap Christmas Getaway, Hot Tub, log fire, Sky Cinema films
  • 24Nuthatch Retreat
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