Autumn Peaks

Autumn is a great time for an adventure in Great Britain!

As the peak summer season fades away, holiday spots like Snowdonia and the Peak District begin to wind down for the winter, meaning there’s a better chance of crowd-free, carefree experiences during your trip. 

It’s also, of course, the time of year when our country side begins to turn shades of red and yellow, so I usually begin to plan day trips and breaks to rural beauty spots and spend time in parks and gardens to soak up the seasonal colours. 

Britain’s National Parks 

Great Britain is home to many national parks, including the Peak District, which I loved visiting last autumn - I’ve shared an itinerary at the bottom of the post. 

When I planned this trip, I wanted to incorporate a couple of locations I saw on Instagram and loved the look of, including the quaint villages of Milldale and Edensor. 

I also researched some local walking routes and places to park - like the river walk between Milldale and Dovedale and the walk-up MamTor with a view over Castleton.

Plan an itinerary 

I make an itinerary for my trips to maximise the short time I have there. I think about the travel time between places, so I can stop off in a few places near to each other, meaning I reduce the amount of miles I do each day. I don’t stick to it precisely, the one day it rained, so I swapped the original day’s itinerary for another day I had planned that was more suitable for wet weather. 

Have a backup plan for the rainy days 

It turned out the weather that day wasn’t so bad after all; I went to Chatsworth House and explored its beautiful interior - and fortunately, the rain had stopped to enjoy the spectacular gardens that were bursting with autumn colour. 

I think it’s good to have a plan to work from so you don’t miss out on anything - and of course, places can get booked up, so having a list of recommended cafes and restaurants and booking a table in advance is such a time saver. 

I love the idea of a scenic walk on a crisp autumn day, followed by comfort food at a local pub with a crackling fire. Love the idea of that too? Then perhaps add the Peak District to your list for this autumn. Me? I hope to visit the Lake District or return to the beautiful countryside of North Wales and finally see Tu Hwnt i’r Bont tearoom at its most Instagrammable, fully covered in vibrant red leaves. 

Here’s a condensed weekend itinerary for the Peak District based on my trip:

Friday: 

Check-in at your local accommodation dinner at The Royal Oak 

Saturday: 

Breakfast at The Edensor Tea Cottage 

Spend the afternoon exploring The Chatsworth Estate 

Finish the day in Bakewell - be sure to try a Bakewell pudding! 

Sunday: 

Walk up Mam Tor and stop for lunch in Castleton via Winnats Pass Relax by the river at Milldale 

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