Autumn Escapes to Book Now

Although there are plenty of walking and hiking opportunities from the front door, and good eating spots in Elterwater, you really need a car to explore as you won’t want to miss all the delights of the Lakes and surrounding area.

Not in the mood for cooking? Fuel up for your day with a hearty breakfast at the Elterwater Café, and on your way home stop at Lanty Slee’s on Elterwater Common. This saloon-style bar and restaurant is known for its sharing boards, its signature cocktails and the uninterrupted view of the surrounding fells. In between it’s your choice whether to hike up the nearest fell, take to the water, or wander around Ambleside, Windermere or Grasmere. If you are here for a few days, definitely do it all.

Heading into Ambleside? Hopefully the summer crowds will have dissipated a little, and although never really quiet, autumn is a good time to explore this popular part of the Lake District. There are plenty of independent shops in the town and it’s the perfect place to stock up on any hiking gear for that walk you are planning. While you’re here, step into the quirky 17th Bridge House over the Stock Beck River. Over the decades, the house has had many practical uses, including as a counting house for the mills of Rattle Ghyll, a tea-room, a weaving shop, a cobbler’s, a chair maker’s and, at one time, this tiny house was home to a family of eight. From Ambleside you can catch a boat and cruise Lake Windermere, perhaps the most enchanting (and easiest) way to appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Stock Ghyll Force waterfall is an easy hike from the town centre, but if you are a more serious hiker, try the more challenging climb up Wansfell Pike just a mile to the east.

The comfortable, peaceful interior is filled with beautiful Welsh country antiques, handmade crafts and local mill-woven textiles, and is kept warm and cosy with underfloor heating throughout, and a wood-burning stove in the living room fuelled by logs from the owners’ nearby woodland. The two bedrooms and kitchen look over the orchard, and there are 20 acres of fields and meadowland to walk in, with views down the Conwy Valley and footpaths that lead to miles of woodland tracks.

If you can tear yourself away from such stunning and secluded surroundings, then Capel Curig is just 15 minutes away and is a great starting point for exploring Snowdonia National Park, whilst mountain bikers will love that Y Bragdy looks over Gwydir forest, home to some of the best mountain bike trails in the UK. Hugely popular with tourists, autumn is significantly less busy, and whether taking on a climb or simply walking through this incredible landscape you will be able to find some solitude.

One easy stroll is through the quaint village and artists haven of Betws-y-Coed, the nearby majestic woods and across the many bridges over the Llugwy River to the Swallow Falls, but if you want more of a challenge head to Capel Curig and the Crimpiau trail. At 475 metres high this mini mountain is not the highest climb but boasts the best view per metre ascent in Snowdonia. A more strenuous route takes you up Pen Llithrig and Helgi Du. Less fashionable hills compared to the main hubs of Carnedd Llywelyn and Dafydd, they nevertheless provide some decent walking. Back in Capel Curig there are plenty of places to relax and refuel, including the oddly named Ugly House and Tyn-y-Coed pub famous for its Welsh rarebit.

The thoughtfully renovated retreat combines original features with light, contemporary coastal styling. Sleeping four, the open-plan living and kitchen area is a warm, sociable space with a welcoming wood-burning stove, there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a private courtyard for al fresco dining.

Surprisingly less popular than some of its neighbours along the coast, the village of Alnmouth, famous for its pastel-coloured houses, is a real seaside gem with its art gallery, quirky shops, a great deli in Scotts of Alnmouth, and plenty of eateries strung along the main street. The beach is a big draw here, and for any golfers Alnmouth Golf Club is the fourth-oldest in England. Walking and wildlife draw many visitors, but Alnmouth does quieten down once the summer holidays are over.

Spend the morning on the beach, strolling north to Boulmer to stop at the Fishing Boat Inn for fish and chips enjoyed on the deck overlooking the beach before heading on to Craster for some kippers, or head south towards Warkworth and Amble, via Church Hill with its famous St Cuthbert’s Cross on the south side of the estuary. The historic village of Warkworth lies just inland but is well worth the detour. The 15th century medieval castle, once the home of the Percy family, dominates the pretty village which sits on the River Coquet. The now-ruined castle was once one of the most formidable strongholds in the north of England and a unique interactive tour takes you through its turbulent history before you head down to the river below to seek out the Hermitage, a tiny chapel cut out of the rock. The picturesque village has plenty of interesting, independent shops to explore, and when you are hungry, head to Bertrams and bag a table in the tiny courtyard for lunch.

Part of the Chatsworth Estate, there are plenty of great walks, long and short, from the doorstep, and Chatsworth House, the park and farm shop are all within easy reach. Start your day with goodies procured from the estate’s award-winning shop where you’ll find everything from freshly baked bread and handmade patisserie to bacon from estate-reared pigs. Don’t want to cook? The café is a great place to fuel up for the day with views across the rolling estate.

Chatsworth House lies between the farm shop and the farmhouse and is a must visit. Home to the Devonshire family for 17 generations, it’s renowned for its eclectic art collections, but also the breathtaking gardens and 1,000-acre park on the banks of the River Derwent, largely designed by Capability Brown. Behind the house, rising up a steep hill, parts of Stand Wood date back to medieval times, although much of the planting dates from the 18th century. Out of sight of the house, the shelf above Stand Wood has four reservoirs created at various dates to provide a reliable water supply for the gravity-fed fountains, ponds and other water features in the gardens, whilst below the summit of the steep hill stands the folly known as The Aqueduct: four immense arches with a waterfall tumbling from the end. Walk through the wood and you are back to the farmhouse.