10 foodie nature spots in the UK for spotting autumn leaves

As the leaves turn golden and begin to tumble, there’s no better time to explore the UK’s enchanting nature spots than in autumn. We've found the finest spots that offer unrivalled views of the season's fiery foliage, including a treehouse with panoramic woodland views, a micro-bakery within lush gardens, and a snug Scottish cabin tucked into the hills.

These are all prime spots for food lovers, too – from rustic gin distilleries and cider orchards to forest cafés and country pubs – all offering the perfect blend of leaf-peeping and seasonal fare. Which of these nature spots will make it onto your travel wish list?

Once you've decided on your destination, embrace the season with coffee expert Celeste Wong's autumn coffee serves, including a clever British twist on the pumpkin spice latte, or make the most of autumn by booking a cosy cabin stay.

Inshriach, Cairngorms, Scotland

Log cabin within Cairngorms National Park

Seek sanctuary during cosy season in this expertly crafted wooden cabin hidden away on the hillside above the River Spey. Owner Walter Micklethwait and his family built the log cabin during lockdown, which now proves as popular for holidays as it is with TV and photoshoots.

Surrounded by mature woodland and the vast Cairngorms, this 200-acre mini Highland estate is ablaze with fiery colour by the time autumn rolls around, with picture-perfect views. It also happens to be home to a rustic gin distillery, where Walter concocts small-batch Speyside gins in an award-winning shed. Alternatively, if relaxation is top of your list, hop into the wood-fired sauna and steam away the stress.

Besides the cabin, the estate’s elegant country house is perfect for a large family gathering (sleeping up to 18, with or without a chef) but, for a back-to-nature experience, there’s the cluster of quirky glamping options peppered throughout the tangled woodland. The quaint Swedish-style shepherd’s hut is old-school romantic with surrounding juniper bushes (the key ingredient in gin; most of the botanicals are foraged from the estate). Or, for those who want something a little more contemporary, there’s the bothy, a little modernist cabin nestled in the birch woods above the Spey. inshriachhouse.com

Queen's Wood Café, Highgate Wood, London

Charming woodland café in north London

Londoners looking for a slice of autumn tranquility within commuting distance are in luck thanks to this enchanting café in north London's Highgate.

Set amid ancient woodlands, the space was originally built in 1898 as a wood keeper's lodge and tearoom. It now functions as a friendly chalet-style café with a community garden and therapy cabin.

You'll find organic and veggie-focused dishes on the menu (think burrata salad and homemade quiche) and pastries are baked fresh daily (cherry Danish, cinnamon swirl). Art exhibitions regularly adorn the walls, making a pretty backdrop to while away the hours. We recommend ordering an autumnal coffee and slice of carrot cake, then sitting out on the terrace illuminated in lights, taking in the woodland views.

It's a dog-friendly space, too, perfect for walkers hoping for a coffee pit stop or spot of lunch. queenswoodcafe.org

The Cordia Collective at Borde Hill, West Sussex

Micro-bakery within historic Sussex gardens

Find this new culinary venture from Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson nestled within the idyllic gardens of this Grade II-listed, 2,300-acre estate in West Sussex.

The collective started life as a micro-bakery in spring this year, and there are plans to develop into a glasshouse restaurant, café and wine bar, and workshop space in the former stables. Headed up by acclaimed baker Janine Edwards from London’s much-loved Toklas Bakery, highlights include warm, freshly baked curlicues, (aka their own take on a much-loved cinnamon bun), vibrant focaccia sandwiches and Ploughman's plates, with some ingredients harvested straight from the garden itself.

After securing your goodies, take a peaceful stroll among the vibrant foliage which, in autumn, deepens into warmer, richer tones – look out for the amber-blazing maple tree which glows against the light. It's an impressive place to take a moment to pause while enjoying the flavours of the season.

Elsewhere at Borde Hill, you can sign up to autumn foraging walks, plus Halloween trails and activities for families. bordehill.co.uk

Bettys Harlow Carr Tea Room, Harrogate

Charming teahouse overlooking lush gardens

This little tea house in Harlow Carr gardens supplies all the treats and tipples required for a cosy autumnal day out. Find this North Yorkshire gem overlooking the handsome grounds of RHS Garden Harlow Carr, where autumn is celebrated with stunning displays of fiery red and golden leaves.

The beauty of the surroundings is matched by all the traditional Bettys treats, including tempting breads, handmade cakes and hot chocolates, while you admire the panoramic view from your table. Take a walk through the gardens to the kiosk in the centre, order a hot chocolate and mooch through the vibrant trees, plants and greenhouses full of autumn produce.

A wholesome place to soothe yourself out of a seasonal funk, foodies will love filling their totes with freshly made cakes, biscuits, fancies and other specialities in the Bettys shop – perfect for gifting or enjoying when you get home. bettys.co.uk

The Newt, Somerset

Cider tasting and woodland walks in the west country

This country estate is famed for its cider orchards, woodland walks and immaculate gardens, all of which turn gorgeous shades of amber and crimson in autumn. Located between Bruton and the town of Castle Cary, this Palladian mansion-turned hotel is ideal for a seasonal garden retreat. On site, there’s a butcher’s, bakery, cider cellar, artisanal shop and three restaurants, all serving seasonal dishes – many of which feature ingredients grown or made on the estate (even the sourdough starter is made from apple pulp from the cider press).

After taking an autumnal stroll, visit the cider cellar for a guided tour and tasting (The Newt’s own ciders are made with 100% apple juice and slow, cold fermentation, and are made to be served and enjoyed like wine). Sample the estate’s produce at the open-air cider bar located next to the shiny state-of-the-art cider-making facility (where you can also catch the daily apple-pressing 'show').

But it's not all cider-making and woodland walks. It's also a place to learn, with harvest-themed activities ranging from wreath-making to mushroom foraging. Then, there's Apple Day Weekend, one of the most hotly anticipated events on the estate calendar. Think a two-day celebration of Somerset heritage and all things ‘apple’, including apple games, orchard tractor tours, apple-themed menus, tastings, live music, BBQs and plenty of cider.

You could also relax by pottering in the greenhouse or swimming in the spa. The choice is yours. thenewtinsomerset.com

The Potting Shed, Crudwell, The Costwolds

Village pub featuring a two-acre garden and apple trees

Autumn's golden hues only add to the rustic charm of The Cotswolds, a prime spot for a seasonal strolling. Originally a Victorian pub called The Plough, The Potting Shed is located in the chocolate box village of Crudwell, a short drive from the M4. With its two-acre garden and apple trees, its the epitome of a country local and a suiting pit stop during your autumn foodie break.

Once a favoured romantic bolthole for Prince William and Kate Middleton before their engagement, this cosy country pub sticks to hearty gastropub classics, with much of the produce coming from the abundant vegetable patch in the pub’s two-acre garden, which also has apple trees and lawns.

Try a Cotswolds dry gin, or taste local ales such as Elmers pale bitter from Flying Monk Brewery in neighbouring Malmesbury. The pie of the day (ham with a poached egg on top, or chicken, sweetcorn and black pudding) is a must, served, as it should be, with creamy mash and rich gravy.

There’s an outdoor patio and garden from which you can peek into the neighbouring allotments or challenge your friends to a game of boules on the pitch out back. Or simply gaze out over the foliage as you settle in with a pint. thepottingshedpub.com

Clissold Park, Stoke Newington, London

Peaceful north London park with roaming deer

When the leaves are at their most golden, this serene Hackney park comes into its own. It offers the best of both worlds for time-poor Londoners: easy to travel to and large enough to escape urban life.

The park is a true feast for the senses come autumn. Watch the resident deer rove around the enclosure while the leaves turn russet and gold, then listen to the leaves crunch beneath your feet as you stroll along the grassy verges flanking the New River.

Combine your autumn walk with a trip to park café Fink’s Pump House, which opens every day and serves straightforward fare while utilising local suppliers. Go for the coffee from Scenery Coffee Roasters and stay for the sourdough sarnies and pastries coming fresh daily from Fink's Bakery in N4, such as their rosette apple, vanilla custard and pecan crumble danish.

Foodies can also fill their totes on Fink's thoughtful selection of gourmet goods, from tinned fish and truffle crisps to wines and spirits. Wearied Londoners should consider a visit to this leafy sanctuary to contemplate and appreciate autumn's fleeting, enchanting beauty.

Tu Hwnt I'r Bont Tearooms, North Wales

15th Century luxury tearoom with an idyllic riverside location

Located in the small town of Llanrwst in North Wales, this charming grade II listed tearoom is often one of the most photographed places in the area. Though surrounded by beautiful gardens and views of the Conwy Valley, it's the building itself that encapsulates autumnal splendour – a breathtaking mosaic of rich, warm and earthy leaves which envelop the entire building. It's so stunning, you'll want it on a postcard.

Inside, you'll find a charming tearoom serving artisan cakes and specialty teas alongside classic lunchtime specials. Choose opulence with a traditional high-tea, or sample its award-winning ice cream (from its very own Parisella's Ice Cream of Conwy).

Painting the peaceful Welsh landscape with the most vivid autumnal hues, this modest tearoom is a top-of-the-list destination for a crisp autumn day out. tuhwntirbont.co.uk

Stars & Vines, Herefordshire

Vineyard cabins with sweeping views of rolling Herefordshire countryside

For views of the rolling Herefordshire countryside, this vineyard, with its two beautifully appointed cabins, is uniquely placed. Take in the views while soaking in the outdoor hot tub, or strike out into 1,000 acres of the surrounding farmland where the River Lugg weaves through towering woods, and you might happen upon a small lake by one of the cornfields.

The elegantly furnished modern cabins are situated at one of the highest points of the Broadfield Court Vineyard Estate, which produces a small-batch range of whites and rosé – a stay here wouldn’t be complete without a hosted wine-tasting (£95) with Alexandra James, who co-owns the estate with her husband Mark.

The cabins are self-catered, but you can request a hamper for a continental or cooked breakfast, again stocked with fresh, local produce. On a clear evening, you can ask for a telescope and kick back by the firepit – with marshmallows and other gourmet treats supplied – to marvel at the stars. starsandvinesluxurylodges.co.uk

Wild Escapes, Hampshire

Luxury treehouses overlooking Hampshire vineyards

Nestled in the forest on sprawling Fullerton Farm, this luxuriously wild autumn getaway offers four modern treehouses. The structures, crafted out of local materials, were designed to minimise impact on the surrounding ecosystem, and rewilding is encouraged, so birds, deer and badgers are abundant.

Nestled into a wild woodland overlooking the vines of the Black Chalk vineyard, it's a soothing place to linger, sip and soak. Though each treehouse is unique – The Perigord is Scandi-chic, The Damselfly modern-minimalist, The Fallow decked out in earthy tones and The Poppy the most rustic, complete with its own firepit. All have a few things in common: vineyard vistas, wood-burning stoves, snazzy glass showers and terraces with bathtubs that come with sycamore wood champagne flute rests for the complimentary Black Chalk English sparkling wine.

Take a private tour of neighbouring Black Chalk vineyard followed by a Treehouse Tasting, with a view of the vines where the grapes were grown. In the morning, enjoy a breakfast hamper curated from Hampshire producers, including small-batch Moon Roast coffee, Nicky’s Kitchen sourdough, and Fluffetts Farm free-range eggs.

The surrounding woodland is perfect for autumnal walks, and local street food pop-ups and country pubs with riverside terraces offer plenty of feasting opportunities. wildescapes.com