Yorkshire


<p>If you’ve been sweltering through Yorkshire’s sizzling summer, good news! Basically, all that glorious sunshine hasn’t just been fab for rosé season, although we were totally all over that, but it’s also been quietly working magic on our trees. 2025 is tipped to be a&nbsp;<em>golden</em>&nbsp;year (literally) for autumn colour. The sun has supercharged sugar levels in the leaves, which means we’re in for a showstopping riot of amber, gold and some fiery reds across Yorkshire’s arboretums. Here are the best spots to see nature put on a show!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-yorkshire-arboretum-castle-howard-york"><strong><a href="https://www.yorkshirearboretum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Yorkshire Arboretum</a>, Castle Howard, York</strong></h2>



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<p>Tucked away next to the oh-so-stately Castle Howard, this 120-acre leafy haven is basically nature’s answer to a catwalk show, and come autumn, it’s strutting its stuff. This big hitter has over 7,000 trees from around the globe (yep, it&#8217;s got serious arboreal credentials), so expect to find a kaleidoscope of colour as Japanese maples glow crimson, oaks blaze bronze, and every path turns into an Insta opportunity. It’s peaceful, uncrowded, and there’s a cracking café for post-walk coffee and cake. Don’t leave without popping by to see the red squirrels. It really can’t get more autumnal than that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-himalayan-garden-amp-sculpture-park-ripon"><strong><a href="https://www.himalayangarden.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Himalayan Garden &amp; Sculpture Park</a>, Ripon</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="686" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/27582_Himalayan-Garden-and-Sculpture-Park.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5826" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/27582_Himalayan-Garden-and-Sculpture-Park.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/27582_Himalayan-Garden-and-Sculpture-Park-300x206.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/27582_Himalayan-Garden-and-Sculpture-Park-768x527.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Nestled between Masham and Ripon, this 45‑acre woodland wonderland is one of those places you stumble across and immediately fall in love with. With steep, meandering woodland paths, shimmering lakes, rare blue poppies, and one of the North’s largest stands of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias, it’s an all-year crowd pleaser. Add in over 90 contemporary sculptures hidden around corners and framed by vibrant, autumnal colours, and every turn becomes part art‑installation, part leaf‑peeping paradise. Head to the tearoom for stunning woodland views to drink in as you warm up over a hot choc.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scampston-walled-garden-malton"><strong><a href="https://www.scampston.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scampston Walled Garden</a>, Malton</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/walled_garden_grasses.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5825" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/walled_garden_grasses.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/walled_garden_grasses-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/walled_garden_grasses-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With Piet Oudolf’s masterful Walled Garden divided into intimate ‘rooms’, each corner frames autumn in a different light, from the smoky golds of grasses in the Drifts of Grass to the burnt‑sugar sweetness of the Katsura Grove where the leaves fall with scent as rich as colour. Against the stately backdrop of mature trees, clipped hedges, and reflecting pools, the fall foliage at Scampston doesn’t just change, it transforms to crisp amber, deep bronze, hints of red and copper. And yes, there’s cake. Because what’s autumn without tea and a bit of indulgence after leaf‑peeping?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thorp-perrow-arboretum-bedale"><strong><a href="https://www.thorpperrow.com/">Thorp Perrow Arboretum</a>, Bedale</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Thorp-Perrow-Arboretum.png.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-5824" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Thorp-Perrow-Arboretum.png.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Thorp-Perrow-Arboretum.png-300x150.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Thorp-Perrow-Arboretum.png-768x384.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Dive into this 100-acre arboretum located just outside of Bedale if you’re looking for one of the North’s finest examples arboretums. Home to five National Plant Collections (hello ash, laburnum, walnut and smoke bush) and 51 Champion Trees you know you’re going to get quite the show come autumn. Tree avenues, long vistas, and quiet glades all morph into framed works of art this time of year. Finish off with a homemade treat form the café and you’ve got yourself a proper wholesome, autumn day out.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harewood-house-leeds"><a href="https://harewood.org/">Harewood House</a>, Leeds</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Autumn-colour-at-Harewood-credit-Harewood-House-Trust-and-Trevor-Nicholson-4-scaled-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5823" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Autumn-colour-at-Harewood-credit-Harewood-House-Trust-and-Trevor-Nicholson-4-scaled-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Autumn-colour-at-Harewood-credit-Harewood-House-Trust-and-Trevor-Nicholson-4-scaled-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/10/Autumn-colour-at-Harewood-credit-Harewood-House-Trust-and-Trevor-Nicholson-4-scaled-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>With over 140 acres of gardens, woods and parkland (hello Capability Brown!), every walk is a tapestry of colour here. Feel totally spoilt for choice as you meander the Lakeside Woodland Gardens and see leaves mirrored in still water; wander through the West Garden where 19th‑century trees blaze gold; explore the Himalayan Garden’s contrast of exotic foliage against autumn tones; or get lost in the Walled Garden’s warm brick walls as fruits, vines, and late blooms mingle with fiery leaves. It’s peaceful, beautifully managed, and blessed with hidden viewpoints where oaks, chestnuts and maples throw down their most dramatic colours. Plus you can stop for lunch so it’s a win all round.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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