England in Autumn: Lake District, Cotswolds and Devon

Golden woodlands, quiet villages and cosy pubs with the fire lit. In episode 216 of the UK Travel Planning Podcast we bring together three local experts from across England to tell you what autumn really looks like in their part of the country, starting in the Lake District with Briony from Mountain Goat Tours, then over to the Cotswolds with Lisa from Go Cotswolds, and finally down to Devon with Alex from Unique Devon Tours.

This is part one of a two part autumn special, following on from our spring and summer episodes. Between them, our guests cover where to find the best autumn colour, why September books up faster than most visitors expect, which walks work once the days shorten, and what harvest season brings to the farm shops, orchards and vineyards. If you are weighing up when to travel, autumn makes a very strong case for itself.

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What you’ll learn in this episode

• why September is one of the busiest months in the countryside, and why accommodation in smaller towns and villages books up earlier than you would expect
• how the Lake District changes from mid September onwards, and why it is the rain that makes those vivid oranges and yellows pop
• where to go for the best autumn reflections in the Lakes, from Tarn Hows to the drama of Wastwater
• why low level walks beat the big fell climbs in autumn, and the one mile circular route that suits almost every ability
• which Mountain Goat tours run right through autumn, and the award winning one that stops at the end of September because of ice on the mountain passes
• how the Cotswolds feel once the summer coaches thin out, and why the market towns come into their own
• the best window for autumn colour in the Cotswolds, and the two arboretums worth planning a day around
• which Cotswold farm shops are actually worth your time, and an honest verdict on Diddly Squat
• what happens in the Cotswolds between Halloween and Bonfire Night, and where to find the biggest firework display in the region
• when the Bath Christmas market runs, and how to fold it into a Cotswolds day tour
• what changes in Devon when autumn arrives, from tree tunnel lanes to the beech woods and mushroom season
• what to expect on Dartmoor and Exmoor, and your chances of seeing the wild ponies
• why Devon’s apple harvest, community orchards, cider makers and vineyards make autumn the best season for food and drink
• which attractions keep their summer opening hours into October, and what actually changes come November