The Sussex countryside will be ablaze with colour this autumn. Here’s our guide to some of the best places to enjoy nature’s spectacular display...
Standen
The red and gold Acer grove is the star of the autumn garden. Combine a walk in the crisp autumn air with a visit to the house to luxuriate in the stunning William Morris interiors. Dogs are welcome - there are acres of woodland to explore on the wider estate, and they are allowed on paths in the formal gardens.
Address: Sheffield Park, Uckfield TN22 3QX
nationaltrust.org.uk/standen-house-and-garden
Sheffield Park
The much-photographed lakeside vista glows with burnished colours, ranging from yellows and ambers right through to the deepest purples, all reflected in the glassy water. There's so much to do on a day out to Sheffield Park: when you've finished admiring the specimen trees and formal planting, enjoy a walk in the estate's parkland or the wilder environs of Walk Wood. Dogs on leads are welcome in the landscape garden after 1.30 pm daily. Dogs on leads are also welcome in the parkland and off-lead in East Park at all times.
Address: Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE
nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden
Nymans
There is plenty of scope for admiring the exquisite palette of the season at this special property, not least in the arboretum planted by the Messel family starting in the 1890s. Some of the most spectacular displays come from the Quercus rubra, Liquidamber and Taxodium distichum trees. Meanwhile, there is lots more to admire in the gardens, from brightly coloured dahlias and asters to the more muted shades of the heather garden. The woods next to Nymans garden contain the biggest tree in Sussex - a gargantuan redwood over 50 metres tall. Dogs are welcome in the woods at any time and are allowed in the garden during winter opening hours.
Address: Handcross, Haywards Heath RH17 6BT
Wakehurst
The gardens at Kew's country estate are full of fiery shades of yellow, red and orange in autumn. The Millennium Seed Bank - the world's largest seed conservation project - is open year-round. Dogs are not normally permitted at Wakehurst, but a dog-walking trial took place in September with dogs allowed on a short lead in designated areas of the gardens and woodland, so the situation may change in the future.
Address: Selsfield Rd, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN
Ashdown Forest
A deer-hunting forest in Norman times, Ashdown Forest is an ancient area of open heathland with a rich ecological and archaeological heritage (and still home to fallow deer). 2/3 of its 6,500 acres are heathland, and the rest is woodland. The landscape would traditionally have been managed and used as grazing by commoners. At this time of year, the heather - traditionally used by commoners for thatching, animal bedding and bases for haystacks - is in full bloom, lending a pink glow to the landscape. Dog walkers are asked to consider ground-nesting birds by keeping their animals under close control, preferably on a lead, when walking on heathland. Of course, Ashdown Forest is most famous as the home of a certain bear of very little brain, and Pooh fans can visit the Enchanted Place and Poohsticks Bridge. Maps are available from the Forest Centre at Wych Cross.
Address: Wych Cross, Forest Row RH18 5JP
Brede High Woods
One of the largest sites managed by the Woodland Trust, Brede encompasses 647 acres of ancient and secondary woodland, streams, ponds and open heathland. Lying on the shore of the Powdermill Reservoir, the landscape enjoys a huge diversity of wildlife as well as a fascinating history (it was once part of the local iron smelting industry and the site of a gunpowder works). The landscape is at its best in October, when the birch, oak, hornbeam and sweet chestnut trees flush copper and gold. Dogs are welcome.
Address: Battle TN31 6FJ
Ebernoe Common
This is a great place to enjoy autumn colour and spot toadstools - Ebernoe is home to some 400 species of fungi. Look out for grassland specialists such as waxcaps or in the main woods, species like magpie inkcap and garlic parachute.
The ancient woodland is broken up by glades and ponds and provides a habitat for a fascinating range of wildlife, including adders and 14 bat species, so it's no wonder that it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Dogs are welcome as long as they're under close control.
Address: Ebernoe, Petworth GU28 9LD
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
Leonardslee Gardens near Horsham reopened this spring under new ownership after being closed for several years. The woodland gardens offer myriad colours with Acers, Amelanchier and many other species producing pinks, yellows, reds and bronze shades. There is also a fine collection of evergreens, with Scots pine, cedars and redwoods to admire. The dawn redwood is an endangered deciduous conifer, its reddish-brown fibrous bark colouring beautifully in autumn.
Address: Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Horsham RH13 6PP
Swanbourne Lake, Arundel
The quaint magical of Arundel is a dreamy location for an autumn stroll. There are a variety of locations for all different nature lovers to choose from, but the riverside walk that takes you to Swanbourne Lake (Swan Lake... can it get any more fairytale?) is particularly lovely. Park or arrive at the train station and head on a circular walk that takes you there alongside the river. Beforehand you can grab a coffee from a cafe like Motte & Bailey, or after you could treat yourself to a much-deserved treat like a feast at The China Palace or a pizza from La Campania.
Address: Swanbourne Lake, Arun, BN18 9PA
Ditchling Beacon
The highest point in East Sussex is certainly a splendid way to observe autumn sweeping over the county. It is 248 metres above sea level, and has superb views of the ocean and the South Downs. If you're an early bird, try and head down there before breakfast time - you might be able to catch the mist, which makes for an atmospheric autumn affair. Pack a warm flask of coffee, get your hiking boots on, and climb on up.
Address: Westmeston, Brighton BN6 8XG
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