Fancy a day leaf-peeping? Here’s where to go in Cheshire
The leaves are turning in Cheshire, promising a fabulous autumn show. Indeed, there’s no need to go further than the county’s borders for a spot of leaf-peeping, just step out into Cheshire’s glorious woodlands.
See here for more places to go leaf-peeping.
1. Delamere Forest
The Norman Earls of Chester once hunted where you can now cycle or wander beneath the canopy at Delamere Forest. English oak, common beech, sweet chestnut and silver birch are among the trees showing off their autumn colours. Watch the birds on Blakemere Moss, climb Old Pale to survey the surrounding counties, and look out for a Gruffalo peeping through the trees, too.
2. Dunham Massey
Home to one of England’s finest collections of veteran trees, Dunham Massey’s avenues of ancient copper beeches, plus its acers, birches and cherries, will be burning red and gold. Down by the canal bank, the fragrance of candyfloss from the katsura trees will be filling the air. If you’re lucky, you mightcatch sight of a deer rut because the males in Dunham’s 150-strong herd will be battling for the attention of the females at this time of year.
3. Alderley Edge
The beautiful beech woods at Alderley Edge are in their element when burnished copper and gold in autumn. Stride across the crunchy carpet of fallen leaves and explore the escarpment’s curious outcrops and the remains of ancient mines, such as Golden Stone and Devil’s Grave. It’s a must for fans of The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, the book set on the Edge by local author Alan Garner.
4. Lyme
Dive into an orange tunnel of autumnal beech trees in Knightslow Wood and be entranced by the vibrant colours in Lantern Wood at Lyme Park. In the gardens, spot the leaves of the dogwood trees and flowering cherries now fiery red and the pink seasonal hue of the spindle trees. Fill your pockets with conkers dropping from the horse chestnuts. They’re sustenance, too, for Lyme’s red deer, now sporting deep red coats and majestic antlers.
5. Beeston Castle
The woods crowned by the medieval ruins of Beeston Castle, high on a sandstone crag, not only offer the seasonal delight of colourful leaves, but great views, too, for 30 miles in the crisp autumn sunlight,across the Cheshire plain. Here, 500 feet up, on the Woodland Walk, there’s also a chance you’ll spot a peregrine falcon in the sky above.
6. Quarry Bank
Autumn paints the woods and gardens at Quarry Bank red, gold and bronze at this time of year, which you can best view from its rugged paths or along the accessible walkways that are ideal for visitors with limited mobility. Look out, too, for a seasonal crop of fungi on the forest floor, including shaggy scalycap, puffballs and chicken of the woods.
6 signs that Autumn is coming to Cheshire
