Derbyshire leads the way for the UK’s most colourful autumn getaways, according to new data from GroupAccommodation.com.
Rather charmingly named, “leaf peeping” is the art of travelling specifically to observe and photograph the changing colours of autumn foliage. The trend has been gaining serious momentum in the UK, as travellers head out between September and November to catch nature’s warmest show — landscapes painted in shades of red, orange and gold.
And this year could be particularly spectacular. Forestry England reports that thanks to a record-breaking sunny summer, the 2025 autumn display is expected to be one of the most vivid in years.
Where are Brits heading for autumn colour?
Booking data from GroupAccommodation.com reveals the top UK counties for “leaf peeping” breaks this season, based on thousands of holiday rental enquiries for autumn 2025:
- Derbyshire and the Peak District
- Yorkshire
- Cumbria and the Lake District
- Somerset
- Devon
Ed Maughan at GroupAccommodation.com says: “You can visit somewhere you’ve been before, say in spring, and have a completely different experience where the landscapes explode with warm red and orange tones. It gives a totally different atmosphere — there’s something quite magical about that. Our data shows that people are actively planning trips around this now. Leaf-peeping has become a genuine reason to travel.”
The UK’s Best Leaf-Peeping Destinations
The Peak District, Derbyshire
The Peak District leads the way for autumn escapes, offering a blend of easy trails, dramatic views and picture-perfect valleys. The Tissington Trail delivers 13 miles of disused railway line where trees form colourful tunnels overhead — try the stretch between Tissington and Parsley Hay for the densest hues.
In Dovedale, the famous stepping stones are framed by copper and gold canopies by mid-October, while Mam Tor rewards climbers with sweeping views over Hope Valley’s bronze bracken and purple heather.
After a day exploring, retreat to the woodland lodges at Darwin Forest. Surrounded by lofty firs and complete with outdoor hot tubs, it’s one of the Peak District’s best autumn bases.
The Lake District, Cumbria
Few regions capture autumn quite like the Lake District, where golden woods reflect perfectly in still lakes. Tarn Hows, once owned by Beatrix Potter, offers a short, scenic loop walk around a mirror-like tarn fringed by maple and birch trees.
For a more dramatic scene, follow the woodland trail to Aira Force, a 65-foot waterfall surrounded by fiery foliage and the sound of rushing water. Or for hikers, the Grasmere to Silver How route offers sweeping views of yellow oaks, orange birches and bronze fells.
Stay right in the heart of it at The Coppice, Borrowdale — an Edwardian country house just a 10-minute woodland walk from Derwentwater’s shores, which shimmer with autumn colour.
Exmoor National Park, Somerset
Exmoor feels wild and ancient in autumn. Misty mornings, roaming red deer and golden oaks make it one of Britain’s most atmospheric “leaf peeping” locations. Inside the park, Horner Wood boasts trees over 500 years old that burst into deep red and orange tones each October.
In Doone Valley, follow Badgworthy Water from Malmsmead to uncover medieval ruins hidden among the trees — an autumn walk with a real sense of story.
Stay off-grid at Pinkery, Simonsbath, a remote farmhouse surrounded by open moorland and powered by its own wind turbine and solar panels. It’s as close to nature as you can get.
Dartmoor National Park, Devon
Dartmoor’s wild granite landscapes offer a striking contrast with its wooded valleys in autumn. Becky Falls delivers one of the most magical seasonal experiences — an ancient woodland turning gold around a dramatic 70-foot waterfall. The trails here offer easy access for all abilities.
Equally enchanting is Wistman’s Wood, a prehistoric oak forest where twisted trunks and moss-covered boulders glow under a carpet of fallen leaves. It’s a setting straight out of folklore.
To fully immerse yourself, stay at Brimpts Farm — timber-clad camping pods featured on BBC’s Countryfile — with sweeping views across the Dart Valley and cosy woodland seclusion.
Plan Your Autumn Escape
From golden forests in Derbyshire to mirrored lakes in Cumbria, Britain’s landscapes are showing off this season — and there’s never been a better time to plan an autumn getaway.
Whether you’re after a log-fire lodge, a family-friendly farmhouse or a countryside cottage for friends, explore hundreds of large group properties perfect for autumn breaks on GroupAccommodation.com.
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