The low season is a great time to get away – even if it’s just for the weekend – and with autumn setting in the English countryside is set to be awash with activity.
There’s a secret part of all of us that still enjoys pulling on some wellies and kicking up the fallen leaves. Whether you’re finding an excuse to do that by taking the kids out for the day or you want to unleash your inner child for a few brief, joyful moments, we’ve picked out some of the best autumn activities.
If you’re planning on soaking up multiple days of action at the World Champs, then where better to stay than The Caravan and Motorhome Club pop-up campsite, just a short distance from all the Championship action?
The pop-up campsite will cater for motorhomes, caravans, campervans and tents and will have all the usual facilities to be expected of a Club site. You’ll have access to onsite showers, toilets, fresh water, waste disposal and electric hook-up, along with a warm welcome.
Plus, you’ll be able to leave your vehicle on the campsite, saving up to £10 a day on parking fees. Pitches are available from £36* The campsite is open from 19 to 24 September 2023.
Just south of Farnham in Surrey is Alice Holt Forest, a 2,100-acre area of pine and oak trees that offers plenty to keep you amused. The forest can be explored on two feet or two wheels - with cycle hire available on-site at weekends, and there are several tracks and trails to follow.
You can also keep fit and toned by trying Nordic walking. If you're new to Nordic walking, beginner courses are available throughout the year and are great for getting out in the fresh air. There are regular walks on Tuesday mornings, Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Alice Holt Activity Centre also runs various events, from outdoor yoga and forest bathing to festive craft sessions and twilight walks. Stay until the end of October at Wellington Country Park (20 miles.)
The pinetum and forest are a haven for bird watchers; woodpeckers, finches and even birds of prey can be spotted, and keen ornithologists can find a list of species on the website.
Other activities include photography exhibitions, forest running trails and the ever-popular popular 'Christmas at Bedgebury.' Stay until the end of November at The Hop Farm Campsite (12 miles.)
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The 3,500-acre Haldon Forest Park is just fifteen minutes from Exeter and offers a multitude of ways to enjoy the outdoors.
From horse riding and cycling to Go Ape and a Gruffalo sculpture trail, you can discover the sights and sounds of the forest however you choose. Much of the site is accessible to those with limited mobility with "Tramper" off-road scooters available to hire.
If you live close by, you can take part in a regular parkrun or brush up on your orienteering skills with a map pack available at reception. Stay at Exeter Racecourse Caravan and Motorhome Club Site until early November (1.5 miles.)
The charmingly named Giggle Alley is a small area of woodland in the Lake District, and includes the secluded remains of a Japanese garden.
Commissioned in 1914, the garden features a series of pools surrounded by bamboo thickets, maples and magnolia and is currently being restored. Lazy walks through the forest are very pleasant in the autumn sunshine, and the contrast of the Acers contrast beautifully against the native oak trees.
Set on the southern slopes of Scafell, you are, of course, not far from the panoramas of the surrounding landscape either. Stay at Coniston Park Coppice Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, which is open all year round (18 miles.)
Popular as much for the legend of Robin Hood as for its excellent range of activities and events, Sherwood Pines Forest Park is a great day (or night) out.
Astronomy and star gazing evenings are held in the winter months, allowing you to discover the secrets of the night sky, and daytime activities include bushcraft and orienteering.
If you're feeling adventurous, hit the Go-Ape challenges, take a Segway trip through the woods or have a game of Disk Golf. Stay at Sherwood Pines Camping in the Forest which is open all year.
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Terms and Conditions
*Terms and Conditions apply - The price does not include tickets for the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
Author
Rob Fearn
Editor - Alan Rogers Guides
Rob has been involved in the leisure industry since completing a BTEC in Travel & Tourism in 1993. Previous roles have included the promotion of tourism in Yorkshire and running a motorcycle touring company in the Australian Outback.
He is the General Manager at Alan Rogers Travel Group, responsible for the ongoing development of the Alan Rogers website and the publication of the Alan Rogers Guides and 'Destinations' magazine.
He regularly travels with his wife and young daughter in their Dethleffs 'Campy' caravan. A keen cycling fan, Rob can often be found in a field in Belgium during the 'Spring Classics' season or riding his Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
