Home to over 20 million trees, the Forest of Dean has long been celebrated for its dazzling displays of autumn colour — and it's one of SoGlos's favourite places to see the fiery reds and golden hues of the season in Gloucestershire, too.
Now, it's been named one of the best places in the UK to go 'leaf peeping' — an informal term that originated in North America, but is starting to surge in popularity here — by local tourist board, Visit Dean Wye.
The board describes leaf peeping as a seasonal pastime 'where people enjoy travelling to view and photograph the changing season, as the foliage turns from summer greens to the yellows, reds and golds of autumn' — and has been on a mission to popularise the term locally by welcoming leaf-peepers to the Forest of Dean every year.
With the area's ancient landscape encompassing all kinds of native trees and foliage that glow with vibrant colour in the autumn time, Visit Dean Wye has created the UK's very first leaf peeping guide to introduce the idea to Gloucestershire residents and visitors — helping them to make the most of the area's riverside walks, lakes and arboretums while they're drenched in autumn colour.
Whether it's taking a gentle walk to admire the autumn foliage, a well-deserved screen break and breath of fresh air when working from home, a fun-filled family day out collecting conkers and crunching through the fallen leaves, or setting off on a 50-mile leaf peeping tour through the region, Visit Dean Wye has a wealth of resources for those who want to soak up the season in the ancient Forest of Dean.
From gazing out over the canopy at the arresting Symonds Yat Rock viewpoint, to following the multitude of walking and cycling trails at Beechenhurst, there are plenty of beauty spots for nature lovers and budding photographers to discover this autumn, on foot, bicycle or by car.
For more information, visit vistdeanwye.co.uk/autumn-leaf-peeping and use the #FindYourFreedom hashtag to share your adventures on social media.
