While summer still lingers across the UK, autumn is quietly drawing near. Across the Northern Hemisphere — from Japan and Switzerland to the United States — September and October will paint the landscapes in rich shades of gold, amber and crimson. We’ve selected ten spectacular destinations to enjoy the season’s most dazzling foliage, ideal for anyone already longing for crisp air and cooler days.
In Niigata Prefecture, harvest season arrives with the soft sheen of shinmai rice, the clink of sake cups at Ponshukan’s tasting counters, and the first breath of cold air on mountain walks. Take the Yahiko Ropeway for views that sweep from copper hillsides to the Sea of Japan, staying after dusk for Yahiko Park’s maple-lit pathways and quiet wooden bridges. Art drifts into nature at Kiyotsu Gorge’s “Tunnel of Light,” where mirrored corridors frame the river’s burnished walls, and the day winds down in design-forward onsen retreats, Ryugon and Satoyama Jujo, whose seasonal dinners celebrate rice, mountain vegetables and river fish. enjoyniigata.com/en/
Nara Prefecture comes alive each autumn as ancient temples, mountain trails and traditional villages are framed by brilliant shades of crimson and gold. Wander through Nara Park beneath fiery maple trees alongside the city’s famous deer, before visiting Hase-dera Temple, where more than 1,000 maple trees blanket the hillside in colour. Nearby, Tanzan Shrine is one of Japan’s most celebrated autumn leaf-viewing destinations, with its striking 13-storey pagoda surrounded by vibrant foliage. From scenic hiking routes to seasonal kaiseki dining and relaxing onsen stays, Nara offers one of Japan’s most rewarding autumn escapes. visitnara.jp/
In autumn, Pittsburgh is awash with brilliant shades of red and amber, making it one of the most picturesque times to visit. Take in the seasonal colours at Point State Park, where the city’s three rivers meet, or head outside of the city into the Laurel Highlands to visit Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic home, beautifully framed by vibrant woodland. Back in the city, the Phipps Conservatory Fall Flower Show showcases stunning floral displays, while restaurants and breweries celebrate the season with pumpkin gnocchi, handmade pierogies and spiced craft brews. visitPITTSBURGH.com
Missouri Botanical Gardens St Louis c. Cassidy Moody
Experience the Missouri Botanical Garden at one of its most beautiful times of year, as autumn transforms this historic St. Louis landmark with warm shades of gold, amber and crimson. Stroll through the elegant Boxwood Garden, where clipped evergreens and formal planting contrast beautifully with the changing foliage, before exploring the tranquil Japanese Garden and historic Victorian District, home to the newly renovated Sachs Museum. Time your visit for the Best of Missouri Market (9-11 October 2026), a beloved fall festival featuring more than 150 vendors offering handcrafted goods, locally produced food and native plants. explorestlouis.com
Aspen and Snowmass Village, set in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, transform into a hiker’s paradise each autumn as golden aspens and auburn leaves blanket the trails. The iconic West Maroon Pass rewards adventurers with sweeping views of fiery foliage and snow-dusted peaks, while the Conundrum Creek Trail offers a backcountry escape through meadows and forests, ending with a soak in natural hot springs at 11,000 feet. With miles of trails framed by some of the Rockies’ most vibrant hues, Aspen and Snowmass Village are the ultimate destinations for autumn hiking. aspenchamber.org / gosnowmass.com
In autumn, Hungary’s Danube Bend becomes a sweep of copper forests, hilltop castles and riverside towns. Climb to Visegrád Citadel for panoramic views across the Danube as it curves between the wooded Börzsöny and Visegrád Hills, or follow forest trails to the Prédikálószék viewpoint for one of the region’s most dramatic perspectives. Below, explore Szentendre’s cobbled lanes, galleries and café-lined riverfront, before crossing to Nagymaros for seasonal walks framed by gold and russet foliage. With historic landscapes, hiking routes and relaxed riverside dining all within easy reach of Budapest, the Danube Bend offers a richly coloured Hungarian escape for autumn. visithungary.com/
Yosemite in fall
Autumn unveils Yosemite National Park’s softer, quieter side, as bigleaf maples, black oaks, dogwoods and aspens blaze with gold, amber and crimson beneath the park’s monumental granite walls. Stroll the valley floor beside the Merced River, where fiery foliage frames iconic views of El Capitan and Half Dome, or take the gentle Cook’s Meadow loop for sweeping vistas across meadows bathed in the season’s warm, low light.
Around Sentinel Bridge and Happy Isles, glassy waters mirror turning leaves and towering peaks to breathtaking effect. With cooler days, crisp evenings and far fewer visitors than at summer’s height, autumn brings a rare magic — the perfect time to experience one of California’s most celebrated landscapes at its most serene. yosemite.com
Zurich makes for the perfect autumnal break, with the season seeing the city shift into shades of gold, amber and russet as its trees transform. Wander the cobbled streets of the picturesque Old Town and visit the striking Fraumünster church before heading to Lake Zurich for a waterside walk framed by colourful foliage. For sweeping views, hike up Uetliberg, Zurich’s local mountain, where forest trails lead to panoramas across the city, lake and, on clear days, the Alps. After a day exploring in the crisp autumn air, refuel with traditional Zürich Geschnetzeltes, thinly sliced veal in a creamy sauce, at the historic Zunfthaus zur Waag. zuerich.com/en/
Maine Fall – Maine Office of Tourism
When autumn arrives, Maine unfurls a breathtaking display of fall colours that stretches from corner to corner. Few places showcase this seasonal beauty more splendidly than Acadia National Park. The legendary 40-mile Acadia All-American Road carries visitors across Mount Desert Island, past the picturesque town of Bar Harbor, and into the park’s most scenic reaches. Come autumn, the hills and mountains along the route blaze with vivid, shifting hues. From this scenic drive, guests can explore the park’s extensive trail network and the beloved Acadia Carriage Roads — wonderful on foot or by bike. visitmaine.com
Toronto is a city where urban life flows seamlessly into nature — and autumn transforms its parks and islands into a vivid tapestry of crimson, burnt orange and gold. Wander the pathways of High Park, explore the wooded trails of the Don Valley, or venture further to Rouge National Urban Park, Canada’s largest urban park, for breathtaking displays of fall colour.
Crisp, cool days also make the perfect excuse to visit the historic Distillery District, where outdoor patios glow with warmth from heaters — ideal spots to sip spiced mulled cider or hand‑crafted cocktails amid the autumn air. destinationtoronto.com
The post 10 Best Destinations for Stunning Autumnal Colours appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
In the magnificent surroundings of Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire, Lakefest2026 makes a convincing case for the smaller, more relaxed festival. With the Malvern Hills rising behind the estate and Eastnor Castle providing an appropriately grand backdrop, the setting is one of Lakefest’s great assets.
Lakefest2026
Lakefest2026
Lakefest2026
There are music festivals that feel like temporary cities, great sprawling affairs where you need a map, a timetable and a decent pair of walking shoes just to get from one stage to another. Then there is Lakefest, which has always traded size and swagger for something rather more appealing: atmosphere.
Lakefest2026
Lakefest2026
Dub Catalyst
What began in 2011 as a small lakeside gathering has developed into a substantial family-friendly festival, but it has retained the sense that this is somewhere to spend a long weekend rather than simply turn up for a succession of headline performances. Music is central, but so are food, comedy, children’s activities, DJs, cabaret and the simple pleasure of wandering around a beautiful country estate.
Bananarama
The musical programme in 2026 is particularly broad. The headline acts alone tell the story. The Charlatans open the main-stage programme on Thursday, Example takes over on Friday, Madness turns Saturday night into a giant party and Bananarama provides Sunday’s feel-good finale. Around them are dozens of other acts, spread across the Abbey Main Stage, Funkytown, the Cheshire Cat Club and other venues.
Thursday begins with The Charlatans, a band whose enduring appeal makes them almost tailor-made for a festival such as Lakefest. Unfortunately, I don’t arrive until Friday, but their combination of alternative rock, pop hooks and the spirit of Britain’s 1990s indie scene are perfect for establishing the mood for the weekend.
Example
Lakefest2026
Friday’s headliner, Example, moves Lakefest decisively into dance-pop territory. His energetic mixture of electronic music, hip-hop and pop is a natural fit for an audience ready to dance into the evening.
Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul
The contrast with Soul II Soul is one of the day’s highlights. Their sophisticated blend of soul, R&B and dance music adds genuine British club-culture history to the bill. The Undertones, meanwhile, bring the rawer energy of punk and new wave.
Undertones
Madness
Saturday belongs to Madness, and their appearance is arguably the weekend’s defining moment. The Camden band have become one of Britain’s great festival acts because their songs cross generations. Parents who grew up with Baggy Trousers and One Step Beyond could sing them alongside children discovering the band for the first time.
Scouting for Girls
Before them came Scouting for Girls, whose irresistible pop songs provided the perfect build-up. The Entitled Sons, Dub Catalyst and Riding The Low add further variety to the Abbey Stage.
Dub Catalyst
Entitled Sons
Riding The Low
Bananarama
Bananarama
After the exuberance of Madness, Sunday needs a headline act capable of ending the weekend on a high. Bananarama are an inpired choice. Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward have been at the centre of British pop culture for more than four decades. With 30 Top 40 hits and 30 million records sold, they have the kind of catalogue that requires very little introduction. They provide the soundtrack for one final evening of dancing.
Lightning Seeds
They’re preceded on the Abbey Stage by The Lightning Seeds, another band whose melodic British pop translates brilliantly to a festival crowd. Elvana brought its unusual combination of Elvis Presley and Nirvana, while Chesney Hawkes offered perhaps the ultimate nostalgia hit with The One and Only.
Chesney Hawkes
For families, Lakefest remains particularly attractive. The festival promotes itself as family friendly, with children’s entertainment, creative activities, fairground rides and plenty to occupy younger visitors between musical performances.
Lakefest2026
That changes the character of the event. Rather than the sometimes frantic atmosphere of larger festivals, Lakefest feels comparatively easy-going. Parents can watch a band while children disappear towards an activity, teenagers can find their own musical interests, and grandparents can enjoy the more familiar names on the bill.
Lakefest2026
The setting remains the star attraction. Eastnor Castle Deer Park provides something that no temporary festival infrastructure can manufacture: a sense of place. Between performances there are views across Herefordshire, mature trees and the unmistakable silhouette of the castle. It makes the festival feel less like a field filled with tents and more like a country-house weekend that happens to have a very good soundtrack.
Lakefest2026
The next Lakefest will take place from 11th to15th August 2027.
House of George W. Davies makes for a luxury stay during the festival.
Hatherly Manor does great Sunday lunches in stunning surroundings.
The post Lakefest2026. Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire, UK appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
On a recent camping trip, there was one accessory every camper seemed to be sporting. A collapsible washing-up bowl, and upon arriving home, I decided they’re a practical and space-saving solution for my small kitchen.
I can’t say I’ve ever paid too much attention to washing-up bowls, but people with tidy sink areas do, and choosing one that is the right style and size for your sink area does make a difference. I have limited space in my own kitchen, so a washing-up bowl that I can fold up and stash away when not in use sounds like a good idea to me.
Ever since returning from my trip, I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit considering the merits of a collapsible washing-up bowl. Here’s why I think it’s a good fit for my small kitchen ideas.
Every summer, my partner and I swap Bristol for the Pembrokeshire coastline, and it’s always my favourite trip of the year. Having been going camping since I was a kid, I’ve always assumed I knew exactly what to bring.
But this year, as I carried a haphazard ensemble of pots and pans, all my neighbours were sporting a collapsible washing up bowl just like this Dunelm Collapsible Cleaning Bowl with Handle (£10). While they were seemingly great in a camping situation, I wanted one for my home.
My flat is not exactly blessed with space. I have an open plan kitchen/ living room, with my sink area crammed into a corner. I don’t have a washing up bowl. I find they get in the way and can be annoying to keep clean; however, I do think one would come in handy to prevent glassware from chipping, prevent my drain from clogging with food debris and save water, too.
While I’ve been tempted by the Joseph Joseph washing up bowl (which is an Ideal Home Editor’s pick) due to its clever drainage feature, I honestly think a foldable version is better suited to smaller spaces.
Dunelm’s Handy Kitchen Collapsible Washing Up Bowl (£4) example can hold up to 10 litres of water and folds completely flat when not in use. You can whip it out to soak your dishes and take it on trips, and when you’re done, it folds down and tucks away.
My main pain points with a washing-up bowl are that they are bulky and get in the way, which I find highly irritating. And they’re not exactly pretty either. A collapsible bowl deals with both issues. This is how I know it’s the right fit for my tiny kitchen.
