Autumn time in the Western Lake District

Local colour like no other

Always majestic, the landscape of the Western Lake District turns magical with the change of season. As the days grow crisp and morning mists gather on the lakes and in the valleys, the fells become a golden swathe of bracken. Set amidst such breath-taking scenery, there can be no better place to appreciate the woodland colours – from the soft carpets of oak and birch leaves in the Miredale valley to the striking red maples of Giggle Alley near Eskdale.

The bird sanctuaries of the coast are a hive of activity with new arrivals settling down ahead of the winter, or just passing through. Visit the Dodd Wood view-point near Bassenthwaite and you may catch an impressive glimpse of the rare and beautiful ospreys which fish the lake, perhaps before they migrate to their African wintering grounds.

It’s harvest-time too, of course, and there are various local celebrations to mark it. The Crab Fair in Egremont is a tradition dating back to 1267 – the name comes from crab apples, not the sea, and the Parade of the Apple Cart continues to this day. The fair also hosts Cumberland wrestling and the World Gurning Championships! Meanwhile, in the woods, red squirrels are harvesting too...