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Stunning country walk named best place to see autumn leaves – and it’s near one of the UK’s coolest towns
Plus, other perfect spots for taking in the autumn colour this season
King Alfred's Tower Walk has been named one of the best spots to see autumn colour in the UK by the .
The five-and-a-half mile walk on the Stourhead Estate in Somerset ticks all of the boxes for a seasonal stroll, including a quaint pub with an open fire to warm up by after - and it's just a short drive from Bruton, named one of the .
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From October to mid-November, the countryside in the UK is transformed into a kaleidoscope of burnt orange, golden yellow and bright red.
Acer and maple trees are likely to turn first, with native UK species like Common Rowan (Mountain Ash) turning a few weeks later.
While there are plenty of places to see this riot of colour, King Alfred's Tower Walk has the benefit of also being situated in one of the world's best gardens.
said of the spot: "This is one of the most celebrated sites for autumn colour.
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"On a crisp, sunny autumn day you’ll be able to catch the sunlight gleaming through the trees, making the autumn foliage even more fiery.
"As you return, don’t forget to take a detour through the famous landscape garden to see deep hues of red, russet and yellow reflected in the lake."
Stourhead National Trust also praised the walking route, adding: "The countryside around King Alfred's Tower is perfect for an autumn wander".
Located on the Stourhead Estate, there's plenty to keep visitors entertained on the 2,500-acre stretch of countryside.
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The King Alfred's Tower Walk takes ramblers past a charming lake, a Gothic cottage, an Iron Age Hillfort and King Alfred's Tower.
Discover the Scenic Arran Coastal Way
According to the , there are several stops to follow on the walking route:
- From Stourhead visitor reception car park walk to the Spread Eagle Inn before passing St Peter’s Church, turning right at the Rock Arch
- Walk with Turner’s Paddock Lake and the waterwheel on your left, passing Beech Cottage main track. Take the right-hand track at the fork and head through the gate, so the ruins of Tucking Mill and the cottages are on your left
- Keep on the main track until the 18th-century Terrace Ride where you'll need to turn left here, reaching Alfred's Tower half a mile later
- Leave the tower and follow the blue waymakers to the woodland area
- Walk through the woodland until you reach Park Hill Camp Iron Age Hillfort before following the main track to head to back to Turner's Paddock, returning to the start of the route.
On the King Alfred's Tower Walk ramblers will glimpse Stourhead Estate's lake and a Gothic Cottage.
At the end of the walk, walkers will be able to stop for a bite to eat at the Spread Eagle Inn, which is located inside Stourhead Estate.
Meanwhile, the George Inn - a 400-year-old pub that once served King Charles II is a seven-minute drive from Stourhead Estate.
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What is King Alfred's Tower?
Set in Somerset, King Alfred's Tower was built between 1762 and 1779 by architect Henry Flitcroft.
Despite being named after King Alfred the Great, the tower was actually built to mark King George III's ascension to the throne, as well as the end of the Seven Years' War.
The tower's ties to King Alfred are instead rooted in its location as it was there that King Alfred, and his army, defeated the Danes, thus saving Anglo-Saxon England from Danish occupation.
The tower, which is made from more than one million red bricks, has just a staircase inside.
In recent years, visitors have dubbed King Alfred's tower as the real-life Rapunzel tower.
Entry into the tower costs £6 for a full-paying adult and £3 for a child.
King Alfred's Tower is an 80-minute drive from Bristol, and it's a 90-minute drive from Southampton.
There are plenty of other things to do in the area too, including Stourhead - a Palladian house with a landscaped garden.
Other nearby attractions include St Peter's Pump - a water pump that was first constructed in 1474.
While the water pump was part of St Peter's Church, it was relocated to Stourhead Park by Henry Hoare in 1768.
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Top five places for an autumnal walk
EXPERTS at BBC Countryfile have listed the best places for Brits to go on a walk this autumn.
Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire
The wooded slopes have been described as "particularly lovely in autumn" with its gnarled trees and moss-covered boulders making it look like the setting for a Grimm fairytale.
Westonbirt National Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Spanning 600 acres, there are more than 16,00 types of trees and shrubs in Westonbirt.
Bodenham Arboretum, Worcestershire
This tranquil arboretum holds more than 3,000 species of trees from across the world. At its centre is a large pool with many rare and ornamental trees adorning its banks. Autumn brings a riot of leaf colour ranging from deep butter yellow through to orange, reds and crimsons as well as an abundance of berries.
From brewery tours and canal boats to ghosts and ties to the witch trials and firework displays in early November, Lancaster has been named the perfect place for an autumn break.
And we've recently revealed our favourite spots for a September break.
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