It could be argued for many reasons that Autumn is the best season, Halloween, Bonfire night and the anticipation of Christmas are a few highlights, but what makes it truly stand out is the transformation of the world around us. As the sky becomes a paler shade of blue and the air turns fresher, the jumpers and boots come out of the wardrobe and we venture out in a world of bright oranges and golds as the trees change and shed their leaves, harsh greys and thick white sea form as the waves become bigger and stormier on the coast. As the days draw in, it's the idea of comfort and being cosy that is inviting and on the agenda.
In East Yorkshire, we kick off Autumn with the Walking East Yorkshire Festival, a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. This annual festival, held in September, is a chance to try something new, discover new places, new walks and new friends with over a hundred events over nine days. Events include town trails with knowledgeable tour guides, exploring lavender farms, challenging long walks over a series of days and horse riding. Keeping an eye on their website to see what’s coming up this Autumn is an absolute must.
Pull on those boots, grab a coat and head to one of the woods in the East Yorkshire area. Enjoy the autumnal colours at Millington Wood, collect fallen leaves and twigs to take home and create pictures, crafts for the home or a bug hotel for the back garden. Explore under the fallen leaves and twigs to see what bugs you can find! For the conker lovers a trip to Danes Dyke is a must, there’s hundreds to collect as well as enjoying the woodland trail and make sure to wear wellies to kick through all the fallen leaves.
Enjoy the tranquility of a walk along Driffield canal, and watch the surroundings transform from luscious greens to rich golds. Embrace the crisp air and dewy mornings with the sounds of the canal creating a serene and picturesque route from Driffield town along the waterway and into the countryside. Take the 7 mile route from Driffield along the canal and then on to the neighbouring village of Nafferton, along Nafferton Brook.
Bird watching and East Yorkshire go together like fish and chips, but Autumn offers a much different atmosphere than the summer months and the nesting puffins. Brace the livening winds at RSPB Bempton Cliffs to see the gannets on the cliffs, and you may also spot migrating birds, with some heading to warmer climes and some coming home and settling for the winter.
After spending all this time enjoying the fresh air of Autumn there’s only one thing to warm you up, a lunch in a traditional, country pub. Come inside, cosy up by the open fire, enjoy the atmosphere of a charming pub and enjoy a local brew, and a delicious homemade meal. The Wolds Inn, Huggate and The Old Star, Kilham are a couple of many pubs in the area to try out, offering traditional Sunday lunches, tasty snacks, pub classics and comforting desserts.
A new season brings a change in fresh produce available at the local markets, farmers markets and farm shops. With many root vegetables, carrots, turnip and butternut squash, now available and perfect for making satisfying soups and stews, visiting a local market is perfect to find the ingredients for warming dishes associated with Autumn. You’ll also find a whole host of local produce available at markets, from cheeses to honey, chutneys and preserves to handmade pastries and cakes. A visit to Drewtons Farm Shop & Restaurant is the perfect treat to enjoy the bakes, makes and produce of the local area. Working with over 500 Yorkshire suppliers, Drewton’s boasts a farm shop, delicatessen, butchers and restaurant can offer some of the best of the area. Whether you want to pick up some fresh vegetables or fresh baked sausage rolls, enjoy a leisurely brunch or a freshly baked scone and a cuppa, or even try one of their ‘grab and go’ picnic bags, you can do it all at Drewtons.
The crisp air of early mornings in Autumn is both refreshing and invigorating, but sometimes when the air drops a few degrees it's nice to take the edge off with a hot drink in a rustic cafe. Whether it’s a hot cup of tea, a strong coffee or a velvety hot chocolate, they always taste better in a lovely cafe and a beautiful setting.The countryside settings of The Fiddle Drill and Ramblers Rest are perfect spots for a little pit stop while exploring the Yorkshire Wolds walks or cycle routes, while Wolds Village at Bainton offers an art gallery and art trail through the woodland alongside their lovely tearooms. The best thing about visiting a little cafe - homemade cake and scones!
Treat yourself to a workshop at Yorkshire Wolds Cookery school to brush up on your culinary skills before the Holiday season. From the basics in bread making to perfect patisseries and fine dining, the school offers a wide variety of workshops and classes as well as incorporating the use of local produce. Or simply turn up and enjoy a supper club experience cooked by well-known guest chefs.
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