Autumn colours at Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey

There’s something magical about autumn in England, the crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and landscapes painted in fiery shades of red, orange, and gold.  One of the very best places to experience the fantastic autumn colours is Winkworth Arboretum, near Godalming in Surrey. Whether you’re a nature lover, walker, or simply searching for the best autumn walks in Surrey, Winkworth is a destination that promises colour, fresh air, and a fantastic family day out.

The arboretum owes its existence to Dr. Wilfrid Fox, a local physician who bought the surrounding woodland in 1937.

With a vision of creating a living canvas of seasonal colour, he spent years planting rare trees and species that would burst into life each autumn.  Today, managed by the National Trust, Winkworth Arboretum is one of Surrey’s top attractions and a truly unmissable spot for autumn colour.

Firstly, we followed the “challenging” red route, which is the longest trail and circles the whole arboretum.  It is hilly in parts, but not really that challenging at all.

Although the trails are waymarked, the arboretum is easy to navigate and you can easily swap from one to another.  The red trail took us to the left on the Spring Walk in the woods, giving us a splendid view over Badger’s Bowl.

Badger’s Bowl is a large meadow in the centre.  Apparently, they cleared the trees to provide war supplies, leaving a large bowl-shape valley.

At the far end of Badger’s Bowl is one of my favourite trees, a monkey tree.  From here a small wooden bridge leads to boardwalks, which took us across wetlands and onto another woodland trail.

Keep your eyes peeled for the fairy houses on the trees and a picturesque bubbling stream.  Eventually, the path emerges from the woods another large meadow which borders the lake.

Following round the lake we met some very friendly ducks and arrived at the back of the romantic boat house.  There was a strong candy floss aroma in the air.  This sweet smell is a sure sign of autumn as the yellow Katsura tree only emits it at this time of year.

After that, we followed up the Azalea Steps, where the signs of autumn’s arrival were far more obvious. The landscape had a kaleidoscope of seasonal colour, with russets, ambers, oranges, and crimsons.  It really was stunning.

However, the autumn colours at Winkworth Arboretum aren’t just from the leaves.  Berries, toadstools, and summer buds all added to the colour mix.  One of the most intriguing was the Japanese Dogwood Tree, which looks like an unusual strawberry tree.

And undoubtedly the most stunning of all the trees are the Maples.  A combination of Japanese, American and Norwegian maples add various stunning shades of scarlet to the landscape’s palette

If you’re looking for one of the best places to see autumn colours in Surrey, Winkworth Arboretum should be at the top of your list.  Its mix of lakeside walks, woodland trails, and sweeping vistas makes it an unforgettable autumn day out.  We try to get at least once every year to enjoy the autumn landscape here.

• Location: Hascombe Road, Godalming, Surrey GU8 4AD

• By car: By car, Winkworth Arboretum is about 10 minutes from Godalming and 20 minutes from Guildford.

• Parking:  Free for National Trust members, charges apply for non-members.

• By train:  The nearest train station is Godalming, which is 2 miles away, but you can then get the 42 bus to the entrance.

Winkworth Arboretum is open from 10:00 am to 17:00.

Admission is free for National Trust members.

Facilities: Toilets, a National Trust café serving light lunches, snacks, and hot drinks, plus plenty of picnic spots.

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