🍂 Get Out in Nature This Autumn: Family Events & Things to Do Across the North East & North Yorkshire

If there is one thing I love about autumn, it is getting outside.

There is something about crisp mornings, changing leaves, muddy boots, conkers, fungi, wildlife, dark skies and the first excuse of the year to take a flask of hot chocolate with you everywhere!

So I've put together a huge guide to family-friendly nature events and outdoor things to do this autumn, covering the whole of the North East and North Yorkshire.

I've included ideas for little ones, older kids, tweens and teens, as well as plenty of things that the whole family can enjoy together.

I'll keep adding to this guide as more autumn events are announced, so save it and check back.

Please check individual event details before travelling. Dates, booking requirements and opening arrangements can change, and some wildlife experiences have limited spaces.

🍁 SEPTEMBER

September is a brilliant month for getting outdoors.

The days are still reasonably long, the first autumn colours are starting to appear and wildlife is changing as we move towards winter.

🦇 WWT Washington

📍 Washington, Tyne & Wear

Family Bat & Biscuit Night

Family friendly version of the Bat & Beer event

📅 Selected dates in September

🦉 RSPB Saltholme

📍 Teesside

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit Saltholme as migrating birds begin moving through the wetlands.

You can explore the hides and viewing areas, look for water birds and finish with something warm in the café.

Dusk Walks

📅3rd September

Junior Birders

📅Various Dates

🐦 Go on a wildlife spotting walk

📍 Across the region

You don't need to book an event to enjoy autumn wildlife.

Take binoculars if you have them and see what you can spot

🌳 Northumberland Wildlife Trust

📍 Northumberland

There are several guided walks taking place this autumn.

Weetslade Country Park

📅 11 September and 6 November

Join a guided walk and discover more about the history, wildlife and landscape of Weetslade.

Northumberlandia

📅 17 September and 19 November

Join the Northumberland Wildlife Trust team for a relaxed guided walk around the Lady of the North.

West Chevington

📅 11 September and 10 October

A chance to explore this lesser-known Northumberland landscape with the Wildlife Trust.

🌿 Explore Northumberlandia

📍 Cramlington, Northumberland

Even when there isn't a special event, Northumberlandia makes a brilliant autumn walk.

Take the family, explore the trails and see how many different colours you can find in the landscape.

🌊 Head to the coast

📍 North East coastline

September is a great month for a family coastal adventure.

Try:

Whitburn → Roker

Seaham → Nose's Point

Tynemouth → Cullercoats

Alnmouth → Warkworth

Take a picnic and make a day of it.

🍎 Visit an autumn farm or orchard

📍 North East & North Yorkshire

Look out for apple picking, harvest events, farm shops and autumn produce.

It's a lovely way to introduce younger children to seasonal food and where it comes from.

🎃 OCTOBER

This is where autumn really comes into its own.

October is the month for fungi, bats, pumpkins, Halloween, autumn colour and dark skies.

🐸 WWT Washington – SUPER Natural Halloween

📍 Washington

📅 24 October – 1 November 2026

If you want Halloween without the scares, this looks like a brilliant option.

WWT Washington's SUPER Natural event is designed as a scare-free Halloween adventure celebrating wetlands, wildlife and folklore.

Children can explore a self-guided nature adventure and take part in activities including:

🦉 Owl pellet investigations🌿 Plants, potions & remedies🐦 Birds of myth and superstition🏮 Will o' Wisp lantern making🧚 Fairy ring crafts⭐ Willow wands and stars

The event is included with admission and free for WWT members.

🍄 Go to Fungi Fest

📍 Potteric Carr / Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

📅 10–11 October 2026

If your family has never really looked at fungi before, this could be a fun one.

Fungi Fest includes guided walks, talks, creative workshops, cooking activities and a mushroom market.

And yes autumn is absolutely the time to start looking down at the forest floor!

🍎 Community Apple Day

📍 Staveley Nature Reserve, North Yorkshire

📅 24 October 2026

Celebrate apples and autumn at this family-friendly event.

A great excuse to explore the nature reserve while learning more about traditional varieties and local wildlife.

🌿 Autumnal Mindfulness Walk

📍 Ripon City Wetlands

📅 16 October 2026

Slow things down and enjoy an autumn walk surrounded by nature.

Perfect for older children, teenagers or adults who don't necessarily want a high-energy day out.

🐦 Discover the autumn wildlife at RSPB Saltholme

📍 Teesside

Autumn migration makes this a brilliant time to explore the reserve.

Take binoculars, visit the hides and see what you can spot.

You could even give everyone their own wildlife checklist.

🌌 North York Moors Dark Skies Fringe Festival

📍 North Yorkshire

📅 23 October – 1 November 2026

Want to do something outdoors during October half term that isn't Halloween?

Look up!

The North York Moors is an International Dark Sky Reserve and the 2026 Dark Skies Fringe Festival takes place during October half term, with stargazing and night-time experiences suitable for different ages.

⭐ North Pennines Stargazing Festival

📍 County Durham & North Pennines

October and November are fantastic months for stargazing because darkness arrives much earlier.

The North Pennines has some of the darkest skies in the country, making it an amazing place to introduce children to astronomy.

🔭 Star Camp

📍 Teesdale, County Durham

📅 23–25 October 2026

For families with older children or teens who are really interested in space, this is a fantastic one.

The 2026 Star Camp is suitable for children aged 6+ and includes telescopes, expert guidance, astronomy talks, solar observing and even a bottle rocket competition.

🦇 Northumberland Dark Skies

📍 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

Northumberland Wildlife Trust has several autumn stargazing events at Hauxley.

The Sky is Full of Ghosts

📅 24 October

Where Are the Aliens?

📅 21 November

These are great options for families with older children and anyone who is fascinated by space.

🍂 Go leaf hunting

You don't need to spend anything.

Find a woodland, country park or local trail and challenge the kids to find:

❤️ Red leaves🧡 Orange leaves💛 Yellow leaves🤎 Brown leaves🍁 The biggest leaf🌰 A conker🍄 A mushroom🕸️ A spider web

🎃 Go pumpkin picking

📍 North East & North Yorkshire

October wouldn't be October without a pumpkin patch.

Choose your pumpkin, explore the farm, take some photos and finish with something autumnal to eat.

And don't forget your wellies!

🍂 NOVEMBER

November is when we really start to embrace the darker evenings.

But don't let that stop you getting outside.

In fact, earlier darkness gives us more opportunities to experience nature in a completely different way.

🌌 Go stargazing

📍 Northumberland / County Durham / North Yorkshire

Take:

🧤 Warm clothes🧣 Blankets☕ Hot chocolate🔭 Binoculars📱 A stargazing app

Then find somewhere away from streetlights and look up.

The North Pennines recommends autumn, winter and early spring as particularly good times for stargazing because of the earlier darkness.

🥾 Northumberland Wildlife Trust guided walks

📍 Northumberland

Weetslade Country Park

📅 6 November

Northumberlandia

📅 19 November

Both offer a chance to explore local landscapes with someone who can tell you more about the wildlife and history around you.

🍄 Look for fungi

You don't need to know anything about mushrooms to enjoy a fungi walk.

Take photographs rather than touching anything and see how many shapes, colours and textures you can find.

And if you want to learn more, keep an eye out for organised fungi walks and forays.

🦌 Listen for deer

📍 North Yorkshire

Autumn is a brilliant time to visit places such as Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal.

The deer park becomes particularly atmospheric as the deer rut takes place, with autumn colour providing the perfect backdrop.

Important: always keep your distance from deer, particularly during the rut.

🌊 Have a wild-weather beach walk

November is brilliant for this.

Pick a safe stretch of coastline, wrap up warm and go looking for:

🐚 Shells🪨 Interesting rocks🦀 Rock pools🪶 Feathers🌊 Dramatic waves

Then finish with fish and chips or hot chocolate.

🔥 Have an autumn campfire

If you have access to a safe, permitted firepit, make an evening of it.

Toast marshmallows.

Tell stories.

Look at the stars.

And see who can spot the first owl.

🦉 Go on a night-time wildlife adventure

Look out for organised:

🦇 Bat walks🦉 Owl experiences🌌 Stargazing sessions🌙 Night walks

These can be especially exciting for tweens and teens who have outgrown traditional children's activities.

🥾 AND DON'T FORGET THE SIMPLE STUFF

You don't need an organised event to enjoy nature this autumn.

Some of our favourite family activities are completely free.

🍂 Autumn scavenger hunt

Give the kids a list and head outside.

📸 Autumn photography challenge

Let the teens take charge of the camera.

🥾 Family woodland walk

Pick somewhere new each weekend.

🧺 Picnic in October

Yes, really.

Just take more blankets.

🌅 Watch the sunset

The earlier sunsets make this much easier with children.

🌌 Look at the stars

You don't need a telescope.

🍁 Make leaf art

Collect fallen leaves and turn them into pictures when you get home.

🐦 Go birdwatching

You don't need expensive equipment — start with a free bird ID app.

🐿️ Go squirrel spotting

Try a woodland walk early in the morning.

🧤 Do a family litter pick

Take gloves and bags and leave your favourite outdoor space a little better than you found it.

🍂 OUR AUTUMN NATURE BUCKET LIST

Can you tick them all off?

•  See a red squirrel

•  Find a perfect conker

•  Spot a deer

•  Find a mushroom

•  See a bat

•  Go stargazing

•  Watch a spectacular autumn sunset

•  Visit a nature reserve

•  Go on a guided wildlife walk

•  Have an autumn picnic

•  Go pumpkin picking

•  Walk through a woodland covered in leaves

•  Visit the coast on a wild day

•  Take part in a conservation activity

•  Go birdwatching

•  Find a spider web covered in dew

•  Hear an owl

•  Have a bonfire night outdoors

•  Make something from fallen leaves

•  Spend an entire day outside

• 
  

📍 PLACES TO PUT ON YOUR AUTUMN NATURE LIST

If you're looking for somewhere new to explore, add these to your map:

Tyne & Wear

• WWT Washington

• Herrington Country Park

• Jesmond Dene

• Northumberlandia

• Rising Sun Country Park

• St Mary's Island

County Durham

• Rainton Meadows

• Low Barns Nature Reserve

• Durham Heritage Coast

• Hardwick Park

• North Pennines

• Teesdale

Northumberland

• Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

• Druridge Bay

• Kielder Forest

• Northumberlandia

• Holy Island

• Northumberland Coast

• Simonside

Teesside

• RSPB Saltholme

• Teesmouth

• Summerhill Country Park

• Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park

• Redcar coastline

North Yorkshire

• Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

• Dalby Forest

• North York Moors

• Malham

• Ripon City Wetlands

• Staveley Nature Reserve

• Yorkshire Dales

• Sutton Bank

• Filey

• Flamborough

• 
  

❤️ A QUICK REMINDER

Autumn doesn't have to mean expensive days out.

Some of the best memories can come from putting on your wellies, finding a muddy woodland, taking a flask and seeing what you can discover together.

And if you have teenagers, give them the camera.

If you have little ones, give them a scavenger hunt.

If you've got a dog, let them choose the route.

And if it's raining?

That's what waterproofs are for!

🍂 Get outside. Get muddy. Explore somewhere new. And enjoy autumn.