My Autumn Bucket List For the North East & North Yorkshire

Kelly
4 hours ago
4 min read

Autumn is coming and I honestly couldn't be happier! I am mixing big days out, cosy village walks, waterfalls, woodland walks, food, spooky season and a few proper adventures. 🍂

I’ve included some things that are particularly good in autumn, rather than just generic year-round attractions. The National Trust specifically highlights autumn walks at places such as Brimham Rocks, Studley Royal and Malham Tarn, while the North East has several seasonal events in 2026. I have a jam packed Autumn schedule and I can not wait to share it with you.

North East & North Yorkshire Autumn Bucket List

North Yorkshire

🍂 Walk through Dalby Forest when the trees are turning ideally early morning when the birds are out foraging and singing.
🍂 Explore Brimham Rocks surrounded by autumn colour and moorland. The National Trust specifically recommends its autumn scenery, I am hoping to visit soon and really hope it isn't as busy as it was at the start of summer.
💦 Walk to Aysgarth Falls after a good spell of rain and see the waterfalls at their best The smell of Autumn is one of the best.
🏞️ Do the Malham Cove → Gordale Scar → Janet's Foss circuit.
🌊 Walk around Malham Tarn on a crisp autumn day.
🦌 See the deer at Studley Royal/Fountains Abbey in autumn the park is home to around 300 deer.
🏰 Visit Castle Howard and explore the grounds in autumn colours.
🌳 Wander around Nunnington Hall and follow the countryside walk beside the River Rye.
🏘️ Spend an afternoon in Helmsley visit the castle, independent shops, cafés and a wander around Duncombe Park.
🚂 Take the North Yorkshire Moors Railway through the autumn landscape. Jump of in one of the villages for a wander.
🌊 Visit Whitby Abbey at golden hour, then walk down into Whitby for fish and chips.
🧙 Do a Whitby ghost walk after dark.
🏖️ Walk the beach from Whitby to Sandsend and reward yourself with something warm afterwards.
🌊 Visit Robin Hood's Bay on a wild autumn day and explore the streets.
🚶 Walk the Cleveland Way around the Yorkshire coast for dramatic sea views.
🐚 Go fossil hunting around the Yorkshire coast.
🏘️ Spend a cosy afternoon in Staithes with a café stop.
🌄 Watch the sunset from Sutton Bank one of the best viewpoints in North Yorkshire.
🐴 Drive the North York Moors' scenic roads with an autumn playlist and no fixed itinerary.
🌲 Walk through the woods at Beningbrough Hall there are woodland and riverside routes around the estate.
🏰 Visit Knaresborough Castle and walk along the River Nidd.
☕ Have a proper Yorkshire afternoon tea somewhere in the Dales.
🌉 Walk across the Ribblehead Viaduct area and watch the trains cross.
🏔️ Do a Yorkshire Three Peaks day if you want a serious autumn challenge.
🍺 Find a cosy Dales pub with an open fire after a rainy walk.
🌌 Do the North York Moors Dark Skies Fringe Festival in October with stargazing, moonlit walks

🍂 North East England

🏰 Explore Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Gardens in autumn. Its pretty spectacular.
🌊 Walk the beach at Alnmouth on a blustery autumn afternoon.
🏰 Walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle one of the classic Northumberland coastal walks.
🌅 Watch the sunset at Bamburgh Castle with a pizza from The Northumbrian Artisan Pizza Co.
🏖️ Have a beach walk at Bamburgh when it's cold, windy and practically empty.
🍂 Take a boat trip to the Farne Islands to see the wildlife before the season ends.
🌌 Go stargazing in Northumberland International Dark Sky Park.
🔭 Have a proper night-sky photography session in Northumberland. You could pop along to The Sill during the day.
🌲 Explore Kielder Forest during peak autumn colour. If your budget allows I highly recommend booking a session at the observatory
🚲 Cycle around Kielder Water.
🏰 Visit Lindisfarne/Holy Island and walk the beaches carefully checking the causeway tide times first.
🍂 Walk through the grounds of Cragside surrounded by autumn foliage.
🏛️ Explore Beamish Museum on a chilly autumn day.
🚂 Ride a heritage train at Stephenson Steam Railway its 2026 running season includes Sundays through April–October.
🚂 Go to the Stephenson Steam Railway Autumn Gala, scheduled for 24–25 October 2026.
🌊 Walk along Tynemouth Longsands followed by a hot chocolate.
🏰 Explore Tynemouth Priory & Castle with the sea crashing below. You could even pop along to the Market if its a weekend visit you have in mind.
🎃 Do Halloween at Belsay Hall the 2026 Halloween half-term runs 24 October–1 November.
🏞️ Walk through Jesmond Dene under the changing leaves.
🦌 Go looking for autumn wildlife and deer around Northumberland's forests and estates.
🌊 Walk the Durham Heritage Coast from Seaham towards the coastal cliffs.
⛪ Spend a golden-hour afternoon in Durham, including the cathedral and riverside.
🎨 Visit The Light in Durham — the newly opened gallery/museum opened in August 2026 and includes work by Tracey Emin, Steve McQueen and Olafur Eliasson.