Golden Autumn Walks - good for all the family

I can't be the only one glad that Autumn has truly arrived? I don't want to sound ungrateful - we've had a beautiful summer with long lazy days in the garden and refreshing trips to the coast - but I found the in-between-can't-make-up-it's-mind weather of September and early October really difficult to dress for! So I'm glad to have been finally able to dig out the knitwear from the back of the wardrobe, wrap up warm, pull on the wellies and head out for some proper walks to blow away the cobwebs. 

Such a cliché, I know, but this is my favourite time of year. The countryside is exploding with colour, the air has a nippy bite and the wildlife busily harvests the hedgerows in preparation for winter.

I found this article on the National Trust website and I really believe this statement to be true: 

"Natural colour schemes can inspire us and life our spirits...natural colours experienced on an autumn walk make us feel happier, healthier and calmer" (The National Trust)

My husband particularly suffers from Seasonal Adjustment Disorder, perhaps because he comes from Switzerland where winters are bright, crisp and snowy, rather than misty, murky and damp like it can be here in the UK (which I don't mind at all by the way). Last weekend he was displaying the tell-tale signs. We were cooped up in the house, snappy with each other and the little wild one was tearing round the house, overflowing with energy, which wasn't helping with the general mood one bit.

So we went on this walk in our local woods. Here are some of the things we did to cheer us up, lift our spirits and calm us down:

Found some magic sticks to wave about. They also came in handy when wading through the long grass on a bear hunt...

Trotted along the woodland paths looking for conkers and other natural treasures to collect...

Followed the sculpture trail created by a local artist...

And pretended we were in a secret tunnel where the trees touched in the middle and left dappled light on the path....

aaahhh, that is much better. Less grumpy husband and a tired little wild one equals a very happy mummy. All thanks to the Autumn fix.

How do you feel at this time of year?