Get active this autumn

Capture the colours

In North America, they call it leaf-peeping, and in Japan it’s the season of momijigari (which translates to red leaves hunting): visiting woods or gardens in autumn to experience the changing colours of the trees. In Scotland, there’s no better destination to experience the autumnal changing colours of the trees than Perthshire – our very own Big Tree Country. Killiecrankie, Linn of Tummel and the Hermitage are all perfect for leaf-peeping. Bring a camera or smartphone and see who can take the most colourful photos for printing out when you get back home. Alternatively, collect some colourful leaves for children to make autumnal artworks or to press inside a book as a souvenir of the season. Look out for conkers too!

Climb a hill

Quiet weekend and a clear forecast? Autumn’s a lovely time of year for a brisk hill walk. High above the autumn delights of Perthshire’s woodlands, Craigower makes for an ideal half-day option, its 407m summit offering views over Loch Rannoch, Loch Tummel and Schiehallion. Over in the west, tucked away at the centre of Glencoe is An Torr, where you can explore ancient woodland and climb to Signal Rock, a historic meeting place for the MacDonalds of Glencoe. For the fitter and more ambitious, Ben Lomond is a great choice for a first Munro. Make sure you bring a map and compass, and wear suitable clothing including waterproofs – you can encounter all seasons in one day at this time of year.

Fly a kite

When conditions turn breezy, don’t forget to pack your kite. Great locations for kite flying include Castle Fraser, 16 miles west of Aberdeen, and the grounds of Hill of Tarvit and Kellie Castle in Fife. On the east coast of Scotland, head to Ayrshire to try the beaches of Culzean Castle when the tide is out. Ask a friend or family member to help you raise your kite on the wind and see how long you can keep it aloft!

Walk over a house

Have you climbed the walls of the Hill House Box yet? This beautiful Helensburgh house, designed in the early 20th century by legendary architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is currently enclosed in a giant frame of chainmail. There are walkways right round the box so you can climb up and around the outside of the house and, if you’re feeling brave and have a head for heights, even over the roof! Spot details on the outside of the house from this unique vantage point, and pause to take in the views of Helensburgh and the Clyde. The Box also houses a great café with delicious Mackintosh-themed Empire biscuits, the ideal reward for plucky explorers.

Go on a nature hunt

Look up high and search down low! Head out on a nature-spotting walk, and challenge yourself to find the most autumn wildlife. Keep an eye up in the tree branches for nut-foraging red squirrels stocking up before winter. There are feeders set out at several squirrel hotspots around Threave Garden & Estate, as well as a hide with a great woodland view. The damp autumn conditions also make it a perfect time for seeing how many bugs you can find, by looking carefully under rocks and logs for some creepy-crawlies.

At Inverewe and Corrishalloch Gorge see how many different types of fungi you can uncover, from the bizarrely shaped to the brightly coloured! Take a camera to document them all, or why not get creative and take a sketchbook to record your findings.