Scotland in Autumn: leaf peeping, the best places to visit (and when to go)

1. Big Tree Country – Perthshire

Visiting Scotland in October or November? Then don’t miss a visit to Highland Perthshire.

Known as ‘Big Tree Country’, Perthshire is home to some of the most stunning and popular spots for Scotland in the autumn.

The best autumn colours can be found in the woodlands at The Hermitage at Dunkeld, along the river at Killiecrankie, around the Linn of Tummel and at the waterfalls at the Deil’s Cauldron near Comrie.

If you are planning on visiting The Hermitage in Autumn, go midweek if you can – the car park on an October weekend can be a nightmare!

By night don’t miss a visit to the Enchanted Forest in Faskally Wood (8 October–8 November 2026) – book now, it sells out.

Read more: how to visit Perthshire, how to visit Dunkeld.

Make it a weekend:

• Check into Meikleour Arms Hotel which has a lovely French-Scottish farm to fork restaurant.
• Mhor 84 and its big sister Monachyle Mhor are stylish and vintage chic boutique hotels.
• The Grandtully Hotel and Ballintaggart Farm are foodie boltholes in the heart of Perthshire, on the famous River Tay.
• The Taybank Hotel in Dunkeld is a super stylish boutique with a huge beer garden and live music.

2. The woods of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Covering 720 stunning square miles and two forest parks, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is one of the most stunning places to visit in Scotland in the fall.

The 20,000 hectare Queen Elizabeth Forest covers the east side of Loch Lomond and stretches up to Strathyre, making up most of the Trossachs (the wooded valleys) region.

Start at The Lodge visitor centre, explore the footpaths around pretty Loch Ard, walk the Millennium Forest Path, or my favourite, Achray Water.

Why not hike the Great Trossachs Path? Hike 30-miles from Inversnaid on the banks of Loch Lomond to Callander via the stunning Loch Katrine underneath Ben Venue and Ben A’an – you’ll be hiking through some of my favourite parts of the whole of Scotland!

Read more: How to visit Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Make it a weekend:

• Check into the Inn on Loch Lomond at Inverbeg which is really well located for exploring the park.
• You can’t get any closer to Loch Lomond than the Lodge on the Loch Lomond by the village of Luss.

3. Glencoe Lochan

My personal favourite place to visit in autumn in Scotland? Glencoe Lochan.

Take a walk amongst the autumn colours overshadowed by two of Glencoe’s most famous peaks; the imposing Pap of Glencoe which guards the entrance to the glen and Beinn a’Bheithir, the Mountain of the Thunderbolt.

There are three routes to explore at Glencoe Lochan – the woodland, the mountain and the lochan trail – on a beautiful autumn day, the reflections of the cedars, larches, and spruce trees and the mountains in the lochan are just spectacular.

Glencoe Lochan can be found behind Glencoe village.

Read more: how to visit Glencoe

Make it a weekend:

• Check into the ever popular Clachaig Inn or the Kingshouse Hotel and Bunkhouse.
• Go glamping at Riverbeds or the spectacular Seabeds.
• The Glencoe Beach Houses with Hot Tubs are gorgeous or check into the lodges at Glencoe House.

4. Ardnamurchan and Castle Tioram

Ardnamurchan and the West Highland Peninsulas are one of Scotland’s hidden gems – and a great spot to visit in autumn in Scotland.

My favourite spot for autumn and fall colours in Ardnamurchan is at Castle Tioram which guards the entrance to Loch Moidart where it joins the River Shiel on its way to Glenfinnan.

To see the area in all its autumn glory, walk from the castle along the Silver Circuit which has views of Eigg, Muck and Coll in the distance.

Read more: How to visit Ardnamurchan (and the West Highland Peninsulas)

Make it a weekend:

• Check into The Glenuig Inn perched right on the edge of the bay serving up great food and comfortable rooms.
• The Kilchoan Hotel is owned by the Ardnamurchan Estate or check out the amazing Rudh Dubh, a crofting cottage perched above Sanna Bay.
• If you prefer to camp, there are campsites at Kilchoan – Ardnamurchan Campsite, Sunart – Resipole Farm Holiday Park and Sunart Camping.

5. Glen Affric in Autumn

Walking through Glen Affric in autumn must be one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring walks.

Amongst the remnants of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Scots Pine forest, discover Autumn in Scotland along the River Affric including the stunning Dog Falls (2 miles, 1.25 hours) and the Viewpoint Trail (1.45 miles, 1 hour) or take on the full circuit of Loch Affric on the 11 mile trail amongst the towering mountains.

Next door is Glen Strathfarrar, where, if you are looking for peace, only 25 cars are allowed in a day!

Read more: how to visit Glen Affric and make it a weekend and stay at Eagle Brae.

6. Uath Lochans Trail, the Cairngorms National Park

Hidden away in Glenfeshie are the Uath Lochans and above the lochs is a great view of Scotland in all its autumn glory.

Wind your way around the lochs before climbing up to Farleitter Crag for an incredible view across to the Monadhliath Munros – the grey mountains.

Whilst much of the Cairngorms National Park is made up of evergreen fir trees, there are patches of cedars, larches, and spruce trees which turn stunning colours in Scotland in the fall.

Read more: how to visit the Cairngorm National Park.

Make it a weekend:

• Check into the Lazy Duck, with an 8-bed hostel, a beautifully quiet 4-pitch campsite and three romantic eco-huts, the Lazy Duck is a little piece of off-grid heaven.
• Balsporran B&B is a luxury B&B with real heart (and Dalwhinnie whisky!) deep in the Drumochter Pass in the Cairngorm National Park.

7. Scotland’s Botanical Gardens

One of the best places to see autumn and fall colours in Scotland is in one of Scotland’s botanical gardens.

From the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) at Inverleith and the Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway, Ben More Botanic Garden near Dunoon, Attadale Gardens in the Highlands, Cawdor Castle and Gardens near Nairn, Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Borders and Branklyn Garden in Perth.

Look out for golden birches, red, purple and orange maples, rowans, and beech trees. I particularly love Cowden Japanese Garden near Dollar for the acers.

8. The Glens of The Ochils

Clackmannanshire is one of the most undiscovered areas of Scotland – so let’s change that this autumn!

Hidden in the Ochils mountains are Dollar Glen and Alva Glen – explore these two deep, tree lined waterfall gorges – they are especially beautiful to visit in Autumn with fall colours and orange leaves.

Read more: Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell.

9. Royal Deeside

The River Dee flows through the heart of Aberdeenshire to the city of Aberdeen. Forming part of the truly spectacular Cairngorms National Park, Deeside is a fabulous place to visit in Scotland in Autumn.

From the Linn of Dee where there is a pretty gorge in which to spot red squirrels in the pine woods, to Craigendarroch Oakwoods which have a great view over Ballater, or walk around Cambus o May – explore the woods and lochans of this pretty woodland on a 3 mile walk.

Read more: how to visit Royal Deeside in Autumn

Make it a weekend:

• Check into The Queens Hut, a gorgeous self catering hut on the edge of its own loch.
• The Fife Arms, a very glamorous art hotel with a spectacular interior in Braemar.
• Ballater Hostel, a tourist hostel in Ballater.
• Howe of Torbeg offer glamping pods in the countryside outside of Ballater.
• Stay at The Boat Inn, a pub and restaurant with rooms in Aboyne.

10. Scotland’s moors and mountains in Autumn

It is not just the woods and forests of Scotland that turn stunning colours in Autumn in Scotland – the moors, hills and mountains do too!

Look out for our stunning purple heather, brown and orange glens and stunning sunsets – why not climb one of my beginners hills in Scotland for a better view?

The best autumn walks in Scotland

From ancient Caledonian pinewoods to beautiful upland oak woodlands, and even Scottish rainforests – Scotland has every type of forest walk you could wish for, especially in Autumn. Here are five of my favourites:

1. The Hermitage – Perthshire – probably the best place in Scotland for autumn colours, stroll up through the trees to Ossian’s Hall overlooking the thundering falls below.
2. Faskally Wood near Pitlochry – otherwise known as the enchanted forest, follow the woodland paths past the picturesque Loch Dunmore or walk as far as the dramatic Killiecrankie – watch out for the bungee jumpers!
3. Achray Water, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park – this circular through the Trossachs is particularly spectacular in autumn.
4. Pine Cone Point, Dunkeld – visit Craigvinean Woods to climb up to this unique shelter which gives fabulous views over the River Tay below.
5. Dog Falls, Glen Affric – visit my favourite glen in Scotland for autumn colours by exploring around the Dog Falls.

→ Read more: my full guide to the best autumn walks in Scotland, with parking, distances and the best week for colour on every route (coming soon) – plus my favourite woodland and forest walks in Scotland all year round.

Autumn wildlife: geese, stags and salmon

Autumn in Scotland isn’t just about the leaves – it’s the biggest wildlife show of the year, and it’s all free:

• The geese – every dawn and dusk in October, up to 80,000 pink-footed geese pour between Montrose Basin and the surrounding fields – a fifth of the world’s population, in skein after noisy skein. The Scottish Wildlife Trust visitor centre has the best views.
• The stags – from late September the glens echo with roaring red deer stags. The easiest place to hear (and see) the rut is Lochranza on Arran, where the stags wander the village – keep your distance and leave the dog at home.
• The salmon – watch salmon hurl themselves up the Falls of Shin, Buchanty Spout and the fish ladder at Pitlochry, at their best in October.

When do the leaves turn in Scotland?

Autumn doesn’t arrive in Scotland all at once. Here’s roughly how it goes:

• Late September – the birches and rowans turn first, at altitude – the Cairngorms and the Highland glens get their first gold while the Lowlands are still green.
• Early-mid October – the Highlands hit their peak – Glen Affric and Deeside are at their best.
• Mid-late October – peak colour in Perthshire, the Trossachs and central Scotland.
• Early November – the finale – the larches turn gold, the beech woods of the Lowlands and Borders glow, and the first storms strip the trees.

A word of warning though – no two autumns are the same. A sharp frost brings the colours on, a mild October stretches them out, and one big gale can strip the trees overnight. Treat this as a guide, not a promise!

What’s on in Scotland in autumn

Autumn is packed with events – here are the big ones, with every date on my events calendar:

• The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry (8 October–8 November 2026) – book early!
• GlasGLOW at the Glasgow Botanics (23 October–1 November 2026)
• The Braemar Gathering (5 September 2026) and the last Highland Games of the season
• The Wigtown Book Festival (25 September–4 October 2026)
• Halloween – invented here! – with the Paisley Halloween Festival and the Samhuinn Fire Festival in Edinburgh (31 October)
• The Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, Carrbridge (3 October 2026)

Where to stay in autumn: cosy season starts here

Autumn is when Scotland’s cosiest stays come into their own – log fires, hot tubs under dark skies, and long dinners while the weather does its worst outside.

Start with my guides to log cabins in Scotland, the best restaurants with rooms and romantic getaways in Scotland – or check the autumn deals on my hotel offers page.

How to visit Scotland in the autumn FAQs

Thinking of visiting Scotland in autumn? Here is how to visit.

Have you visited Scotland in Autumn?

Love from, Scotland x