3 Ways to Celebrate Autumn
As the weather starts to turn gloomy and before we can bring ourselves to accept the annual inevitability of Mariah Carey and Michael Buble, it’s easy to fall into a bit of a slump. Everything is grey and cold and rainy, the days turn dark shortly after lunchtime and your daily commute starts to smell damp and get progressively more unreliable, what with all the “wet leaves on the tracks”.
But we’re here to tell you that it’s not all bad – in fact, the Autumn months bring a lot of fun activities to enjoy, and those interstitial months between Halloween and Christmas might just become your new favourite time of year. From stunning foliage to the Autumn Internationals, you’ll have more than enough surprising treats to indulge in before it’s time to dust off your festive decorations.
Get out to nature
While it’s easy to dream of warm summer days or gorgeous wintery snowfall, there’s no denying that autumn brings with it the widest variety of stunning colours. In preparation for winter hibernation, the lush outdoors gives us one final, fiery burst of exquisite hues – and it’s all ours to enjoy, without spending a penny.
Whether it’s popping into your local park or nature reserve, or using this season as an excuse to explore somewhere new, pop on your wellies and raincoats and feast your senses on the natural beauty of the British Isles. Sheffield Park in East Sussex is a particularly gorgeous location to take an autumnal stroll, or if you’re feeling more sporty or adventurous, why not check out Snowdonia in Wales.
You can hike up to the top of the mountain or take more leisurely strolls through the dreamy, quaint town of Betws-y-Coed – have some farm to table cuisine at a local pub or enjoy the hum of the lovely Swallow Falls.
Get Active
Speaking of sports, why not enjoy the more fun side of the wet and muddy season. While tennis matches get suspended due to rain and football is subject to excess beer and over-dramatic dives, there’s one sport that powerfully preserves, come rain or shine – and that’s rugby.
The end of summer heralds the start of the Autumn Internationals – a whole season of jaw-dropping action from some of the toughest athletes the UK has to offer, hosted by some of the best-organised venues in the sport. Whether you’re a diehard Saracens fan, follow the Leicester Tigers or just enjoy the cheeky annual French Rugby Team calendar, embrace the team spirit and the exhilaration of this boisterous, yet elegant sport all the way through to the new year. In fact, why not let it inspire you to get a bit of exercise in before all the festive, carby indulgences commence.
See the rain-soaked mud pile around the corner from your house not as a miserable eye-sore but as an epic battleground – get your own local team together and have an epic, mucky play around, promoting both rugby and healthy living with your friends, family and the local community.
Get Cozy
One of the most satisfying things about autumn and things getting chillier is that you can dust off all your snuggly-ware and cocoon yourself in warm, fuzzy comfort. ‘Tis the season for giant cable knit sweaters, chunky socks and hot toddies making it the perfect time of the year to book in some self-care, especially as World Mental Health day falls in October.
Grab your hot water bottle, bang on your favourite guilty pleasure movie, light up some enticing seasonal scented candles and sink into the season as you would a hot bath. And if you really tried your best in rugby, treat yourself to some Epsom salts and enjoy the next match from the comfort of your sofa!
