Aaaah, crunchy leaves and uplifting autumn colour... catch the seasonal highlights at these gorgeous Hampshire gardens.

Exbury Gardens, New Forest

Always a showstopper at Exbury, the 200-acre woodland landscape is ablaze with seasonal colour in Autumn. A leaf peeping highlight, the acer collection dazzles vibrantly in red. Headlining Nyssa and Oxydendrum, part of a National Collection, are brilliantly beautiful in orange and yellow hues.

Hinton Ampner, near Arlesford

National Trust favourite Hinton Ampner is well known for its superbly-tended garden. Autumn never fails to disappoint. Root vegetables grow in the walled garden looked over by Hinton’s scarecrow and his little dog. The parkland at the back of the house is filled with yellow and gold foliage from ancient oaks and beeches and the deep red of the Norway maple – a leaf peeping paradise.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey

This beautiful 180-acre garden and arboretum was established in the 1950s by – you guessed it – the nurseryman Sir Harold Hillier. He gifted to Hampshire County Council in the 1970s. Catch a few leafy snaps as you stroll through Acer Valley. You’ll find an atmospheric valley of Japanese and other maples and shaded by mature oaks. Look out too for the golden reflection of branches overhanging the lake. Très tranquille.

The Vyne, Sherbourne St. John, near Basingstoke

Often overlooked in favour of the Tudor mansion itself, The Vyne’s extensive gardens and woodlands are great fun to explore. The trails are also not too taxing for littlies to walk around. Rustle through fallen leaves looking out for ancient oaks. Bright red American liquidambar trees change to yellow and orange as the seasons shift. Also an Autumn highlight, the deep russet-brown leaves of the bald cypress deciduous conifer.

Mottisfont, near Romsey

Another National Trust big-hitter, spot striking reddish orange and yellow leaves at Mottisfont. You can’t miss the National Collection of plane trees, including the colourful (and vast) great plane. Chestnuts, hornbeams and the acid green-turned-golden leaves of two magnificent tulip trees (pictured) also put on a colourful show. Fancy helping out? After a kick around, gather big handfuls of crunchy autumn leaves (satisfying). Deposit them in leaf bins dotted around the north and south paddocks and Mottisfont’s gardeners will add them to the estate’s compost mix.