Enjoy every minute of the autumn season in Wales with our must-do activities and events
Ah, fall, my favourite season, I don't know about you, but I am an autumn. The crisp air, the crunchy leaves underfoot, and Wales's gorgeous landscapes transform into a vibrant palette of reds, oranges, and golds.
As the nights draw in, there's something extra magical about wrapping yourself in a chunky cable knit jumper, sipping a pumpkin spice latte, and diving into everything autumnal, from spooky film marathons to candle-lit evenings.
Wales in autumn is like something straight out of Gilmore Girls, walks in the park with a hot chocolate, spotting the most beautiful leaves as they drift to the ground. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here
Halloween, of course, is another reason to get excited about autumn in Wales. The spooky season is in full swing, with haunted tours, pumpkin festivals, and ghost hunts for the brave.
To get you in the seasonal spirit, we've put together a big bucket list of autumn activities, events and must-do things around Wales that will make you fall in love with the best season of the year.
Wales has plenty of pumpkin picking patches to get stuck into this year, and they are spread all over from Cardiff to Llanelli and Wrexham. Many of the pumpkin patches go the extra mile to help their guests get into the true Halloween spirit, too, with special photo opportunities, family-friendly mazes, activities and fall-themed food and drink.
Forage Farm, in Cowbridge, has already opened up bookings for its pumpkin picking and Halloween activities. Running from Saturday, October 4, until Friday, October 31, there is a lot to enjoy. Daytime and twilight tickets are available to buy.
You can also pay extra for pony rides, pumpkin catapult, bucking pumpkin, face painting, balloon modelling, and professional photo opportunities.
In Rhosilli, you can pick your very own Gower Pumpkin. If you are wondering where to get your pumpkin from this year, just turn up at Gower Fresh Christmas Trees to choose one of our pumpkins, which they have grown at the farm. You can either take it home with you or use it in our Pumpkin Carving activity inside the spooky barn.
As reported by Wales Online, Cardiff's biggest Halloween celebration is promising more treats than tricks in 2025. Formerly held at Coedarhydyglyn Park near Culverhouse Cross, the popular Cardiff Halloween Festival is relocating from farmland to Cardiff's waterfront.
Family-friendly 'Halloween Island' is set to take over Alexandra Head, Cardiff Bay, from 25-31 October 2025. You can even arrive in spooky style aboard a Ghost Ship for a boat ride that delivers you directly to Alexandra Head.
The programme has been expanded to feature a mix of live shows, adventures, creative zones, trails, and interactive activities designed to appeal to all ages.
Feast upon delicious homemade cakes in the traditional Welsh tea rooms at idyllic Ty Hwnt i'r Bont. Situated on the west bank of the River Conwy, this leafy, 15th-century Grade II listed building is a photographer's dream in the autumn with vibrant Virginia Creepers covering the entirety of the house.
Ty Hwnt I'r Bont has long been known for its traditional afternoon teas, served with their infamous 'secret recipe' scones and a selection of award-winning homemade cakes.
Their Traditional Bara Brith has received a commendation from the True Taste of Wales. It is served in the tea rooms and is also available as a small loaf to take away.
Selling out night after night, Bingo Lingo is a bingo night with a difference. Instead of the traditional heads-down experience, punters are thrown into a rave atmosphere, complete with silly and serious prizes, heckling, audience participation, hands-in-the-air anthems and dancing on tables.
Bingo Lingo is back this year for its annual Halloween special, and it's going to be a stonking night out this Halloween season. Grab your dabbers and expect the best spooky prizes, twerk-offs, table-dancing and a night of fun and mischief with your faves. Book your tickets online now and get ready to shout house.
Margam Castle in Port Talbot is a truly haunted castle with a frightening history of paranormal activity. Overnight Ghost Hunts with Haunted Happenings events are a daunting prospect and offer a spooky space to search for the spirits that roam the historic hallways.
Visitors to this 19th-century Gothic mansion in Neath Port Talbot have long shared eerie tales of spectral figures, unexplained laughter, and objects that seem to move of their own accord.
From the Bronze Age through Roman times and later the founding of the Cistercian Abbey in the 12th century, this site has seen centuries of human life and, perhaps, lingering spirits.
While the castle impresses with its architecture and history, its eerie ghost stories draw in thrill-seekers and paranormal-loving families.
The most infamous spirit of Margam Castle is Robert Scott, a gamekeeper murdered on the estate, some say by a poacher, others by an escaped convict. His presence is said to rage through the Castle and the estate to this day.
Scott is frequently spotted making a determined ascent up the Gothic staircase that leads to the Castle. His presence is a recurring theme among psychic investigators, who all agree that his spirit seethes with fury, unable to rest after his untimely and unjust death. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
This autumn, head to Dinfefwr Country Park, where you can explore acres of glorious parkland, a mansion and ruined castle, and see wild deer roam.
At the centre of these glorious grounds is Newton House, a stately 17th-century manor with an impressive history. Featuring a romantic, Gothic facade, the house still has many of the original 17th-century features, including the magnificent grand staircase and ornate ceilings.
The descendants of Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth, called this swanky pad home for over 300 years. In 1660, Edward Rice built the current house and named it after the medieval 'New Town' that once housed English settlers.
But its timeline goes back much further. Builders raised the original Jacobean mansion on land that people have lived on for nearly 2,000 years. The National Trust took over in 1990 and has been keeping it grand and well-maintained ever since.
When it's open to the public, you can wander through exhibitions that dive into the many layers of life at Dinefwr over the centuries, from the grand history of the estate to the everyday stories of the people who lived and worked there.
After exploring the house and castle, amble through 800 acres of rolling parkland, meadows, and woodland, including a medieval Deer Park with an accessible route and boardwalk where you can spot fallow deer.
Located beside the fairytale-like Castell Coch, Fforest Fawr is an ancient woodland managed by Forestry Commission Wales and is one of Cardiff's finest forest walks. Especially in Autumn when the leaves start to turn.
This wild area features several nature conservation designations, including a Special Area of Conservation and has several walking trails to discover. There's also a cosy café nearby, with indoor and outdoor seating, accessible via a forest trail and famous for its incredible toasties.
There are three walking trails in Fforest Fawr, including a family-friendly sculpture trail and another scenic trail starting from the Castell Coch car park.
As you wander through the woodland, keep an eye out for the mounds and hollows -- these are remnants of old iron-mining workings, with their spoil heaps now softened by nature's reclaiming touch.
The dragon trail around Fforest Fawr behind Castell Coch is ideal for those looking for a walk in nature with some sculptures thrown into the mix.
Along this forest route, you can explore wood carvings and spot plenty of wildlife. Take the kids on the mile-long walking route for views over nearby Craig yr Allt and the Garth, and be sure to stop by the fairytale Castell Coch.
Cared for by National Trust Cymru, Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the British Isles. Situated within 90 acres of glorious gardens and parkland, the delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for an autumn day out with the family.
There's also a second-hand bookshop where you can browse a selection of donated books and the charming Brewhouse café. Originally, the home of the Morgan family's horses, the building was later transformed into a brewery for the Morgans.
Seasonal and locally sourced menus are freshly prepared daily, and all profits go back into conserving Tredegar House. On Sunday, September 7th, enjoy free entry to the Mansion House and Gardens. More info here.
Imagine gazing out at the colourful landscape aboard a beautiful heritage train. The Ffestiniog Railway is the world's oldest narrow-gauge railway, with almost 200 years of history. It takes you on a scenic 13½-mile journey from the pretty harbour in Porthmadog to the slate-quarrying town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Their historic trains climb over 700 feet from sea level into the mountains through dense forests, past lakes and waterfalls and around tight corners while hugging the rocky peaks or tunnelling right through them.
There are several routes you can take on their award-winning railways, including the Gelert Explorer, which runs from Caernarfon to Beddgelert and back; The Harbourmaster, running from Porthmadog and Caernarfon and back; and Woodland Wanderer, which begins at Porthmadog and will take you to Tan-y-Bwlch and back.
Your mighty ride for the day? One of Ffestiniog's iconic Double Fairlie locomotives. These double-ended engines were designed 150 years ago to chug the steep hills and tight bends of Eryri.
Each was hand-built at the historic Boston Lodge works: Merddin Emrys from 1879, David Lloyd George from 1992, and the gleaming new James Spooner, fresh on the rails from late 2023.
For extra luxury, opt for the Gold Service and travel in the swish First Class Pullman carriages. Book here
Get ready to brace yourself, because the Monsters of the Mine are back this October 2025, and they're more terrifying than ever! For the fourth year in a row, these underworld creatures are taking over Zip World Tower, and trust me, they're not planning to let you off easy.
Prepare for a seriously spine-chilling adventure as you venture through the dark, adrenaline-pumping chaos. As you tiptoe (or maybe run) through the shadows, you'll find yourself tormented and terrorised by a whole horde of gruesome monsters. And guess what? There's no escaping them, not even in the car park! This immersive Halloween experience will have you jumping out of your skin at every turn.
You'll be on edge the whole time, wondering if the next scream is your own. Choose from 4 Night Passes and get ready to face your fears in the most terrifying way possible. It's going to be a night full of screams, thrills, and memories you'll likely never forget. Book tickets here.
While we're well known for our magnificent castles and epic landscapes, Wales also has the proud accolade of the world's highest percentage of land protected by Dark Sky status, at 18%.
Here, you'll find a network of protected International Dark Sky Reserves and Dark Sky Parks alongside smaller Dark Sky Discovery Sites, where you can seek starry skies over dramatic landscapes and even capture meteors streaking across the heavens, all without leaving Wales.
The start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere means the nights get longer and darker, providing the perfect conditions for stargazing in Wales.
Snap the stars at a variety of dark sky sites in the Elan Valley Estate. Gaze up at the cosmos to see constellations, planets and the occasional meteor.
Aspiring astrophotographers can attend organised stargazing events in the Elan Valley during the autumn, and Dark Sky Wales also takes guided tours for small groups.
Go for an autumn stroll in one of the most beautiful and expansive parks in the city, Bute Park. It's a perfect place for long walks and leaf-peeping in Cardiff.
Bute Park starts right in the city centre and has a castle at one end of it -- but because of the way it merges into Blackweir and Pontcanna fields, you could walk for hours along its paths, under its trees and alongside the River Taff.
You can also join the Taff Trail in Bute Park. It's an incredibly popular biking and walking route that runs for 55 miles from the Welsh capital of Cardiff to the small town of Brecon. Bikers and walkers can attempt the whole route or enjoy smaller sections of this scenic trail.
Several cafes in and around Bute Park serve warming cups of hot chocolate, including Sevinis at the Summerhouse, Secret Garden Cafe, and Pettigrews.
For families who love Halloween, the Silver Mountain Experience offers all sorts of fun Halloween experiences, including a paranormal investigation at our Victorian mine.
For thrill seekers, Terror Mountain brings your wildest nightmares to life. This special event returns on selected nights in October 2025, filling your Halloween with thrills, fun and frights galore
The Silver Mountain Experience is a brilliant family day out in mid-Wales, any time of the year, filled with history, myth and legend.
Their site is at the beautifully preserved Llywernog silver-lead ore mine, just outside Aberystwyth. Why not spend a fun-filled afternoon this autumn visiting their historic site? Experience guided tours and explore their many surface attractions.
Their Halloween event tickets are on sale now and can be booked online.
It's officially pumpkin spice season with coffee shops all over Wales brewing up your favourite autumnal drinks. The big players have got in there early as usual, with Starbucks and Greggs typically launching their pumpkin-spiced lattes at the beginning of September.
If you've never tried one before, you can typically expect pumpkin pie-flavoured sauce and steamed milk topped with whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices -- cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
There are plenty of independent coffee shops around Wales serving a sublime selection of autumn drinks, including favourites such as salted caramel hot chocolate, apple crisp macchiato, maple pecan latte, and caramel apple spice.
Castell Coch, or the 'Red Castle', is a 19th-century Gothic Revival fairytale castle in Cardiff set amongst the trees of Fforest Fawr. It honestly looks like something out of a Disney movie and is one of the must-visit castles in Wales in the autumn season.
The forest-hugged castle is so picturesque that it's also been a visually engaging location for movies and many popular TV programmes, including Doctor Who and Merlin.
Castell Coch was built upon the ruins of a 13th-century medieval fortress once known as "castrum rubeum" or "the red castle."
The site lay in ruins for centuries before being revived by the Third Marquess of Bute, reputed to be the richest man in the world and his visionary architect William Burges.
The design combines the surviving elements of the medieval castle and former hunting lodge, with 19th-century additions to produce a jaw-dropping building that the historian Charles Kightly considered "the crowning glory of the Gothic Revival" in Britain.
According to Cadw, Burgess rebuilt the gatehouse, raised the height of the towers, equipped them with conical roofs topped with copper-gilt weathervanes, and installed a wall-walk and a timber-fighting gallery.
When Burges died in 1881, only the lavish banqueting hall had been fully decorated and furnished. A team of craftspeople had to complete the opulent rooms, including the impressive vaulted drawing room.
It's definitely one of the best autumn destinations in Wales for dreamy photographs of a castle set amongst the golden hues of fall.
Stretching 134 miles and traversing the border of Wales and England, the River Wye offers relaxed paddleboarding in scenic surroundings and is especially beautiful in autumn.
The Wye is one of the few rivers that's easily navigable by canoe or kayak for over 100 miles and has long stretches that are perfect for SUP adventures.
Along the Wye, paddle boarders can opt for half-day, full-day or multi-day trips, depending on their experience level. One of the most picturesque paddle routes for adventurous paddlers is from Monmouth to Ross on Wye in England.
This two-day trip takes paddlers past cosy, riverside pubs, wooded valleys and a plethora of wildlife.
First-time paddle boarders might want to book a guided river trip or a taster session with qualified professionals. Inspire2adventure offers SUP basics on the Wye as well as a 'mega sup', which can hold eight people for a unique family day out.
The museum at St Fagans is on the outskirts of Cardiff. It's a brilliant place for visitors to gain insight into the history and culture of Wales, and it looks sublime in the autumn season.
This unique, open-air museum gives a fascinating insight into the stories of the people of Wales and offers Welsh visitors, in particular, the chance to discover their roots. It won the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019 and is a popular place for locals and visitors who are looking for a unique museum experience in Wales.
The museum has rebuilt over 50 historic buildings from all over Wales, including a Victorian school, a medieval church, traditional stores, and a Workmen's Institute.
As long as you have a decent wetsuit and surf boots, autumn is one of the best times to learn to surf in Wales. The kids have gone back to school, there are fewer tourists, and the beaches are emptier than they've been in months; it's the perfect time to ride the waves. If you're lucky, you'll also be treated to a spectacular sunset if you are surfing late afternoon/early evening.
Porthcawl is a lovely surfing destination in autumn. Winter would be even better, but you're not likely to see any lifeguards around. The waves are smaller in high summer and can often close out, which means you won't get a very long ride on the wave.
Whilst this is annoying for seasoned surfers, it's not a problem for beginners, as you won't be aiming to surf across a wave. If your aim is just to paddle for a wave, catch the break, and stand up on the board whilst going in a straight line, then a smaller swell will usually be okay.
Porthcawl Surf School offers surfboard hire, surf courses, and reasonably priced beginner lessons for newbies. T
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park has some of the most glorious landscapes and flowing waterfalls in south Wales. Its impressive peaks and ridges bring a sense of haunting beauty and provide a range of strenuous hill walking opportunities. It's a perfect place for autumn hiking at the colours change and the weather gets a tad misty and moody!
There are hill walks in the Beacons that are suited to all abilities, from easy circular walks to the high mountain summits.
For some of the best views of the Beacons, hike up the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Pen-y-Fan. Enjoy panoramic views of the Brecon landscape on a scenic ten-mile hike.
The majority of walkers take the well-trodden route to the summit from Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre. However, there's also a less crowded ascent via the path up from Taf Fechan Forest past Neuadd Reservoir.
Shop for a new style this fall at Cardiff's beautiful Victorian arcades, which are spread throughout the city.
These charming arcades house more than 100 independent cafes, bars, and shops right in the heart of Cardiff. They are a lush place to go shopping this autumn to update your wardrobe.
There are many independent shops in the arcades selling clothes, scarves, hats, and vintage items, so you can get a new look for autumn.
After a busy morning shopping, you can also visit one of the many coffee shops in the arcades for a pumpkin spice latte.
Indulge in the many warming flavours of the autumn season, from apple to cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, and ginger. It's a time of hot mulled cider, boozy hot chocolate, and autumnal cocktails on your night out.
At this time of year, swanky bars in Wales will be shaking up a series of autumn cocktails for your sipping pleasure. Check out their drinks menu for fall classics such as Pumpkin White Russian, Caramel Apple Mule, fig old fashioned and Autumn Apple Bourbon Fizz.