Country diary: The finest autumn colour we’ve had for years | Susie White

Whitfield, Northumberland: Even if you know the science behind it, the sight of beech and sycamore trees in full blaze can still astoundLast week, it was village fireworks that lit up the Whitfield Valley. Today, the woodlands are glowing with reds, oranges and yellows in a dazzling display. Wet weather has kept the trees hydrated, while warm temperatures have held back leaf-drop. The woods around Cupola Bridge are a place to slow down and experience the best autumn colour for years.The bridge is named after a cupola lead-smelting furnace that stood nearby where the waters of East and West Allen meet. Spanning the conjoined rivers, the three-arched bridge has bulky breakwaters and castle-wall solidity. The view downstream is of great slabs of limestone pavement, crevassed into rectangles, splitting the river into two levels that form sideways waterfalls down its middle. Continue reading...