The National Trust gardens, parks and countryside of Hampshire offer some of the best places to see the fiery hues of autumn in glorious settings.

Autumn colour is usually well on its way by mid-October, when foliage, fruits and berries gradually transform our landscapes into a rich colour palette of yellows, oranges and reds, lasting well into November.

The Trust has listed the top autumn colour hotspots in Hampshire:

Hinton Ampner near Bramdean and Cheriton is brimming with shape and colour all year round, but in autumn it’s particularly vibrant, thanks to hundreds of exotic dahlias in creams, yellows and oranges, hot pinks and deep magentas.

“I love the dahlia, not just for its stunning appearance but also for its incredible versatility,” says John Wood, Head Gardener.

“They can look good in pretty much any location and at Hinton Ampner they are planted to fulfil certain roles. In the leafy Dell, they punctuate the large foliage plants for a really dramatic impact; we’ve got a rich tangerine called ‘David Howard’ and the bright yellow ‘Yellow Hammer’ and ‘Moon Fire’. In the Yew Garden we’ve planted the deep red ‘Bishop of Auckland’ which offsets the large dark leaves of the Canna plant.”

At the entrance to the Dell is another treat – ‘Forest Pansy’ Cercis Canadensis, which heart-shaped leaves take on a fiery red, turning to warm yellow in autumn.

Dahlias can also be seen in the walled kitchen garden where you’ll find colourful pumpkins and squashes, as well as a rich variety of autumn fruit and veg, watched over by Hinton’s scarecrow.

From the back of the house gaze out over parkland littered with yellow and gold foliage from ancient oaks and beeches, interspersed with the deep red hues of Norway maple.

Autumn colour guided walks are held on October 24 and November 4, at 10.30am. The price is £10, which includes refreshments. Book on 01962 771305.

The Vyne near Basingstoke is also worth a visit.

In the ancient woodlands surrounding this former Tudor palace, beeches and oaks mingle with sweet and horse chestnuts to present a glorious canopy of rich autumn foliage. Lime, cherry and whitebeam produce a palette of lemon-yellow and strawberry-red.

Fringing the edges of The Vyne’s lake, the orange, crimson and deep purple leaves of liquidamber and swamp cypress trees create beautiful reflections across the water.

Liquidamber is one of regional gardens adviser Mike Buffin’s all-time favourites for reliable autumn colour: “This is a famed autumn colouring tree from the USA and it hails under the name of the sweet gum. Sweet gums will often start to colour in late summer as their leaves turn a deep black crimson colour. Then as autumn progresses, the leaves change and go through a kaleidoscope of colours from golden yellow, crimson, amber and red - a breathtaking sight.”

Autumn Festival: The Vyne’s autumn festival will be held on October 18 and 19, showing over 60 varieties of traditional apple growing in its orchard and walled kitchen garden, with the chance to sample them in apple and juice form. There’s beekeeping advice, local produce for sale, and plenty of horticultural know-how on offer with fruit growing and pruning masterclasses. The days run from 11am – 4pm.

For more information on National Trust events, visit wwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/events.