............slowly turning golden.
Because we have had such a very late autumn season I really hadn't given much thought to Christmas, which I now suddenly realise, is just over five weeks away.
Time to hastened to our local wood and enjoy autumn's golden splendour before the trees finally do turn bare. The woodland sits on the side of a high Cotswold escarpment immediately below where we live and overlooks a small hamlet down In the valley. A valley that is thought to have been occupied by a Roman General called Vespasian, who eventually became the 9th Emperor of Rome. He built himself a magnificent villa in the valley with one of the finest mosaics ever discovered north of the Alps - The Orpheus Pavement. Today the mosaic still lies exactly where it was crafted and conceived, hidden away, safe but intact, beneath the local churchyard.
A pathway leads us into our beautiful, predominantly, Beech woodland.
On entering it feels akin to stepping inside a cathedral. The soft grey trunks of the Beech trees soar upwards not unlike stone pillars which then form a delicate archway overhead.
The fallen leaves feel crisp and rustle beneath our feet bestowing a sense of peace and calm as we make our way below the trees. There are now two choices - a high or a low pathway. We opt for the lower.
As the late afternoon sun falls it lightens up the lower canopy, but it is now time to retrace our steps and make for home. 
The shadows lengthen,
and the leaves glow even brighter.
I think that the cathedral mimics the forest and not the other way around, and the cathedral is never as grand. To walk through an ancient forest is to connect with the very essence of life. There are urbanites who have never taken the kind of walk you describe, Rosemary. Inconceivable somehow, but sadly true.
ReplyDeleteWe feel blessed to have this magical wood on our doorstep. Whether is be spring, summer, autumn or even winter, it never fails to delight us.
DeleteGorgeous fall foliage! We are in the midst of a winter snow storm here.
ReplyDeleteMakes me feel cold just to think about that.
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteThese images make my heart sing.
Thank you so much dear Gina💚
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteEither inside a Cathedral, the House of God, or in Nature; we sense the Magical Powers of our Creator!
You had perfect light for your walk and that turned out into great photos as we're used from you.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - last Saturday it was a perfect day to visit the wood and get some photos. Thank you for your kind comment.
Delete🍁🍂
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteThe beech woodland is a beautiful, almost sacred space as you've described it. I can imagine the peace of that place. Such lush foliage, now golden and soon to fall. The church hiding a Roman mosaic is also beautiful, nestled in the village in the valley. A lovely, lovely post.
Dear Lorrie - I am sure that you have probably seen this particular wood before, but it never fails to delight us.
DeleteHello Rosemary, These are some of the most beautiful autumn photos I have ever seen. You have proven that the sublime is possible, even without sugar maples!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - I very much appreciate your kind comment, but I think I was lucky. The light and colour both inside the wood and also out in the surrounds were filled with many different shades of colour.
DeleteThe beech trees are looking their best at the moment. Thanks for the link to your earlier post too.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is hard to beat a beautiful Beech tree wood - whatever the season.
DeleteStunning, beautiful photos Rosemary. You are very lucky having such beauty on your doorstep.
ReplyDeleteWe love this piece of woodland Polly - whatever the season, it makes our hearts soar.
DeleteThe light in your photos is beautiful adding that extra element. A perfect place to walk on an autumn day. B x
ReplyDeleteThe light and the colour seen through the trees was particularly lovely last weekend.
DeleteGorgeous autumn views.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read about the big cat, the wallabies, and the pavement as a few days ago I was walking along the furthest north Roman Wall of the Empire and was struck by how 2000 years later it still marks the edge of urban sprawl on the one southern side (inside the wall) and wilderness on the other, north side. They got it so spot on where to build it that even today that boundary line still remains intact, no urban areas of any size beyond it.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true Bob - I love that area around Hadrian's Wall. We used to live in Northumberland following our move from Scotland. You have reminded me that I should try and return again, both for old times sake, and because there is so much of interest to be seen there.
DeleteBeautiful area Rosemary, the colours are just gorgeous, and I bet when walking on the leaves they crunch.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is not very far away as you say - hopefully if all is well we will go to the southern area of Tasmania as usual with our eldest son, wife and his children.
Hope you manage to get away at Christmas Margaret to the south of Tasmania. It should be lovely to spend it with your eldest son and his family.
DeleteBeautiful colours, aren't we lucky to have such beautiful scenery at this time of the year :)
ReplyDeleteThe quote: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers" is true for many of us.
DeleteDear Rosemary - I think I know how you feel about this time of year especially when you realize surrounded by the golden splendor of foliage going through warm autumn. My autumn has been too warm. The luminous golds are stunning in the late afternoon sun. Each and every photo is breathtaking, especially the first like a magical brocade and the third like a fairyland. I have enjoyed accompanying you into the natural Cathedral of the beech woodland for years. Each time, I’m awe-inspired.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I would love to take you to our woodland, I know that you too would really enjoy it. Being totally surrounded by natures beauty is like escaping form the realities that surround us.
DeleteOh my one shot after another is beautiful. Must be wonderful living among such beauty.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed seeing our beautiful wood Janey.
DeleteDear Rosemary, thank you for those beautiful photos! Beaches in autumn are such a joy - their golden and bronze colours lift the heart.
ReplyDeleteAutumn in Bavaria began sooner - the oaks, always a little later, are brown-leafed now, and as we have many needle-leaved forest those will be beautiful in winter, I think. For tomorrow they announced (maybe) snow.
And Christmas so near - I am a bit nervous - being then only a few days before in Berlin, preparing for it at the very last moment (that is not my cup of tea).
But I will try to enjoy really beautiful moments full of atmosphere before in Bavaria with the triplets.
I wish you a wonderful advent-time! Britta
Dear Britta - Christmas has really caught me out this year partly because of the weather but also because autumn was so late. However, we will be having a fairly easy time at Christmas as we are spending it with one of our sons and family. The grandchildren are all grown up now so prefer money rather than gifts.
DeleteEnjoy your sweet triplets Britta.