Make the most of autumnal wonderlands by surrounding yourself in nature. Lisa Millard is dazzled by three glorious gardens on Velvet's patch

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

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A piece of paradise in the midst of our city, the Garden provides a breathtakingly-beautiful visual ode to every season – but I reserve a soft spot for the glorious Autumn Garden. Late flowers linger beside seedheads, fruits and whispering grasses in a spectacular tapestry of colour, texture and light. Fiery reds, clarets and oranges come courtesy of Sweetgum trees (liquidambar styraciflua), clusters of billowy Smokebush (Cotinus) and a variety of vibrant Acers. All of the above appear almost cinematic when seen through the mellowing light of an autumn day, misty mornings and afternoons joyful for a late blue sky and fragile strobes of flickering sunlight defying the evening’s awaiting darkness.

* 1 Brookside, Cambridge and botanic.cam.ac.uk and @cubotanicgarden

* Apple Day returns on 23 October. Bring along your unidentified apples (preferably with stalk and leaf) and enjoy heritage apple tasting, guided tours, pop-up food trucks, music and more. Buy tickets at the Garden’s website.

Fullers Mill

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An enchanting, quiet waterside oasis, the award-winning Fullers Mill bears the fruits of the late Bernard Tickner’s 50-year labour creating the dappled woodland, shrubs and perennial-filled garden from scrub and woodland. A stone’s throw from the market town charms of Bury St Edmunds, this seven-acre garden, gifted to the charity Perennial that is dedicated to help all those who work in or are retired from horticulture in times of need, sits on the banks of the River Lark and Culford Stream. Fullers Mill has its very own Mill Pond surrounded by rare and unusual Mediterranean plants chosen to thrive in dry conditions, terraces, and a Low Garden. Offering interest all-year, Fullers Mill celebrates autumn in magical and memorable style.

* West Stow, Bury St Edmunds and perennial.org.uk and @fullers_mill_garden

* Fullers Mill opens until 30 October, including the National Garden Scheme Open Day on 2 October, from 11am to 5pm. See ngs.org.uk

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill

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A garden that rises to all seasons, Anglesey Abbey is majestic in autumn. As a low-slung sun shortens days nature compensates with a fanfare of turning leaves, dew-kissed grass and jewel-like hips and berries. It’s showtime at Anglesey where a stroll down Jubilee Avenue between symmetrical lines of the hornbeams, tips touching to create a golden canopy, awaits, and the dazzling dahlia border is a must see before the first frosts bite. Statues stand proud against a backdrop of fiery orange leaves while the Pilgrim’s Lawn brings bursts of purples and yellows. Head to the Winter Garden and Lode Mill to gaze at the delicate pink cyclamen carpet offering treasure for darker days.

* Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge and nationaltrust.org.uk/Anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill and @nationaltrust

* The National Trust Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill is open all year.