Holiday ideas for November

At this time of year, with Christmas on the horizon, it can often feel as though the weeks are zipping by. Not so on Gozo. It’s hard to think of another corner of Europe quite so unhurried as Malta’s laidback neighbour, so what better place for a walking holiday if you want to make the most of what little remains of the year? Thanks to this bucolic island’s benevolent Mediterranean climate, November is an excellent month to explore the myriad paths, and the only thing you’ll be aware of on the horizon is the odd fishing boat gently bobbing up and down on the cerulean sea.

Himalayan Explorer is more than just a walking holiday – it’s the chance to see traditional village life as few others see it, as you stay as a privileged guest in the midst of mountain communities and explore in the company of a local guide-cum-interpreter. With the world’s most revered mountains as your backdrop, however, the walking couldn’t fail to be anything but spectacular. At this time of year the daytime temperatures are ideal for walking, and the crisp mornings mean you enjoy the clearest possible views of the Himalayas.

Tucked away near the Portuguese border north-west of Seville, the Aracena Sierra is a land of glorious woodland, timeless villages and far-reaching views. Autumn is a special time, not only visually (especially in October) but also gastronomically. Wild mushrooms (and chestnuts) grow in abundance, and are incorporated into many dishes.

If you need a dose of sunshine to see you through winter, head to the Canary Islands, where temperatures average in the low twenties centigrade on both Lanzarote and Tenerife in November. One of the most striking features of these islands is the range of colours in the landscape, from the red and ochre of the cliffs and rock formations to the rich greens of the ancient laurisilva forests, and from the black of the soil in Lanzarote’s La Geria vineyards to the pale green and bright yellow of the lichens covering the rocks. A wonderful contrast to the grey British winter.

Given the wealth of royal palaces and castles that is complemented by a wide range of museums devoted to subjects as diverse as design, medical history and theatre, there’s no shortage of history and culture on a break in the Danish capital. From the middle of the month, you can add Christmas shopping to the mix, too. The Tivoli market, at Copenhagen’s much-loved fairground, opens in mid-November, so that by December, when there are free carol concerts at churches across the city, the Christmas spirit is already well and truly flowing.