Top 10 Autumn Days

For fantastic autumn colours, it has to be a walk in Italy's Apennine Mountains, where wonderful paths wind up the mountain slopes, offering superb views over expanses of oak, beech and chestnut woodland to the peaks beyond. Autumn is also synonymous with truffles and wild mushrooms here, which add extra flavour to the delicious regional cooking. The Secret Apennines walking holiday >

One of the best things about the arrival of autumn in Almería is the near-empty beaches. This part of Andalucia boasts some of the warmest waters in the whole of mainland Spain, meaning you can swim in the sea virtually all year round. Coast of Almería walking holiday >

Autumn heralds the start of the grape harvest, bringing a wonderful bustle to the vineyards. Book our gastronomic walking holiday here, and you can spend your days exploring the gently rolling hills, visiting the timeless villages clustered around crumbling castles, and calling in at wine producers for tastings of their velvety reds. Piedmont’s Hills & Vineyards walking holiday >

Tuscany is arguably at its best in autumn, once the summer tourists have left. Choose one of our holidays and you can take your time to admire the art treasures you come across, and stroll at your leisure through the winding streets of its medieval cities. Holidays in Tuscany >

Some of the villages in Asturias celebrate their fiestas in September. As well as colourful religious processions, these usually involve lots of merriment – one member of staff once chanced upon a fiesta in the mountains, where the whole village, from toddlers to nonagenarians, gathered in the square to watch local bands perform. The most important is La Virgen de la Guía in Llanes on 8 September, of which the highlights are the torchlit procession the night before and the performances of the Danza de Arcos, a traditional dance performed by children. Rugged Hills & Coast of Asturias walking holiday >

Like the Apennines, this little-known corner of Catalonia is a good choice for admiring the displays of autumn colours. The beech woods that coat the slopes of the ancient volcanoes provide a rich tapestry of colours, adding an extra dimension to cycle rides here. Freewheeling in Catalonia cycling holiday >

If the rain and shortening days of the British autumn leave you wishing for a little sunshine, head to the Canary Islands and discover the great variety of landscapes on Lanzarote, La Gomera, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, El Hierro and Gran Canaria, which boast average temperatures of 25°C in October and 23°C in November. Walking holidays in the Canary Islands >

Our Collioure to Cadaqués route is perhaps best enjoyed in autumn, when you can walk along near-deserted beaches. A real highlight is the route around the rugged Cape Creus headland, from where you can look back to the Pyrenees. Collioure to Cadaqués walking holiday >

The Aracena Sierra in south-west Spain is a land of chestnut trees, which, as well as creating a colourful backdrop, bear plenty of nuts. These feature in a variety of dishes, especially at this time of year, and our advice is to try them if you get the chance. Your hosts at the charming Posada de Alajar like to serve Iberian pork loin with sweet chestnut sauce, for example. Treasures of Aracena walking holiday >