EIGHT AWESOME AUTUMN HAUNTS
DEVON: Pay £415 for three nights’ accommodation in Courtyard Lodge 23 with a hot tub at Beyond Escapes near Paignton. Sleeps four in two bedrooms. Arrive on October 12. See beyondescapes. co.uk or phone 03301 274 300. CONTINENTAL COASTS CRUISE: CYPRUS:
BROWNSEA ISLAND, DORSET
AS autumn descends, the woods and heathland begin to turn, filling the island, below, with fiery foliage. This is also the best time of year to spot Brownsea’s famous red squirrels as they come down from trees to store food. Join one of the daily guided squirrel walks with a National Trust ranger from Sept 24 to October 19. See nationaltrust.org.uk SOUTHERN SNOWDONIA GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY
SEE the autumn colours of the countryside from panoramic viewpoints. Conquer Cadair Idris, Rhobell Fawr and the Southern Rhinogs. Departing October 5, a three-night guided walking tour costs from £299 per person (saving £50) including full board accommodation. See hfholidays.co.uk.
FAIRY GLEN WALK, ROSEMARKIE, BLACK ISLE, SCOTLAND WYE VALLEY WALK PRESS YOUR OWN APPLES AT HEALEYS CORNISH CYDER FARM, NEAR TRURO
A NEW juice and cider-making experience presses into action at Healeys this autumn, part of the farm’s recent £3.5million development which includes a new visitor centre, production halls, The Old Bottlery restaurant and Mowhay Tea Rooms. You can sample ciders, juices, wines, whisky, brandy and jams, enjoy a guided tour, bob for apples, marvel at the vintage cars and feed the animals. See healeyscyder.co.uk.
SUGAR LOAF CIRCUIT, ST MARY’S VALE, MONMOUTHSHIRE
ST Mary’s Vale is dominated by oak and beech trees but doesn’t look like your average wood. While a few trees have attempted to grow straight, the vast majority have taken on strange, twisted forms that resemble something out of a Tolkien novel. Listen out for the gentle trickle of the Nant Iago stream, before taking the steep climb to the summit of Sugarloaf for views over a sea of reds, oranges and golds. See nationaltrust.org.uk. ANGLESEY: RIVER WALK, WALLINGTON, NORTHUMBERLAND
THE sheer number of trees makes this the perfect place to crunch through fallen leaves. One of the best routes meanders along the banks of the Wansbeck, crossing bridges and stepping stones. If you’re lucky you might even spot some of the red squirrels darting along the branches. See nationaltrust.org.uk.
Hereford. Six nights are from £500pp based on two sharing a double room on a B&B basis, maps and luggage transfers. See celtictrailswalkingholidays.co.uk/ wye-valley-walk.
FLOAT THROUGH THE BRECON BEACONS TO TALYBONT-ON-USK FROM Drifters’ canal boat hire base at Goytre Wharf near Abergavenny, journey through the wooded Usk Valley to Talybont-on-Usk, visiting the Georgian town of Crickhowell with its 13th century castle.
Take a stroll to Blaen y Glyn waterfalls and get cosy in pubs including the Star Inn and the White Hart Inn. Red Sea Swallow is a 56ft canal boat sleeping four available from October 19 to 22 or 22 to 26 for £999. See drifters.co.uk.