With Summer fading into Autumn, we have put together a list of walking holidays you can venture on to enjoy the beautiful colours that Autumn brings. Lift your spirits with the wonderful colours of Autumn and enjoy the unique conditions that this season can offer. With destinations often quieter after the summer, Autumn at its best can offer superb walking conditions: Crisp weather, gorgeous scenery and tranquillity.
The Carpathian Mountains are a mountain range that stretch through Central and Eastern Europe, famed for their natural beauty. The mountains are home to an extremely rich variety of plant and animal life, with some of the largest populations of wolves, lynx and bears in Europe. In autumn, the richly forested areas of this region turn a wide array of colours, and in early autumn the weather is still mild enough for pleasant walking conditions. Rainfall is often less in the early autumn than it is in the summer offering great visibility over the mountains, and although the temperatures may drop low enough for a frost, the crisp air and clear visibility is worth it.
In this region of Northern Italy, it is arguable that Autumn is the best time of year to visit. Aside from the beautiful autumn colours and golden light of autumn, this is also a time of year to take to experience the culinary delights that the landscape has to offer. Truffle season begins in September, and this is also a fantastic time of year to pass through towns and vineyards and to savour some of the fruits of the harvest such as the wines the area is so famous for. With temperatures still pleasant until October, hiking this region in the autumn is a superb experience and also a quieter one when the busier summer season has finished.
This spectacular walking route, which stretches from Fort William to Inverness, takes walkers past Loch’s, through forest and offers superb views of the Highlands along the way. With the temperature drop of the autumn, the foliage of trees turns a picturesque range of colours providing a beautiful contrast and backdrop to the Lochs, glens and mountains of the area. Early Autumn can often be a drier season, and on clear days the dropping temperatures can lead to a unique set of conditions, with the highest mountains dusted by snow, and the sound of rutting stags audible in the distance. Autumn can be one of the most rewarding times of year to hike this route.
Classic English countryside at its finest, The Cotswolds natural beauty and charm is evident in any season. Autumn can be one of the finest times to experience walking through the area. In early Autumn, the crowds have gone, but the weather can still be fair. Misty mornings often burn off to reveal the changing colours of the fields, woodland and plants, and the ground is still hard underfoot from the summer before the wetter winter weather sets in. The golden colour of the local limestone seems to glow even more at this time of year which makes walking amongst the pretty villages and rolling hills even more special on a crisp autumn day.
This region in the South West of France is known for its rich history, excellent food and attractive villages with castles dotted around the countryside. Walking through this area reveals some fascinating landmarks – caves, megaliths and troglodyte houses. Autumn is a great time to explore this area, the weather is still warm but not as hot as in the summer, making for more comfortable walking conditions. Some of the towns can get particularly busy in summer such as Sarlat, and visiting in Autumn means they can be enjoyed when they are quieter and less crowded. Later in the Autumn, the main trees of the area – ash, oak, sycamore, chestnut, and walnut start to change colour, turning areas of woodland into shimmering patches of gold.
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