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Autumn Highlights
Think of autumn and you immediately think of the colours associated with it: gold, red and orange. Some of the best regions to head to for autumnal colours are Umbria and the Apennines in Italy, where the thick woodland of oaks, chestnuts and other deciduous trees ensures a rich tapestry of colours come autumn. (In the Apennines, autumn is also synonymous with truffles and wild mushrooms, which enhance the delicious regional cooking.) The hills and ancient volcanoes of the Garrotxa in Catalonia are another good place to experience autumn at its best - the slopes are coated in beech woods - while the woods of chestnut trees in the Cévennes also provide colourful displays. However, autumn is about far more than rich colours, the turning leaves just one symbol of this time of transition. For nature lovers, and birdwatchers in particular, autumn is associated with migration. The Strait of Gibraltar is a key point of passage for birds migrating between Europe and Africa, and a wide range of often quite colourful migrating birds can be spotted between late July and early November as you explore the mountains behind the coast. Equally memorable is watching a flock of migrating flamingos fly overhead, something that can be seen from time to time over the Cabo de Gata headland in Almería, a little further east. Catalonia also sees a wide variety of migrating birds - over 200 species of migrant birds are known to visit the Ebro Delta, the Mediterranean's second most important wetland bird habitat after the Camargue, while it is not uncommon for patient birdwatchers to spot over a hundred species of bird in one day in autumn in the Aiguamolls reserve. 
In vineyard regions, the activity is on the ground, not in the air, as the grape harvest gets under way at the end of September. In La Rioja, Piedmont and the Douro Valley, you will find a bustle and an air of excitement as producers hurry to harvest their grapes and look forward to the first tastings of the new vintage. But perhaps what we like most about autumn is the tranquillity. Areas that traditionally attract lots of tourists in the height of summer are often significantly quieter by mid to late September, making autumn a good time to visit regions such as Provence and the Pont du Gard area, as you will find that you have the paths and country lanes to yourself. Likewise, Mediterranean coastal regions such as Almería, Catalonia, Liguria and Amalfi are arguably at their best in autumn, with near-deserted beaches and plenty of warm, sunny weather. (You can usually wear T-shirts and shorts well into November in these regions.) It is this tranquillity that makes September and October the preferred months for the Swiss and Austrians to walk in the mountains. Add to this settled weather and lots of warm sunshine, wonderfully clear views (it can often be hazy at the height of summer), and tasty game on all the menus, and you have the perfect holiday. If you are lucky, your holiday may coincide with the Almatrieb (transhumance), which gives rise to colourful celebrations, particularly in Austria, where the cows are decorated with wreaths of flowers and the entire village takes to the streets to see them return from the high pastures. We offer the following holidays in the regions mentioned:Umbria - Umbria, Italy's
Green Heart Walk Alcornocales Natural Park (Andalucia) - Andalucia's Tranquil Heartland Piemonte - Piedmont's Hills
& Vineyards Walk Swiss & Austrian mountains - Villages of the Engadine Walk, Lake Lucerne Walk, Bernese Oberland Walk, High Route Walk, Towards the Matterhorn Walk, Lakes & Mountains Walk, Leutasch Valley Walk, The Glacier Express Journey (appreciate the mountains from a comfort of a train. By early October, the season's first snowfalls cap the peaks) |
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