Take a short detour south to Lamego and climb the famous baroque staircase of 686 steps to the shrine and rococo church of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios. We recommend stopping at least twice along the valley. It would be possible to drive from the lively city of Porto and complete the whole of the Douro Valley in a day, but you would miss so much. The Quinta (country estate) is situated on the southern slopes of the Douro, about halfway between Porto and the Spanish border. One of the best wineries in the Douro region, Quinta do Popa offers harvest experiences to visitors. There is no fixed date for the Douro harvest season to start but it usually happens in the second half of September, although much depends on how the vines have reacted to the weather conditions throughout the year. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comes alive in the autumn with the wine harvest and you can stop at some of the best Douro wineries for a tour and tasting – most offer port and table wines for you to enjoy. RELATED POST – Road Trip England – 10 of the Best RoutesĪn autumn road trip to the Douro Valley of Portugal is a must – the light is soft, the air warm and the colors of the vines spectacular. Make sure to visit the most beautiful villages of the area, in particular Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Broadway, Bibury, and Lower Slaughter. Nearby, the city of Gloucester, famous for its 11th century cathedral and the restored Victorian Glocester Docks, packed with cool bars and restaurants is worth exploring too.Įlsewhere in the Cotswolds, you’ll see a riot of colour in the hedgerows along the country lanes, and the trees dazzle in shades of gold, orange, and red from early October until mid-November. With over 600 acres and 2,500 species of trees, you could spend hours exploring, but to find the best autumn colors head to the Colour Circle and Acer Glade area or walk around the Loop Trail. Just 30 minutes from Bristol, 1.5 hours from Bath, and an easy day trip from London, Westonbirt Arboretum is a wonderful place to enjoy the ever-changing autumn colors. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is a Forestry England park tucked away in the South Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Probably the best place in the whole of the United Kingdom for autumn color, the Cotswolds are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and deservedly so. RELATED POST – Eight Incredible Scotland Road Trips Munro bagging is another popular activity – summiting one of the mountains over 3000ft – there are 282 Munros in Scotland and over 50 of them are located in Cairngorms National Park, including the second highest peak in the UK – Ben Macdui.īagging a Munro while hiking through colourful foliage is definitely one of the best ways to enjoy the autumn season! The spectacular autumn colors can be seen throughout the park and can be enjoyed by taking a walk or bike ride along one of the many routes. One place in particular where these are at their best is the Cairngorms National Park, situated in the eastern Scottish Highlands.Ĭovering 1,748 square miles, the Cairngorms is the largest national park in the British Isles, larger than both the Lake District and the Peak District combined. It covers a diverse landscape including mountains, heather moorlands, forest, wetlands, and even a sandy beach at Loch Morlich! Scotland is renowned for its stunning autumn foliage, and during the autumn season, the trees come ablaze in a myriad of warm tones. From the Andalucia Jamon festival, and wine festival in Castelvetro in Italy, to the Paris Nuit Blanche art festival, and of course, Halloween, there’s a lot going on!
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