Autumn Travel Destinations: Portugal's Douro Valley

High on this list is Portugal’s Douro Valley. The Valley is one of the few places in the world where grapes are still trodden by foot. In late September, early October you can join the locals as they tread the grapes accompanied by a local accordionist (at the Quinta de la Rosa winery). The scenery is also very beautiful in this part of rural Portugal, the river valley is surrounded by steep green hills.

Generally, though, there is little in the way of developed tourism, visitors are comparatively few and, as far as crowds are concerned, getting around is fairly easy. However, the roads zigzagging up and down the mountainsides and between the tributary valleys can be difficult driving but it does offer fantastic unspoilt scenery. More relaxing modes of transport are available, however. Cruise boats ply up and down the valley negotiating the dams via locks of sometimes breathtaking height. Trips run from Porto, Regua and Pinhao. Alternatively, the Douro railway line which runs 175 kilometres from Oporto to Pocinho joins the river at Mosteiro and for the next 100 kilometres does not leave the bank, making this one of Europe´s great rail journeys.

Apart from the port, the excellent Douro wines, both white and red, make excellent accompaniments to the food of the region. Whilst fresh fish is readily available (just as it is everywhere in Portugal) here the meats of the interior start to come into their own with excellent smoked hams and some spicy sausages. If lucky you might see wild boar (javali) on some of the menus.

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