Once voted "the most Portuguese village in Portugal", Monsanto is a small fortified village perched on a large rocky outcrop rising abruptly out of the Idanha Lands. Above the village at the top of the hill sits an imposing castle overlooking the village with stunning views of the plains below and the mountains of the Serra da Estrela in the distance. Walk up the "Rua do Castelo" climbing through the narrow streets of the village where many of the houses are built into the rocky cliffs and granite boulders, then climb the walls of the ancient fortress that sits atop this rocky outcrop. On your way back to the car make sure you stop off at the one of the cafes that features amazing views from its rooftop terraces.

Google map: bit.ly/exVdYA
www.golisbon.com/portugal/cities/monsanto.html

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Tucked away from Kendal's busy main shopping street in one of the few riverside locations in Kendal. The Waterside Cafe is hidden away on a traffic-free, pedestrianised area beside the River Kent, making it a longstanding favourite of many locals, but easily missed by visitors. It meets all the requirements of even the strictest veggies; there's a new menu everyday, vegan and vegetarian meals are cooked on the premises with Fairtrade and organic ingredients, served by very friendly staff. If the weather's good enough, eat at the outside tables and watch the river flow by. Then, after a quiet, healthy veggie lunch it will be time to get back to the shopping, or walk off your lunch with a hike across the river to Kendal Castle to see the view that makes Kendal the gateway to the English Lake District.

www.watersidewholefood.co.uk
Kent View, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4DZ
+44(0)1539 729743
Google map: bit.ly/g3uwqi

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Barter Books in the handsome old Victorian railway station in Alnwick.
There's a great selection of secondhand books here set in an amazing
building! Some people visit just for the historical tour of the building. Walk into the shop through the old ticket office, onto the
main platform to browse the books and enjoy the open fires in winter, take time out to drink coffee and sample the newspapers in the old waiting room. Don't forget to look up at the writer's mural in the main room - thirty-three life-size figures of famous writers looking down on you from their writer's gallery.

www.barterbooks.co.uk/
Alnwick Station, Northumberland, NE66 2NP, England
+44(0)1665 604888

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The Woodland Trust's Glen Finglas. Don’t expect a light-hearted skip through piles of autumn leaves; this is a splendid ancient hunting forest where the trees are hundreds of years old. Spy red deer while following in the footsteps of eight Scottish kings who hunted here. Wax lyrical about the inspiring views across the reservoir, after all this is where Sir Walter Scott set a ballad about a fatal hunting expedition. After a mile of so of walking the magnificent ancient woodland gives way to open moorland with views towards the Scottish Highlands. Here, you have the option to continue along the hill track into a more remote area where hundreds of veteran trees line the trails. One of the walks, The Mell, is a massive seven-hour, 15-mile circuit, but you can turn back after any of the viewpoints, and there are shorter walks with not too much climbing down on the shores of Loch Venacher. Whatever route you choose, be sure to stop at the famous Brig O' Turk Tea Room on the way back to the car.

frontpage.woodland-trust.org.uk/glenfinglas/home.html
Google map: bit.ly/cNqJTe

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Now, my dears, if you love the stories of Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-winkle and Jemima Puddle-duck, then run along to The Lake District to go and play in the charming World of Beatrix Potter Attraction. But don't get into mischief amongst the sights, sounds and smells of Beatrix Potter’s stories, and take great care if you find yourself in the shop! This is one of the few museums in which children keep their parents waiting, not the other way round.

Anyone not acquainted with Beatrix Potter should watch the film Miss Potter to give themselves a quick primer on all things Peter Rabbit. Grown up children might want to venture out for a nice, long walk which takes in Hill Top, the farm Beatrix Potter bought with the royalties from her books, and the excellent National Trust Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.

www.hop-skip-jump.com/walk.php

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Where's the best place to see the the aurora borealis? During your next camping holiday in the UK. Never mind a trip to Scandinavia, Canada or Alaska, there are rare occasions when the Northern Lights can be seen in the night sky here. No need to look out of the tent every night though, just subscribe to the free Aurora Alert email service run by researchers at Lancaster University. They will automatically send you an email when geomagnetic activity indicates that there may be chance of seeing the lights in the UK. If it's dark enough, with clear skies and you are far enough away from street lighting look for red and green lights in the northern skies.

www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/cgi-bin/subscribe

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The Lake District is at its most colourful in autumn, but the view is often obscured by rain clouds. Arnside, just south of the Lakes, often escapes the worst of the bad weather and has some lovely, gentle woodland walks. For a great view of the rich and varied autumn colours, walk through the native woodlands to the summit of Arnside Knott where you can look down on the foliage from above when you get to the top. On a clear day you get a view right across Morecombe Bay to see the magnificent outline of the Lake District fells stretching as far north as Skiddaw. There's a leaflet that contains the walk at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-arnside_knott-wildlife_walk.pdf And there's even a great cafe stop when you get back down to Arnisde Promenade; perfect!

Arnside, Cumbria

Google map: tinyurl.com/yj2m2us

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