Take Me There: Wigtown Book Festival, Dumfries and Galloway
There's something of the night about this year's Wigtown Book Festival, in Dumfries and Galloway. A star-gazing supper, twilight batwalk and a drive-in movie are just a few of the nocturnal events being organised to celebrate the designation of nearby Galloway Forest as the UK's first Dark Sky National Park. Scotland's answer to Hay-on-Wye will host more than 180 events over a 10-day period, with talks from writers such as Alexander McCall Smith, Jan Morris and Marina Warner sharing the bill with bracing activities including a morning dip in the sea, a 5km fun run and a ceilidh. The festival runs from 28 September-7 October. More details: wigtownbookfestival.com
Joanne's travel clinic: late sun in Syracuse
The dilemma We're looking for a sunny break in the Med now that the children have gone back to school. We would like somewhere with a bit of life and culture, not a tourist resort that feels as if it is shutting down for the winter. A sea view would be wonderful. Ciaran, by email
The sun-baked city of Syracuse, on the south-eastern tip of Sicily, basks in autumn temperatures of a balmy 22–26C. The entire city is listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco, thanks to its rich legacy of Greek and Roman architecture – but it's also a working port with a young, student population which keeps things lively year round.
The old town is a maze of winding streets and small piazzas crammed on to the tiny island of Ortigia. It's here you'll find the low-key Hotel Gutkowski, which has simple, stylish rooms and a charming roof terrace where breakfast is served (basic doubles from €90, guthotel.it). EasyJet and BA fly to Catania, an hour north, from Gatwick.
Throw open your shutters in the morning and you'll get an eyeful of Ionian blue. You can join the locals swimming off the rocks or bathing platforms nearby, or drive to Fontane Bianche for white-sand beaches without the crowds and sweltering heat of high summer.
If you have a travel dilemma, email Joanne O'Connor at
magazine@observer.co.uk.
Three of the best… autumn wildlife experiences
From the annual bird migrations to the rutting of red deer, the autumn season features some of nature's finest spectacles. Here are three ways you can get close to the action.
1. Red Deer Cruise, Cumbria A cruise on Ullswater and guided drive and walk into Martindale to see the red deer rut. Adult £14, child £7 (ullswater-steamers.co.uk)
2. Red Squirrel Walks, Brownsea Island, Dorset Watch the island's red squirrels as they store food for winter. 24 Sept-26 Oct. Adult £6.20, child £3.10 (nationaltrust.org.uk)
3. Migration Watch, Minsmere, Suffolk Join an early-morning walk in search of migrating birds. 5-25 October. Adult £5, child £2.50 (rspb.org.uk)
