Take me there: the Eden Valley, Cumbria
Why go? Skirting the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park and meandering northwards to Carlisle, this beautiful river valley offers a less touristy alternative to the honeypots of Windermere and Coniston. It's heaven for hikers, especially in October, when the autumn colours are at their richest.
What to do Explore the market towns of Penrith and Appleby-in-Westmoreland, whose 12th-century castle recently opened its gates to the public for the first time (applebycastle.co.uk). Combine a boat trip on nearby Ullswater (ullswater-steamers.co.uk) with a stroll around the lake shore. Take a ride on the scenic Settle to Carlisle Railway (settle-carlisle.co.uk). You can download eight new car-free trails and cycle tours for free at nurtureeden.org.
Where to stay Askham Hall, a 12th-century peel tower near Penrith, has been reinvented as a country house hotel, with 13 bedrooms and a restaurant (B&B from £150 a night, askhamhall.co.uk). In the grounds you'll find 12 acres of gardens and the Kitchen Garden Café serving pizza from a wood-fired oven.
Places to eat The George and Dragon in Clifton serves up posh pub food using locally sourced rare-breed meat and veg (georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk). Choose from 40 flavours of home-made Jersey ice cream at Abbott Lodge, a working dairy farm (abbottlodgejerseyicecream.co.uk).
Insider tip Lindsey Robinson, events assistant at Askham Hall, recommends picking up a posh hamper from the deli at J&J Graham, a Penrith institution dating back to 1793 (jjgraham.co.uk), and heading to Aira Force (nationaltrust.org.uk/aira-force-and-ullswater) for a picnic. "It's one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Lake District."
Pedal power: Electric bike hire is taking the toil out of touring
I once had to cut short a 15-mile bike tour of the Cambridgeshire Fens because I found the hills too challenging (sadly, this isn't a joke). So the proliferation of electric-bike hire centres at national parks and tourist hot spots is great news for people like me who love the idea of a cycling holiday but are somewhat lacking in pedal power.
From London to Edinburgh, and the South Downs to the Lake District, there are dozens of places where you can rent an e-bike, with prices starting from around £20 a day. The Electric Bicycle Network was created two years ago to promote this form of sustainable, low-carbon travel by bringing together hire centres, charging points and local tourist attractions to create a seamless experience for visitors. This summer saw the launch of networks in the Chilterns, the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the Cairngorms National Park, bringing the total to nine.
Tour operators are now cottoning on and offering electric-bike upgrades on cycling holidays. Headwater (headwater.com) has introduced this option in Portugal, Austria and Switzerland next year for a supplement of around £50pp . Other tour operators offering e-bike holidays include Freedom Treks (freedomtreks.co.uk) and Wheel2Wheel Holidays (wheel2wheelholidays.com).
After the Fens debacle I swore I'd never get on a bike again, but the prospect of a battery-powered tour might just tempt me back into the saddle.
The stylish side of… Tenerife
Hotel Rural el Patio, near Garachico This 16th-century hacienda surrounded by banana plantations is the perfect antidote to the package hotels of Playa de las Americas. The bedrooms were refurbished this summer, but the old-fashioned charm remains intact, with tiled floors, beamed ceilings and shuttered windows. Relax in the shady courtyard or tropical gardens and enjoy a swim in the pretty pool. From £60 a night (hotelpatio.com)
Canarian cottage, Tegueste A sweet little casa for two tucked away in a peaceful valley in the north of the island. The decor is typically Canarian, and the patio has views of the Mesa Mota valley. Bajamar beach, with seawater swimming pools, and the Anaga Rural Park are nearby. There's a bus stop close to the house with connections to the rest of the island. From £35 a night (airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1253853)
La Malvasia, Arico Viejo Finding stylish accommodation in the south of Tenerife is not easy, but this new trio of self-catering cottages hits the spot. They are luxurious, with walled gardens and a shared pool area and sun terrace. The hamlet of Arico Nuevo (home to one of the island's best restaurants, El Pimenton) and beaches of Poris de Abona are nearby.From £122 for a cottage sleeping four to six (i-escape.com/la-malvasia)
