Tom Hall travel tips

Many rural bus routes have been cut in recent years but those that remain still offer a great window on to the UK’s countryside. And with the bus fare cap – now at £2.50 –on single journeys across England running until 30 November 2024, it’s possible to enjoy views of large swathes of glorious woods, peaks, coast and meadow for a fraction of the price of most rail tickets or travelling by car.

Stonehenge is one of the most recognisable landmarks in England – and one of the most visited. But while the debate rumbles on about how best to balance the demand for visitor access with the need to preserve the special character of this sacred site, there are thousands of unsung prehistoric sites dotted across the landscape which can offer a more intimate and atmospheric experience, minus the expensive entrance fee, traffic jams and tour groups.

“I had not been out many minutes this afternoon before I discovered that it was the kind of autumn day every minute of which becomes a memory and seems, as it goes by, to have the beauty of a remembered thing.” So wrote the Guardian’s country diarist Basil de Sélincourt 100 years ago. Autumn is the most evocative season, when colours change, mists roll in, the light softens and wildlife is afoot gathering up the hedgerow harvest of blackberries, rose hips, crab apples and hazelnuts. We’d like to hear about your favourite autumn locations featuring forests and wildlife.

Paris, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam – Europe’s major capital cities get a lot of fanfare, and rightly so. But they can become victims of their own popularity with inflated prices and over-tourism. With lively cultural and food scenes, friendly locals and a strong sense of identity, the less obvious secondary cities can sometimes offer a more rewarding experience to travellers. From Trieste to Trondheim, Coimbra to Kraków, we’d like to hear about your favourite small European cities.

Summer is prime time for country fairs – where farmers parade their animals, giant marrows win prizes, local produce is for sale and fairground rides add to the fun. We want to hear about the best rural festivals you’ve been to, whether in the UK or a similar-style event on the continent. The top tip will win a holiday voucher.

Beyond the areas that were devastated by the earthquake earlier this year, Turkey is very much open for business and keen that visitors keep coming. Away from the tourist hotspots of Istanbul, Antalya and the Cappadocia region, there are still vast parts of the country that remain relatively little-visited. We would like to hear your tips on a hidden Turkish gem, somewhere that is off-the-beaten-track and ideal for a holiday. If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition.