olive travels: where to visit in October

For a taste of Scottish city life, base yourself in Glasgow, an hour’s drive away. For casual dining, try seafood fayre at Crabshakk, Sugo Pasta’s daily handmade pasta and iconic Paesano pizzas. Scottish ingredients can be found in creative, seasonal dishes at the smart yet unpretentious The Gannet in Cail Bruich's market-inspired Gaelic tasting menu, or at local institution The Ubiquitous Chip. Don’t miss Tantrum doughnuts for a homemade sweet treat.

Truffle-hunting in Umbria

October is prime truffle season in Italy, when the particularly prized white and black winter truffles can be found at the roots of trees in forests and on mountain ranges. Umbria’s Sibillini National Park is a stunning place to forage for these precious natural prizes. Base yourself in the foodie town of Norcia, where a network of paved streets are enclosed within heart-shaped, ancient walls. Seek out truffle-laced treats along with prosciutto, local cheeses, spelt and more in food treasure trove Norcinerias. Head to Ristoriante Granaro del Monte or wine bar Enoteca del Granaro for traditional Norcian dishes, such as Sibillini mountain sausage, prosciutto and spelt soup, slow-cooked veal with black truffle and rich pasta alla norcina – soft homemade pappardelle with ricotta, pancetta and Norcia sausage. At Michelin-starred Vespia, truffle is stuffed beneath the skin of spit-roast chicken and enveloped within bacon and Norcia sausage ravioli. Stay at Palazzo Seneca (doubles from £152 per night), a sixteenth-century Umbrian palace restored into an elegant Relais & Chateaux hotel hidden in one of Norcia’s narrow streets.

Venture out into the Sibillini Mountains on an educational expedition with local truffle-hunting expert Nicola and his well-trained dogs. After scanning the terrain for truffles, learn more about the most precious varieties over a picnic in the breathtaking mountains – think bruschetta with truffles, Norcia prosciutto, pecorino, ricotta, homemade jam, honey and cakes with a glass of Umbrian red.

Further north in Italy, Alba’s white truffle festival attracts enthusiasts from all over the world. The town is filled with heady aromas as truffle hunters sell their foraged goods at stalls and chefs shave the aromatic fungi over pastas, bruschetta and more. Plus, you can meet the intelligent dogs trained to seek out the main event.