Crisp sunny days and chillier evenings are upon us, leaving us reaching for the blanket to wrap up in on our sofa, and ordering a spiced latte at our favourite coffee shop…there’s no denying it, autumn is here. As someone who’s loved this particular season since I first started helping my Dad build bonfires in the garden, nothing makes me happier than seeing the summer season slipping away and her auburn-flamed sister coming along.
Today, everyone is seemingly jumping on the love train for autumn. Instagram is jam-packed with posts of couples walking hand in hand through woodland, aglow with the ever-changing leaves, and beautifully constructed scenes involving pumpkins (guilty as charged!) and feet clad in chunky-knit socks in front of flickering fires. And heck, why not? Traditionally it’s the time when we start to look inwards, as the night draws in there’s more time to reflect on the years’ passing, of bottling and preserving the late harvest for the winter nights ahead. Considering these last eighteen months, it seems doubly pertinent we take time to stop, take a breath and take stock of our wellbeing.
And what better way to do this than take a break? With little (and not so little) ones back to school and university, it’s a smidge quieter on the getaway front and the perfect time to slip away out the back door for an autumnal escape.
The UK is exceptionally beautiful at this time of year. Unexpected sunny days bring a clarity to the atmosphere; the sky seems bluer, the grass greener. Foam-flecked seas still hold on to the warmth of summer enough for a cheeky dip. Landscapes blush from green to burnt orange and russet reds, leaves free-falling underfoot. Country inns start lighting open fires to draw us in, and even stormy nights have their charm when you’re safely tucked away.
Talking of which, for a coastal cottage in Cornwall for storm watching, darling Rocksalt in Mousehole to the west is just perfect. With a seafront garden and window seats gazing out over the ocean, this is a wonderful spot for storm watching, with a wood burner and underfloor heating to keep things cosy. There’s even a sea-facing slipper bath!
For a wild moorland escape, head to Thornworthy Barn on Dartmoor, our luxury cottage in Devon. Literally at the end of the road, there’s nothing in front of you except the open moors, and with a gorgeous garden room with unadulterated views over undulating moorland, purple with heather, you can sit here for hours with the wood burner flickering and a tipple in hand.
A foodie break in Dorset is perfect for the autumnal months, and where better than at Fiddlesticks, our thatched beauty with bubbling hot tub and a kitchen to die for. Budding chefs need look no further than nearby Shaftsbury to pick up lots of local goodies to cook at home; why not rustle up a hearty stew, and with The Great British Bake Off coming back to our screens, maybe roll up your sleeves and try your hand at making some bread to go with it?
For a quick and easy getaway from London, look no further than a cottage in the Cotswolds, and stunning Shepherd’s Cottage near Chipping Campden is just a delight. Curl up on the sofa in front of the fire and delve into a classic book – for gothic atmosphere try Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein or Bram Stoker’s Dracula – creepy enough to make you hide under the blankets, or for a touch of Victorian romance, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a must. Afterwards, take yourself off for a walk on the Cotswolds Way for stunning views over the changing countryside.
If you’re seeking something a little wilder, head to Scotland. For a luxury holiday on the Isle of Mull, look no further than Fern Cottage, truly remote with stunning sea and mountain views. Totally off the beaten track and dog friendly too, pack your woolly jumpers, thick socks and walking boots and hike the mountains before returning to the wood burner and sampling a wee dram or two whilst watching the wildlife through the cottage binoculars.
Wherever makes you reach for your suitcase, be it coast or country, you’ll not fail to fall in love with autumn in the UK. Take a leap of faith and break from the norm; you’ll soon discover that British holidays are no longer the domain of spring and summer…
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our luxury self-catering cottages across the UK here.
