Trevone Bay, Cornwall
There’s never a bad time to visit Cornwall, so long as you don’t mind a bit of weather. Where better to experience the potentially wilder side of the Cornish coast than right on it, in a glorious house overlooking one of the best beaches in the whole of the UK: Trevone Bay. Atlanta Trevone is a collection of rental properties within a row of beautiful seafront houses overlooking the rocky side of the bay, where the famous Trevone natural sea pool is – a permanently filled, freezing cold, seawater pool set in the black rocks of the beach. On the other side is the sandy bit of beach – lovely in the summer for a cooling dip but equally delightful to be near in cooler weather, and fine for swimming for the hardier wild swimmers out there. Atlanta Trevone is perfectly situated between Harlyn Beach and Padstow, and both are walkable for those who fancy a coastal romp (to Harlyn, where a rewarding lunch at The Pig on the Beach awaits) or across the fields and over to Padstow, where all manner of shops, restaurants and cafés await you. When you’re feeling wearied, repair to your house, light the fire and cosy up in the beautiful interiors as you watch the sun set and the waves crash. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
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Bruton & Frome, Somerset
There is a reason that the past couple of decades have seen creatives flocking to the west country, specifically Bruton and the nearby – possibly more idyllic – town Frome. First came Babington House, a bucolic Somerset outpost of the ever popular Soho House. Soon after, in 2015, Hauser & Wirth opened its Somerset gallery: an impressive collection of former farm buildings transformed into a series of gallery spaces and a cafe cum restaurant. It is surrounded by a perennial meadow designed by the Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf. Since, restaurants, independent boutiques and farm shops have opened by the dozens, quickly rendering the area one of the loveliest places to visit. I went for a crisp autumn weekend last year; The Talbot Inn was my base for the weekend (one that, I admit, was tricky to leave thanks to the cosy, elegant bedrooms, exceptional rural views and intimate pub-meets-dining area where an evening is easily lost drinking red wine and playing chess). Just around the corner is Mells – a town whose walled garden and village cafe are enough to have you scrolling through Rightmove. It’s a quick drive to Hauser & Wirth, which is best followed by a meal of locally cultivated, seasonal dishes at Osip, the brainchild of chef Merlin Labron-Johnson. While there, don’t forget to pop into Philo & Philo – a most delightful shop selling vintage homeware and furniture. – Christabel Chubb
Stroud, The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is well documented and of course, the entire area of outstanding beauty is lovely for an autumn getaway but our choice would be to set up camp around Stroud. This town has a distinctly different feel, with a much less glossy finish – which works in its favour. Instead of the latest pub-that’s-really-a-fancy-restaurant, you can extend a proper boozer in town or the highly-sought-after (but still very much a pub) Woolpack Inn just on the borders of the town, with views across the autumnal vistas of Laurie Lee land. There’s a brilliant market on a Saturday with local farmers and makers and the brewery on the river makes excellent beers – and serves decent food too. If it’s warm enough, sitting outside is the place to be but on a chilly day, the interior is as you’d expect from a brewery and all the better for it. As for where to stay, Unique Homestays has a converted church just down the valley in Hyde which is simply lovely. Perfect for a couple or family, it has two bedrooms – one very much for children – ample living space and a wooden hot tub. It overlooks a field of horses and the copper tub is heavenly. What’s more, it has a footpath going in every direction as soon as you step out, meaning you’re yards away from lovely autumnal walks – and we can recommend a romp down the hill then along the river until you reach the brewery. – CMH
Woodbridge and Thorington, Suffolk
Suffolk is known for its beautiful, dune-covered beaches and flat countryside walks, but it’s also making a name for itself as a design and food hotspot. Southwold is an unbeatably picturesque seaside town known for its pastel-painted beach huts, whilst nearby Walberswick is the perfect coastal village with two great pubs, a crabbing bridge and the tiny but mighty Black Dog Deli bursting with homemade picnic items and pantry supplies. For breakfast you’ll want to head to PINCH, a cafe and farm shop slightly off the beaten track selling Roman pizza by the slice, crullers and fresh gelato.