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It's here. Autumn is here.
The air has changed, it's crisp and cool; the smell of fallen leaves- earthy, musty, and damp- fills the air. Sunlight is blonde, and dances over golden leaves; we snuggle under blankets and throws and wear chunky knits for Sunday strolls.
It's a visually spectacular time of year; few things beat layering up, getting outside, and marvelling at the richly hued autumnal landscape.............but there's always part of me that- when the mornings are a little darker, and the house a little cooler- wants to stay snuggled under the duvet. It wants to surrender to the season, to hunker down in a sumptuous sanctuary, with the weight of duck-feather duvets and thick winter blankets holding me still, with just a well-worn book or warm body (or both) for company. A hibernation of sorts.
And so I'm hatching a plan for a Great Autumnal Escape........finding an idyllic locale in which to savour sublime stillness; beautiful boltholes with cocooning interiors, cosy cottages with roaring open fires; a rural retreat. Somewhere with access to the great outdoors, but with such a cosy vibe that
I may just stay indoors all day....
Step through the door of this beautiful bolthole and prepare to be wowed by its charm. With careful consideration, the owners of Spinks Nest have taken what was once a teeny-tiny derelict building within the Glaven Valley conservation area and converted it into the bijou holiday home of dreams, with an achingly good eye for detail, planning and craftsmanship. Everywhere you turn there's something new to admire, whether it's the Norfolk Pamment tiles, the use of reclaimed wood, or the glorious chestnut brown kitchen units and carefully curated vintage treasures. And then there's the sunken polished concrete bath.....
Offering eight rooms of differing shapes and sizes, each one thoughtfully decorated with unique touches, vintage furniture and quirky artwork, but all deliver the same cosy, rustic vibe that is so perfect for an autumnal escape. We have a soft spot for the Coop, with its dreamy mezzanine floor bedroom, and cosy, comfortable sofa, positioned right in front of the double-sided log burner. Why not hire the Hay Barn Cinema for a couple of hours cosying up in the back of a renovated sheep box in the old Dutch barn, watching films and 'flix on a three-metre cinema screen, with hot chocolate in flasks, marshmallows and all sorts of snacky bits to enjoy whilst you chill.
Nestled in the heart of the Carmarthenshire countryside, Bryn Eglur is an 18th-century Welsh cottage, diligently restored to offer guests a real sense of stepping back in time. The interior is pared back, with lime-washed walls and flagstone floors; exposed, knarled beams and antique Welsh wooden furniture in all shades of brown add warmth and character. A Rayburn stove in the kitchen and a log burner in the parlour kick off heat that you'll want to huddle up to, book in hand, blanket on knee, for a moment of true escapism. Make sure to venture outside after dark for an unforgettable view of the starry night sky.
A stunning lakeside cabin in a secluded spot by the lake of Coddington Mill, boasting beautiful views of the surrounding countryside, perfect for soaking up a few rays of sunshine whilst you sip on a (late) morning cuppa. The Lakehouse has a surprisingly slick and stylish interior; there's plenty of wood cladding but it's paired with matt black surfaces and edgy accessories, giving it a sexy kinda stable-core vibe. A gorgeous copper bathtub sits on the deck outside......fill it up, lie back and let the sights and sounds of nature restore your senses.
We are #swooning over this gorgeous hung tile cottage....the exterior is cutesy, but the interior is a dream. The kitchen walls, ceiling and tiles are an incredible verdant green, almost true in colour to nocerella olives, set off against a cranberry red Rangemaster and matching window frames. The hallway and study are an inviting chestnut brown, and then there's the deep, salmon-pink bedroom, with folksy fabrics and a large rattan headboard. This is the perfect holiday home for exploring the gorgeous historic town of Battle and its independent retailers. Invest in a bottle of Hastings gin from Sarah's Cellar, which you can whip up into many martinis to sip on in a fancy 'fit in that glorious kitchen.
Barn conversions are so regular, these days you need to be sleeping in a converted stable block to send the message you are hot-to-trot.
Sat in the grounds of a glorious country manor, The Stables is a holiday home with prestige; sympathetically converted, there are nods to the stables' former use, with a kickboard-clad kitchen and stable partitions cleverly used to carve the living area into cosy 'rooms'. Thick, impenetrable stone walls cocoon guests, dimming outside noise and keeping the warmth from the cast iron rads in; perfect for cosying up under a blanket on the sofa and reading a few chapters of your favourite novel.
