Autumn breaks in the South West
As the temperature dips, lift the mood with one of these luxurious autumn breaks in the South West – this corner of the country is a glorious place to enjoy the drama of the season
No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath
The honey-hued Regency streets of Bath come to life in autumn once the crowds have left, and boutique townhouse No.15 is the perfect abode for living out the Bridgerton fantasy. Located on the iconic Great Pulteney Street, this heart-of-the-city hotel deals in utter indulgence served with a slice of fun. The slick basement spa includes a Copper Room for couples (housing a giant copper bath) while each uniquely designed room includes a dolls’ house stocked with tea and coffee plus a record player with a selection of vinyl. Add some fabulous cocktails and food in The Bar at No. 15 and you’re set.
Autumn breaks at No.15
Opt for a fall-feels staycation package. It includes a full better-than-your-usual GuestHouse breakfast, a 20 per cent saving on one-night stays or 25 percent on two nights, a limited-edition autumn cocktail on arrival (think ginger margaritas and winter negronis) and a GuestHouse ‘face fix spa kits’ for two – to soothe, moisturise and defend skin against the changing seasons. From £252 on a bed and breakfast basis for one night in a Guest Room or £472.50 for two nights.
The Alverton, Truro, Cornwall
The Alverton is a hidden treasure in the Cornish capital of Truro, tucked away at the top of a winding drive and surrounded by mature gardens. It feels a world away from the city, when it fact it’s only a ten-minute stroll from its centre, making it the ideal autumn getaway destination for balancing relaxation with a dash of hustle and bustle.
The Grade II*-listed hotel’s riches are revealed at every turn: on discovery of its history as a private residence turned convent; when unwinding in the bar, cocktail in hand; and on waking in one of the luxuriously refurbished bedrooms and suites. Yet the jewel is to be found in the elegant cooking that comes courtesy of head chef Ollie Wyatt and team, in dishes that are flush with Cornish fare from land and sea, such as Cornish hake with chana masala and charred-pineapple salsa.
Autumn breaks at The Alverton
The Alverton’s Cornish Autumn Getaway offer is available from £149 for two people, including a cream tea or two drinks, and is available from October 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024. Add dinner for £35 per person.
Bovey Castle, Dartmoor
From the sweeping driveway leading to this neo-Elizabethan manor house to the warm welcome from tweed-clad porters, a visit to Bovey Castle always starts in style. The impressive venue is set within 275 acres of lush countryside on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, and guests can indulge in an array of traditional English country pursuits from clay pigeon shooting and off-road driving experiences to fly fishing and falconry. There’s also an 18-hole championship golf course on-site.
After an action-packed day of activities – or a more leisurely stint of pampering in the Elan Spa – two dining options await: Great Western Grill or Smith’s Brasserie. Opt for the former to be treated to three-AA-rosette dishes from chef Mark Budd, who make the most of the estate’s abundant produce (which includes seasonal veg, locally reared meats and kitchen garden produce) in dishes such as red-wine-braised oxtail cottage pie with horseradish mash, braised English peas, lettuce and onions.
Autumn breaks at Bovey Castle
Autumn stays start from £367 per room, per night (based on two people sharing a Classic Room) and are available until November 30, 2024.
Beechfield House, Wiltshire
Revel in country house grandeur with a contemporary edge at Beechfield House, located just 30 minutes from Bath and the Cotswolds. The hotel sits in eight acres of landscaped grounds, and guests can lounge in the outdoor heated pool or potter around the arboretum and nearby pretty Cotswolds villages to make the most of the splendid setting.
From the contemporary comfort of the Coach Bedrooms to the four-poster splendour of the Master Bedroom, all rooms provide comfort in abundance with super-king-size beds, pure Egyptian cotton bedding, fluffy robes and Temple Spa products. Coming soon is a newly refurbed two-bedroom Garden Apartment which will cater to those who prefer the seclusion of a self-catered stay with all the benefits of staying at a hotel.
Lose a few hours in one of four charming dining spaces featuring high ceilings, fireplaces and large windows. The two-AA-rosette restaurant’s autumn menu majors on game meats and rich flavours – and the Sunday dinner is not to be missed.
Autumn breaks at Beechfield House
Kids stay for free at Beechfield House throughout October, making this a great place for a family getaway (especially when Longleat Safari Park is on the doorstep). Or, if you’re after a getaway a little later in the season, the Winter Wonderland offer is available from November 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 and includes a Wiltshire cream tea, seasonal dinner, overnight stay and full cooked breakfast from £199 per room, per night.
The Acorn Inn, Evershot, Dorset
Dine and stay in Thomas Hardy country at The Acorn Inn in Evershot. The 16th-century inn may be located near the birthplace of the author and mentioned in Tess of the d’Urbervilles, but it has made a name for itself aside from its literary connections thanks to characterful surrounds (exposed ceiling beams, oak-panelled walls and roaring log fires), an award-winning contemporary restaurant and an expansive wine list.
Chef Ana Martins compiles seasonally changing menus that capitalise on Dorset’s finest produce while staying refreshingly unpretentious. Satiating mains include the likes of saddle of suckling pig with black pudding bon bon, potato pavé, jerusalem artichoke, pea velouté and cider jus, but attempt to save a little room as The Acorn is renowned for puds such as its deconstructed rhubarb and custard confection with sweet shortcrust pastry and rhubarb gelato (pictured).
Autumn breaks at The Acorn Inn
Those after the full autumnal coaching inn experience should book a bed for a few nights, taking advantage of the three nights for the price of two offer. Extend your stay in the tranquil Dorset countryside on bookings between November 2024 and February 2025.
Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor
Whether you’re looking for a luxurious base from which to explore the moor or a cosy bolthole with roaring fires and superb dining, Two Bridges Hotel with its two-AA-rosette restaurant amid the wilds of Dartmoor offers a guaranteed great escape.
The classic interiors at Two Bridges Hotel are perfect in this moorland environment. Ornate fireplaces, grand old clocks and paintings, polished brass and copper and a well-stocked bar are precisely what you’d hope to discover after a day tramping over the tussocky hills. Even in bleak midwinter the attractive hotel is an oasis of hospitality.
Within this characterful setting, talented head chef Josh Chan crafts dishes packed with the very best local ingredients. The team try to use as many hyper-local suppliers as possible to curate Dartmoor-centric menus featuring the likes of guinea fowl with asparagus, morel, butterbean and lime jus.
Autumn breaks at Two Bridges
Two Bridges’ Autumn Breaks (available until the end of December 2024) start from £94.50 per person, per night, including full Dartmoor Breakfast each morning and a three-course dinner each evening.
Castle Inn Lydford, Dartmoor
An award-winning 16th-century pub in a picturesque Dartmoor village makes the perfect launchpad for autumnal adventures, and the Castle Inn Lydford ticks every box. Cosy up by one of three roaring fires, bring your four-legged friend for the fun (the pub is dog-friendly throughout), head out on a bracing Dartmoor yomp, or explore nearby Lydford Castle and Lydford Gorge: whatever gives you the autumn feels, this place delivers.
The wonky-walled, low-ceilinged building has character in spades, so time spent at the pub is just as much of a treat as getting out and about. A menu featuring pub classics alongside British favourites makes the most of fantastic local produce while thirteen individually styled bedrooms offer calm spaces to unwind.
Autumn breaks at the Castle Inn
Opt for a Winter Break – these run from October 2024 until the end of March 2025 – for stays of two or more nights, and offer fabulous value from £198 for two nights’ bed and breakfast.
The Old Coastguard, Mousehole, Cornwall
Part of Charles and Edmund Inkin’s Eatdrinksleep stable (sister venues include chef fave The Gurnard’s Head near Zennor and The Felin Fach Griffin in Wales), The Old Coastguard is a restaurant with rooms in the beautiful fishing village of Mousehole.
Its menu is dictated by what’s local and in season. Newlyn’s dayboats tie up a mere two miles west so fish is a given, but head chef Danny Garland also pays homage to the superb meats, cheeses and vegetables produced nearby. His culinary background – he previously cooked with Yotam Ottolenghi – also inspires creative plant‑based and vegetarian compilations. The menu may be rooted in traditional brasserie‑style cooking but when ingredients this good are treated with care the dishes are elevated above the norm. Monkfish, for example, is served with whipped cod’s roe, kimchi butter, mussels and grilled courgettes.
Autumn breaks at The Old Coastguard
The Old Coastguard’s Winter Escapes are available until late March 2025. Designed for those needing a break amidst the darker seasons, even just one night is enough to replace the day-to-day humdrum with the refreshing rhythms of the coast – thanks to all fourteen cosy bedrooms featuring views across Mount’s Bay, The Lizard and out to sea. Available from £239 per couple including three-course dinner, room and breakfast, Sunday to Thursday (outside of holidays).
The Newt in Somerset
The Newt has garnered cult-like status amongst gourmets-in-the-know for its wonderland of gardens, woodland, restaurants, cyder bar, bakery, shop, gelateria, spa, workshops and exhibitions. The working farm and all its associated enterprises work in rhythm with nature so there are new surprises to discover with every changing season.
To delve into this treasure trove and enjoy the sights and sounds of autumn, plan a stay – we’d recommend a few nights to make the most of all The Newt has to offer. Accommodation options are varied. The core of the estate is Georgian, with burnt-honey-coloured limestone buildings. Hadspen House, with its Stable Yard, was built in the 17th century and contains 23 playfully designed bedrooms. In the cyder orchards, the Farmyard is the former dairy and home to 17 bedrooms, a pool, bar, snug and all-day kitchen. Complimentary drinks are available at the Garner Bar, while bikes and buggies provide ample opportunity for pootling over to the gardens and spa at Hadspen.
Autumn breaks at The Newt
Enjoy three nights for the price of two at The Newt until February 28, 2025 (selected midweek dates and room types). Breakfast, cream tea, an in-room larder and bar, a wide range of exclusive experiences (such as cyder tour and tasting, spa treatments, bee safaris, Roman villa tours, garden tours, yoga and lots more) and a 12-month Newt membership starting from the date of your stay are included in this fabulous offer.
The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall
Whether sipping a cocktail, storm-watching from a sea-view bedroom or watching a film in the 25-seater Hidden Cinema, The Idle Rocks is a cracking place to unwind. The Relais & Châteaux hotel’s waterfront location and exemplary hospitality are reason enough to visit, but in-the-know foodies flock for the inventive food offering from head chef Matt Haggath and team.
They’ve designed a menu that promises a culinary journey around Cornwall. It majors on seasonal flavours, with fresh ingredients sourced through carefully developed relationships with local suppliers, farmers and MSC‑certified fishermen. Signature dishes include St Mawes mackerel (caught within shouting distance) served with romesco, hispi cabbage and sesame dressing, and roasted monkfish with girolles, black garlic, seaweed and cider sauce.
Autumn breaks at The Idle Rocks
Plump for the Autumn on the Rocks offer for three night’s accommodation, two three-course dinners at The Reef Knot Restaurant (one with accompanying wine flight), one three-course dinner at The St Mawes Hotel and a full Cornish breakfast each morning. Available until December 23, 2024.
Enjoyed our curation of autumn breaks in the South West? Find lots more inspiration for the season by getting your hands on the printed autumn issue of Food Lifestyle.
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