Jane Rakison has your autumn rituals sorted with eight seasonal things to eat, drink, see and do across the South West
1. Pick up the thread
Draw inspiration from a community of makers who’ve embraced the joy of creative craft rituals. The founder of our favourite embroidery kit company The Fabled Thread, Eppie Thompson, says: ‘Creativity doesn’t need to be productive to be valuable. Sometimes its greatest value lies in creating a small pocket of calm in an otherwise busy day.
‘The challenge is making space for this, and that’s where creative rituals come in. Small, repeated habits can transform creativity from something we wish we did more often into something that becomes part of who we are.’
2. Shape your sanctuary
The ritual of shaping a home takes centre stage at Darts Farm in Topsham, thanks to its newly transformed home and lifestyle space, created with Indigenous and Cycen. The new showrooms bring together timeless design and beautiful craftsmanship, with a focus on sustainable materials. From natural flooring to modern and elegant kitchen designs, each element offers plenty of inspiration for creating a unique home.
3. Craft in clay
Taking a private pottery lesson in a calm, welcoming studio at Clay & Salt Ceramics is a wonderful way to learn the skills for a new creative ritual.
No experience is needed, as sessions begin with an introduction to clay and a demonstration of wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques, before you’re set free to create your own piece (with expert guidance). Throw small bowls and dishes on the wheel or handbuild anything from a mug to a teapot at this studio in West Dorset.
4. Climb Glastonbury Tor
Make an early-morning climb up Glastonbury Tor part of your autumn. When the season turns, mist often settles across the Somerset Levels and Avalon Marshes, transforming the landscape below into a sea of silvery cloud. Wrap up warm, pack a flask and pause beside St Michael’s Tower to watch as the mist slowly lifts and the countryside is revealed.
5. Break good bread
Exmouth residents should add a bakery pitstop to their seafront walks by stopping at Rise for carbs and coffee. The temple to dough, a sister business to Exmouth beachside cafe bar Heydays, piles its counters high with loaves, sweet treats and savoury bakes, all made at its bakery in Bridport. Take a pew and sit in to watch the waves crashing on the shore or grab a croissant and flattie to-go.
6. Eat the season
The garden-to-plate ritual has taken on fresh meaning at Budock Vean Hotel & Spa, where a newly planted kitchen garden is flourishing just steps from the chef’s pass. The team nurture everything from fragrant mint and tender spinach to courgettes, leeks and cavolo nero, ready for head chef Dale McIntosh to weave into his two-AA-rosette menus. Picked at their prime, the homegrown ingredients deliver vibrant flavours, exceptional freshness and reassuringly low food miles at the peaceful retreat near Falmouth.
7. Savour slow Saturdays
Turn food shopping into a new kind of ritual at Crantock Farmers Market. Held inside the barn at Halwyn near Newquay, it’s good whatever the weather. Swing by on the second Saturday of each month to pick up local seasonal produce like artisan bread, pastries, ferments, preserves, cheeses and meats, plus handmade goods, from growers and makers. Then grab something from the street-food stands for an easy lunch.
8. Forage sloe-ly
Autumn, when hedgerows are laden with seasonal fruit, is the time to forage for ingredients to be enjoyed in winter.
Sloes are arguably the best find of all: a bag of berries can be turned into a mellow sloe gin simply by sticking them in a bottle with gin and sugar.
Discover more delicious goings-on in the region.
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