I’ll never forget the drive down to that little Cornish village near Delabole – it was mid-autumn, you know, that crisp October stretch when the leaves are turning all fiery orange and the air’s got that proper bracing chill. We’d piled into the car from up country with the dog bouncing about in the back, full of beans, and I was dead excited about escaping the daily grind. But typical me, about halfway through Devon, I took a wrong turn onto one of those narrow, twisting lanes that Cornwall loves so much. Ended up reversing into a hedge while trying to let a tractor past – scraped the wing mirror, heart in my mouth, but we laughed it off with a cuppa from the flask. Lesson learned: sat-navs are grand, but they don’t account for autumn mist rolling in off the moors.

By the time we pulled up, the sun was dipping low, painting everything in that golden glow that makes Cornwall feel like a painting come to life. First impressions? Blimey, what a spot. Tucked away in this peaceful village, just outside the National Trust’s Pentire Point area, it was love at first sight. The cottage itself is this charming pet-friendly gem, perfect for us lot – me, the missus, our two kids, and the mutt. Two off-road parking spots meant no faffing about, and that rear terrace with its furniture was calling our name already, even if the autumn breeze had us zipping up our coats.

Stepping inside, the open-plan living space hit us like a warm hug – high ceilings, Velux windows letting in the fading light, and that woodburning stove already begging for a log or two. We cracked open a bottle of wine at the dining table for six while I rustled up some pasties in the fully-equipped kitchen. The sitting area’s sumptuous seats and Smart TV became our evening haven as the days grew shorter. Down here on the ground floor, the utility room was a godsend for muddy wellies after our walks.

Upstairs, after scrubbing off the sea salt in the stylish bathroom (bath for the kids, shower for us weary adults), we claimed the three super-king bedrooms – all zip/link, so flexible for the family, and one with its own en-suite. Slept like logs every night, lulled by the quiet.

Autumn shaped the whole trip, really. Mornings started with frosty spiderwebs on the terrace as we scoffed breakfast, then we’d head out for bracing cliff-top walks around Pentire Point – the National Trust paths were alive with rustling leaves and gorse still blooming defiantly. A short drive to the beach meant paddling in the shallows, wind whipping up waves that crashed just right, no summer crowds to spoil it. We gathered blackberries along the lanes for crumble, watched seals bobbing offshore, and one evening, as dusk fell early, we lit the stove and played board games while rain pattered on the roof – pure bliss.

Sitting there on our last night, mulled cider in hand, I had a bit of a moment. Work’s been manic lately, and I’ve been rushing about like a headless chicken. This place forced me to slow down, breathe in that salty air, and just be. No signal half the time, which was probably a blessing. If you’re after a proper Cornish getaway when the season’s turning, with cosy nights and invigorating days, this is it. We’re already plotting a return – maybe spring next time, but autumn’s magic won’t be beaten easily.