I’ll never forget the drive down to St Ives that crisp October morning – the leaves just starting to turn that fiery autumn gold along the A30, but wouldn’t you know it, I took a wrong turn near Hayle and ended up in a queue of caravans crawling along the back roads. Typical me, always the navigator who thinks he knows better than the satnav. Still, by the time we pulled up to our second-floor apartment overlooking Carbis Bay, the sun was dipping low, painting the sea in those moody autumn hues, and all was forgiven.

Wow, what a view! From St Ives to Godrevy Lighthouse, the panoramic sweep from the place was breathtaking. Perched on the cliff above Carbis Bay Beach with its blue flag waters, this luxury spot sleeps four in two comfy bedrooms and sits right near the beach, the scenic St Ives branch line, and the South West Coast Path – perfect for a family getaway. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and sitting area wraps around a wall of bay windows, filling every corner with the whole of St Ives Bay. We arrived buzzing with that holiday anticipation, bags barely unpacked before we were glued to the glass, watching seals bob in the waves below.

Autumn in Cornwall is magic, isn’t it? No summer crowds clogging the paths, just that fresh, bracing chill that makes a hot cuppa taste like heaven. We wandered down to Carbis Bay Beach the first afternoon, toes crunching through damp sand scattered with seaweed from recent storms. The sea was wilder than in high summer, foam-flecked rollers crashing in under a sky streaked with fast-moving clouds – proper Atlantic drama. I had a quiet chuckle at myself, bundled up in my bobble hat, trying to skim stones against the wind while the kids raced ahead, their laughter echoing off the cliffs.

Next day, we hopped on the little steam train from Carbis Bay station – such a treat in autumn, chugging along the edge with leaves swirling in our wake, straight into St Ives. The town was alive but mellow, harbour boats bobbing gently, and we grabbed pasties from a bakery, steam rising in the cool air. Porthmeor Beach was our spot for a blustery walk, the tide pulling back to reveal rock pools teeming with crabs that the little ones poked at with sticks. Evenings back at the apartment were pure bliss: sunset turning the bay to molten orange, then cosying up with the windows cracked open to the sound of distant waves, cooking up a storm in that slick kitchen while the view twinkled with lighthouse beams.

One evening, sat there with a glass of wine as the light faded, I had a bit of a reflective moment. Life’s been a whirl lately – work, school runs, the usual chaos – but this autumn escape reminded me how a change of season can reset you. No sweaty hikes or ice-cream queues; just that golden, windswept glow that makes Cornwall feel like your own secret. We even caught the tail end of the Godrevy seals at dusk, their heads popping up like clockwork. By the time we packed up, windswept and rosy-cheeked, I was already plotting next autumn’s return. If you’re after that perfect off-peak vibe, this is it – pure, unhurried joy.