I’ll never forget the drive up to Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire last autumn – the leaves were turning that perfect blaze of gold and copper, but of course, I managed to hit a cheeky pothole just outside Pitlochry that sent us bouncing like we were in a rally car. My mate Dave, who was navigating, let out a yelp and clutched his coffee, swearing it had gone right up his nose. We laughed it off, though, cranking up the radio to some cracking folk tunes as the Tay Valley unfolded before us, all misty hills and russet bracken that made my heart skip with that proper holiday buzz. I’d been buzzing about this trip for weeks, picturing cosy evenings by the fire while the world outside turned crisp and colourful.

Pulling up to the property, I was chuffed to bits – this smart mews-style place right in the heart of it all, kitted out for up to six of us with that welcoming vibe you crave after a long haul. Stepping inside, the open-plan living space hit the spot immediately: a proper kitchen for rustling up grub, a big dining table for our endless chats, and a comfy sitting area to flop into. Three bedrooms sorted us perfectly – a king-size with its own telly for lazy lie-ins, a twin with one too, and a fun bunk room that had the kids (well, my mate’s lot) grinning like loons. First impressions? Spot on for a family or group getaway, especially with autumn painting everything in those moody, magical hues.

The season really made this holiday sing. We timed it for mid-October, when Perthshire’s forests explode into fiery displays, and boy, did it deliver. Mornings started with frosty air nipping at our noses as we wandered down to the River Tay, just a stone’s throw away, watching salmon leap in the sparkling water – a sight that felt like peeking into some ancient Highland postcard. The crunch of fallen leaves underfoot on a stroll through the nearby Birks of Aberfeldy was pure therapy; those gnarled oaks and cascading burns framed by amber foliage had us stopping every five minutes for photos, me feeling a bit like an overexcited tourist.

Days blurred into gentle adventures shaped by the cooling temps. We hired bikes from the village and pedalled along the old railway path towards the Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery – not too far, just enough to work up an appetite for their whisky tasting (I stuck to the smooth ones, mind). The autumn light filtered through the trees, turning the whole ride into a golden glow, though I did have a wobbly moment on a leaf-strewn downhill, reminding me I’m not quite the daredevil I fancy myself. Evenings were all about that seasonal hygge: simmering stews in the kitchen with local venison from the Aberfeldy farm shop, then piling into the sitting area with board games as rain pattered against the windows, the hills outside shrouded in twilight mist.

One quiet moment by the Tay sticks with me – sat on a bench with a thermos of tea, watching the leaves drift downstream, I had a proper think about how these shorter days and that fresh, earthy chill pull you back to what matters: good company, simple joys. Perthshire in autumn wrapped it all up beautifully, leaving us refreshed and already plotting a return. If you’re after a spot that lets the season steal the show, this is it.