Yes I know we’re still in August… but is anyone else feeling the autumn vibes yet?! There’s definitely been lots of people planning their UK autumn holidays in Cornwall this year. We are already fully booked in both the lakeside Boat House cabin and Sail House luxury yurt for the entire month of September. And all the October weekends have been swiped by those canny early bookers as well! It’s not too late to get in on the action though, we’ve still got some availability in October in both our lovely lakeside houses. And November has availability if you’re looking for an autumnal weekend break in Cornwall.
Why to Visit Cornwall in Autumn
Autumn is one of our favourite times of year in Cornwall. It so much quieter than the busy summer months so there’s no worries about visiting some of the gorgeous Cornish highlights which get packed out in the school holidays. Visits to St Ives, St Michael’s Mount, Kynance and Porthcurno Beaches are back on! We still get lots of sunny days in autumn and the sea is the warmest it gets all year round, having been heated up by the summer sunshine. Which makes this time of year a favourite with wild swimmers, surfers, body boarders and kayakers at the gorgeous Cornish beaches nearby.
The wild swimming lake at Pengelly Retreat is still warm enough for leisurely swims without the “bbbbrrrrrr” factor being too high. And even on a chillier day, you can still hop into the lush outside bath at the Boat House cabin or the heated outside shower at the Sail House to warm up nicely after your swim.
The Best Activities in Cornwall in Autumn
Here’s some of my favourite autumn activities to do in Cornwall to make the most of this beautiful time of year down here.
Woodland walks and blackberry picking – I’m a big fan of woodland walks at any time of year if I’m honest! However autumn walks in the woods here in Cornwall are something else with the leaves turning gently to golden brown and the sunshine dappling through the trees. If I look out of my window here at Pengelly Retreat I can already see the blackberries turning to ripe juicy purple, definitely a sign that autumn is approaching. Some of my favourite Cornish woodlands are nearby Crenver Grove and Godolphin woods, both of which are accessible on foot or a (very) short drive from Pengelly Retreat. A little further afield I love the mysterious and watery vibes at Kennall Vale.
Going to the beach without the crowds – come the end of the school holidays and miraculously the beaches in Cornwall are empty again! I love spending time at the beach with my little girl in the holidays but I do also LOVE the fact that I can get a beach almost to myself at other times of year here. Some of our nearby favourites are Gwithian, Praa Sands and Poldhu. A little further afield Porthcurno and Kynance are absolutely beach beauties that get packed in the summer but are much more appealing in the quieter autumn.
Explore Cornwall by bike – Autumn is a great time for cycling in Cornwall, weather still good but it’s not quite so sweaty…! A favourite nearby for us is the Coast to Coast trail which runs from Portreath on the north coast to Devoran on the south, mostly off-road. For more ideas of cycle trails take a look at the Mineral Tramways leaflets which has a very handy map full of cycle trails round Cornwall.
Kayak down the Helford River – we absolutely love the Helford River area at any time of year for walking, beaches and kayak trips. Autumn is especially lush as the riverine forest turns into it’s autumnal hues. Koru Kayaking run brilliant kayak trips in this beautiful part of the world from the little beach at the Budock Vean Hotel.
Cosy Cornish pub lunches in Cornwall – and if the weather has gone a bit mizzly then what better time than to retreat to cosy Cornish pub for some hearty grub by a warming fire. We really like the Heron at Malpas which has beautiful views over the Estuary, the Pandora Inn at Restronguet Creek and the Victoria Inn at Perranuthnoe.
What are your favourite things to do in the autumn? Come on holiday to Cornwall by any chance? Well you know what to do then! Much love to everyone and hope to see you all soon at Pengelly Retreat 🙂
