I’ll never forget the drive down to Somerset last autumn – golden leaves carpeting the lanes like nature’s own confetti, the air crisp enough to promise woodsmoke and cosy nights in. It was mid-October, that sweet spot where summer’s warmth lingers just long enough to fool you into packing too few jumpers, and I was buzzing for my three-day jaunt to Ashton Elegance Premier near Cheddar. The satnav had other ideas, though. Somewhere past the Mendips, it decided to play silly buggers and directed me down a mud-slicked farm track that wasn’t on any map. I ended up with a splatter of Somerset clay across the windscreen and a good laugh at my own expense – classic me, turning a scenic drive into a minor off-road adventure. A quick U-turn, and I was back on the B3139, the rolling hills ablaze with copper and crimson foliage that made the detour feel almost worth it.

Pulling up to Ashton Elegance Premier just as the afternoon sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the Sedgemoor countryside, I was smitten straight away. This isn’t some cookie-cutter holiday let; it’s a proper gem of a cottage, all elegance without the pretension, nestled in a quiet spot within easy reach of Cheddar’s dramatic gorges. Autumn had dressed it perfectly – ivy climbing the stone walls in fiery reds, and a carpet of fallen leaves crunching underfoot as I hauled my bags up the path. The owners had left a welcome basket brimming with local cider, apple pastries from a nearby orchard, and a note about the best pub for a pint. Cheeky touch, that; I felt like I’d stumbled into a friend’s spare room rather than a rental.

Stepping inside, the first impression hit like a warm hug on a chilly day. The open-plan living space was bathed in that soft, slanting October light filtering through leaded windows, picking out the plush sofas and the Aga humming gently in the kitchen. I could smell the season in the air – damp earth from outside mingling with the faint spice of cinnamon from the welcome treats. No expense spared on the details: underfloor heating banishing any nip from the stone floors, and a wood-burning stove already laid with kindling, begging for a match as dusk crept in early, Somerset style. I dumped my bags and brewed a cuppa, gazing out at the garden where mist was starting to swirl around the apple trees heavy with the last of the fruit. It was pure seasonal magic; in high summer, this view might dazzle with blooms, but autumn turned it poetic, all mellow fruitfulness as Keats would have it.

Wandering the ground floor, I discovered the heart of the place: a kitchen stocked with everything from Le Creuset pots to a Nespresso machine – luxury for a solo traveller like me who burns toast more often than not. The dining table, set for two but perfect for one with a good book, overlooked the hills where the leaves were turning faster than my holiday plans. Upstairs, the bedrooms were a dream – mine with a super-king bed piled high with goose-down duvets, ready to cocoon me against the cooling nights. The en-suite? Spa-level, with a rainfall shower that steamed up instantly, chasing away the drive’s grime. Outside, the private patio beckoned, though the autumn chill had me wrapping up in a scarf for a quick peek. Pumpkins from a local patch sat artfully by the door, and the air hummed with the distant low of cattle – quintessential Somerset, amplified by the harvest hush.

That first evening, as I lit the stove and cracked open the cider, I had a quiet moment of reflection. Life back home in the city had been a whirlwind of deadlines and grey skies, but here, with the flames dancing and the wind whispering through the woods, I felt properly unplugged. Autumn at Ashton Elegance Premier wasn’t just a stay; it was a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe in the earthy scents, and let the season wrap you up like an old jumper. First impressions? Bloody brilliant. I was already plotting a return before I’d even unpacked.