I’ll never forget the drive to Oak Lodge VIP in Shropshire last autumn – a proper golden October weekend that turned our three-day getaway into a leafy love letter to the season. We’d set off from Bridgnorth early Saturday morning, the SatNav promising a swift 20-minute jaunt through those winding lanes, but wouldn’t you know it, I took a wrong turn at the first roundabout and ended up chasing a herd of sheep for ten minutes. Classic me – the city slicker versus the countryside. By the time we arrived, cheeks flushed and laughing, the sun was dipping low, painting the hills in that rich amber glow only early autumn can muster.

Pulling up to Oak Lodge VIP just outside Bridgnorth felt like stumbling into a crisp postcard. Nestled in a quiet spot amid ancient oaks starting their slow striptease of fiery reds and burnt oranges, the lodge sat there all cosy and inviting, its timber frame blending seamlessly with the woodland backdrop. It’s one of those VIP hot tub retreats you book for the indulgence, and boy, did the season amp up the magic. The air was that perfect nippy chill – not freezing, but enough to make you crave a steaming mug of tea the moment we stepped inside. I could smell the damp earth and fallen leaves as we unloaded the car, crunching underfoot like nature’s own autumnal crisps.

First impressions? Bloody brilliant. The lodge is compact but lush – think plush sofas begging for a fireside slump, a kitchen kitted out with all the mod cons, and that massive wraparound deck screaming for sunset views. We dumped our bags and beelined for the hot tub, bubbling away under a canopy of turning leaves. Slipping in as the afternoon light faded to a soft twilight haze, with steam rising into the cool air, was pure bliss. The season shaped every second: those rustling branches overhead showered us with the odd leaf confetti, and the distant low of cows from nearby fields added a rustic soundtrack. No crowds, just us and the whispering woods – Shropshire in October is gloriously empty, the tourists scarpered back to the cities.

We cracked open a bottle of local cider (Shropshire’s scrumpy is underrated, by the way) and watched the sun set behind the Severn Valley hills, all cloaked in a misty veil that the autumn fogs love to weave. It was one of those moments that sneaks up on you – me, usually glued to my phone, actually switched off. Gentle self-reflection hit as I floated there: how often do we rush through life without pausing for this? The fleeting beauty of it all, leaves drifting like golden memories, reminded me to savour the now instead of fretting over tomorrow’s deadlines.

Evening drew in quick, as autumn does, wrapping the lodge in a cosy dusk. We lit the wood burner – flames dancing like the season’s own fireworks – and rustled up a hearty stew with foraged vibes, using squash from a nearby farm shop we’d spotted en route. Peeking out the windows, the garden glowed under fairy lights, bordered by hedges heavy with berries that the birds were already eyeing up. No need to venture far; the lodge’s spot is ideal for this – a stone’s throw from Bridgnorth’s high street if you fancy a mooch, but why would you? The seasonal pull kept us rooted: morning mist rolling off the fields, afternoons crisp enough for a brisk woodland stroll right from the door, picking blackberries that stained our fingers purple.

By bedtime, tucked under a quilt as thick as the fog outside, I was smitten. Oak Lodge VIP isn’t just a stay; in autumn, it’s an immersion – the colours popping, the air alive with that earthy tang, every breath a reminder of nature’s annual reset. If you’re pondering a Shropshire escape, time it for October. Trust me, it’ll colour your soul long after the leaves have fallen.