Head to Cornwall for short breaks in food, foraging, stargazing, art and yoga with our ultimate guide to special themed holidays and breaks

Great British Life:

Cornwall welcomes millions of visitors each year - and alongside those looking to enjoy its incomparable beaches, surf and, hopefully, sunshine, there are many people who come during the autumn and winter to enjoy a different kind of break.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, storm watching is becoming a popular sport - if lightening strikes, head to Portreath for stunning views. The lack of light pollution on the coastal areas also makes Cornwall a great place for star gazing; areas like Bude are becoming more and more popular for people to set up their telescopes.

Great British Life:

Other more traditional breaks include those wanting to take advantage of the 300 miles of South West Coast Path that hugs the Cornish coastline offering incomparable views of the county, and often secluded beaches and stunning sunsets. There are also great bike routes - and horse riding on the beach.

Foodie breaks are always popular, as Cornwall's food and drink economy continues to flourish. The county's tourism organisation Visit Cornwall has also seen a rise in the popularity of foraging breaks. Autumn is a great time to get out and join the experts in finding foodstuffs in the wild and learning to cook it with the experts.

Malcolm Bell, head of tourism at Visit Cornwall says: 'Taking the "grow your own" trend to a whole new level, food forging specialists are springing up across Cornwall and helping us to discover that our unique environment is also a melting pot of scrumptious wild ingredients.

'Autumn is the perfect time so join food forging course and under expert guidance pull hidden delights from hedgerows, comb beaches for seasonal treats and indulge in the tantalising potential of Cornwall's beautiful countryside. Armed with natures treasures you will head back to the kitchen to whip up a truly Cornish meal like no other.'

Lostwithiel is the antiques capital of Cornwall, and the Old Palace Apartment is situated above the owner's antique shop which has been used to furnish the inside of the apartment, therefore many of the items in the holiday cottages are available to purchase. This adds a unique charm to the property!

Where to stay: Old Palace Apartment, Lostwithiel. Sleeps: 6 Bedrooms: 3

From £375 for three nights.

Enjoy four exclusive sessions with qualified Iyengar yoga instructors, Lucy Aldridge and Judith Van Dop, making the postures accessible to both young and old. Dive into a bay or pure relaxation and see the world through different eyes at C Bay Spa.

The Yoga Retreat runs at Carbis Bay Hotel in January, March and October. Stay includes two nights stay, bed and full Cornish breakfast, four Iyengar yoga sessions, one 45 minute spa treatment, one dinner at their award-winning Rosette restaurant and unlimited use of all spa facilities, £399 per person

Summerleaze Lodge in Bude offers a fantastic star gazing experience for its guests. The observation pods offer two 20" Dobsonian telescopes with an introductory training session, a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some magnificent sights.

Summerleaze Lodge, Bude. Sleeps four. From £375 for three nights.

The sunseekers have gone home, the surf is home to only the committed surfer and Cornwall is the perfect place to curl up and rediscover yourself and your loved one. West Candra Barn offers direct access on to the open moorland of Bodmin, perfect if you're looking for complete tranquillity. The antidote to chain hotels, the barn is decked out with an intriguing array of retro and olde worlde items and decor.

West Candra Barn, Bodmin Moor. Sleeps two. From £277 for three nights.

Watergate Bay Hotel has a three-night foodie getaway this autumn. Take a stroll along an empty beach, have a dip in the surf and warm up by the log fire in the Swim Club followed by a meal in one of three of Cornwall's best restaurants. Break includes a Standard House room, a dinner at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall, dinner in the Beach Hut right up from the beaches, as well as a dinner at the hotel's newest restaurant, Zacry's.

The Autumn Taste of the Bay package from £297 pp.

watergatebay.co.uk

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are among the most picturesque in the world. Beyond the arcs of white sand and turquoise waters, Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly, also offers those out for aesthetic thrills, hours of fulfillment with its vast art display. The collection, comparable to that of Tate St Ives, is one of the most extensive collections of 20th-century and British modern art connected with Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Dotted across the island, on display in accommodation and the island's restaurants, guests will find works by Hepworth, Frost and Fedden. Create your own work with West Cornwall based artist, Maggie O'Brien, who will host a dedicated painting break 1 - 6 October. The trip includes flights from Land's End, island transfer, five nights' dinner, bed and breakfast at the New Inn, welcome reception and entrance to Abbey Garden.

From £825 per person

tresco.co.uk