Bonny Scotland will steal your heart away

Valentine’s Day is nearly here and if you want to impress your other half, Robin knows a few spots for a romantic break

I t’s coming around to that time of year when thoughts turn to romance around Valentine’s Day. You could just buy your loved one a card and a box of chocolates, but how about something really special? How about a romantic Scottish escape for two?

As a travel writer I’ve been to more than 100 countries and I find Scotland one of the most romantic. From the cobbled lanes of Edinburgh’s chocolatebox pretty Old Town, through to the rugged hills and sweeping beaches of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland offers an epic backdrop to a spot of romance.

Let’s kick our Cupid quest off in Edinburgh. A romantic retreat I really like is the Chester Residence (www. chester-residence.com). You can enjoy the run of a lavish New Town apartment and cook up a storm in your designer kitchen, with a bar on hand, too, unusually for an apartment-style accommodation. I like that the rooms on the lower level have direct access to a wee private garden you can relax in, just the two of you.

If you want to head out for a romantic meal slip along to Le Di-vin, an ace wine bar run by the ever-impressive Virginie, who also owns the restaurant La P’tite Folie next door. As well as a superb selection of wines from all over France and further afield, they now also serve sharing platters laden with gorgeous French cheeses, charcuterie and jamon serrano. For loved-up foodies, this is a real treat.

Pushing right out to the edge of the city, how about an escape par deux in my home town of South Queensferry? Orocco Pier (www.oroccopier.co.uk) is the place to stay, right on the cobbled, historic High Street and overlooking the water – most of the stylish rooms boast views of the Firth of Forth and the trio of epic Forth bridges. They have the Antico bar on hand, as well as the Samphire Restaurant where you can dine by candlelight while soaking up the views.

South Queensferry’s High Street has a number of wee shops to ease through and there are myriad walking options for a heart-warming stroll. I recommend heading into the Dalmeny Estate, which sports an all-weather path that follows the coast east back towards the city of Edinburgh proper.

South of Edinburgh, in the Borders, is an adults-only romantic retreat my wife and I try to visit every year. Roulotte Retreat (http://roulotteretreat.com) conjures up a proper sense of getting away from it all. The sprinkling of French roulottes – think seriously plush French wooden caravans that are more luxury railway carriage than traditional British caravan – that lie around a wee meadow here are lovely. Lovingly styled by the owner, Avril Berry, the roulotttes are all themed differently. (My favourite is the Rajasthani styled Maharani). They all have comfy beds, proper showers and a wee kitchen where you can put together a romantic dinner. There is even the option of securing a roulotte with an outdoor hot tub.

If you book into Roulotte Retreat make sure to visit Scott’s View on the way down or back up. This scenic viewpoint was a favourite of Sir Walter Scott, who felt it offered the finest vista in all of his beloved Borders, a view awash with hills, forests and the snaking River Tweed. It’s the sort of viewpoint you will want to hold hands at and savour together.

Heading north into Fife, if you and your loved one appreciate great food The Peat Inn (www.thepeatinn.co.uk) is a superb option. Mercurial head chef Geoffrey Smeddle works wonders here in his Michelin-starred kitchen in the hamlet of the same name. The food