Love’s in the air this winter
AFTER the hectic festive period, now’s the ideal time to relax – and what better way to do that than by spending some time alone with your loved one on a romantic midweek break? Here KATIE ROWE suggests some loved-up locations with a difference...
THE LAKE DISTRICT
The Lake District is not only characterised by sparkling lakes and snow-capped peaks sweeping up from glorious countryside, it’s also a place full of charming village pubs, award-winning restaurants – including Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume – and luxury shoreside hotels that make a romantic break here an unforgettable experience.
Hire a rowing boat with Windermere Lake Cruises (windermere-lakecruises.co.uk) and float away from it all in quiet intimacy. Alternatively, float among the clouds on a Virgin hot-air balloon flight (virginballoonflights.co.uk), where you’ll see the very best views of England’s biggest National Park – then toast the experience with a glass of bubbly.
THE COTSWOLDS
For an alternative spin on romance, pull on your driving gloves and explore the Cotswolds’ nostalgic sights behind the wheel of an old-fashioned Jag on one of four vintage-themed driving tours. Stop off at medieval villages and dip into antiques shops, tea rooms, olde-worlde pubs and a Roman museum filled with original mosaics. Maps can be downloaded from cotswoldsvintagetours.com.
Sticking with the nostalgia theme, you’ll find one of the finest examples of a traditional English garden nestled in the Cotswolds. Designed by William Kent in the early 18th Century, Rousham House’s landscape garden is a virtual time capsule. It remains almost as he left it, decorated with follies and burbling with cascades.
SUFFOLK
Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, Dunwich Heath is one of the more remote parts of Suffolk. Bring your loved one – and even your four-legged friend – here to while away the hours on the National Trust-owned beach surrounded by sandy cliffs and lowlands filled with fauna and teeming with rare wildlife such as Dartford warblers and nightjars.
It’s a hot-spot for ramblers and nature-lovers who can be found on the surrounding nature trails, but it’s also a great place for a romantic stroll with nothing but the sound of crashing waves and bird calls filling the air.
HARROGATE
No holiday in Harrogate is complete without a stop off at the Turkish Baths. The 19th Century baths are a Victorian icon and the most historically complete of their kind in the UK, with keyhole arches and Moorish-style tiles covering the floors and walls. The indulgent treatments match the exotic interior, with aromatic massages and candle-oil massages on offer.
Once you’ve dipped into one Victorian pastime, move on to another at Bettys Tea Room: a Yorkshire institution with an extensive tea list and a range of indulgent desserts.