It so easy to get caught up in the distractions of busy lives that we neglect to give attention to what is most important. Cocoon yourselves away from the rest of the world and rediscover the joys of being able to spend time together on a romantic self-catering break. City and country, coast and mountain, Britain is full of incredible places for you to discover together.
Romantic Beach Breaks
Cornwall and the South West is renowned for the quality of its beaches, art galleries, restaurants, and pubs, making it a top choice for a romantic break. If you don’t want to spend as long travelling, the beaches of Devon and Dorset are just as beautiful.
Foodies should book themselves onto a foraging walk where you will not only learn about the countryside but how to make the most of Mother Nature’s larder. Active couples can explore the coast from the sea on a kayaking tour, while history buffs will be in heaven with places like Plymouth on the doorstep.
Make your own gin in Plymouth, ride the ‘Plymouth Eye’ or share a cream tea in the garden of the Tudor Rose Cafe
The Welsh coastline is lined by a fantastic footpath stretching 870 miles, dotted with secluded empty beaches just perfect for a dip or picnic. We defy you to find more beautiful coastal views anywhere else in the world with lush fields stretching to cliffs fringed with secluded golden shores. There are several stables who offer guided beach horse rides. It’s an exhilarating way to experience the unspoilt beaches of Pembrokeshire, Powys, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in West and South Wales.
The beaches of Wales are just incredible for horse riding
Imagine leaving a trail of footprints as you walk hand in hand along a deserted beach lapped by clear water. Sounds amazing, and it’s even more appealing when you can enjoy beach-side peace and tranquillity less than an hour from Edinburgh! Easily accessible by car or train, beaches like Tyninghame, Seacliff, North Berwick, Dunbar, and Peffersands, are a breath of fresh air, sweeping away distractions and giving you the space you need to focus on each other.
Romantic City Breaks
Britain is liberally sprinkled with wonderful cities to fall in love with. Promenade arm-in-arm along Bath’s Georgian streets before stopping at a café for expertly brewed tea and delicious cake, or tread in the footsteps of the Ancient Romans at the baths after which the city is named. Bristol is another great city in the south west of England, being small enough to really get a feel for it in just a few days but with a vibrant music and food scene to entertain for longer visits.
Who needs Venice when you have punting at Oxford and Cambridge
If history is your thing why not consider Cambridge or Oxford. Home to two of Britain’s oldest universities you can sense the history in every step. Durham, Coventry, Gloucester, and Exeter have amazing cathedrals or keep your history more modern with a visit to Liverpool, home of some of the swingiest music to come out of the 1960s. Belfast and Cardiff are seriously underrated as romantic holiday destinations. Both cities have a strong sense of identity which gives them a unique vibe, and if you can time your visit to Cardiff to fit in with an international rugby match you’ll have the time of your lives!
Romantic Countryside Breaks
Sometimes time rushes past so quickly it simply isn’t possible to appreciate the good things in life. Slow your pace in a secluded country cottage. Wake to the sound of birdsong, spend your days exploring picturesque villages and dining on delicious local food that has never travelled further than a few miles from where it was produced, and your evenings tucked up on a plush sofa in front of an open fire with a generous measure of your favourite drink. Heavenly!
Lake District – the perfect place to get away from it all
The Lake District is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations for the scale of its mountains and beauty of the waters. Some parts get busy in summer but you can avoid throngs of tourists by choosing to stay in villages like Little Town or Grange. Both are set amongst breathtaking countryside with a myriad of walking trails for all abilities nearby, yet are within a convenient distance of larger towns.
Scotland’s expanse of mountains and moors give you more opportunities than anywhere else in the UK to escape to your own private world. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a great place to start. Picnic beside the loch and admire the sun sparkling off the water, encourage each other as you scale the hills on foot or by mountain bike, or simply sit and drink in the serenity as you watch kestrels and ospreys swooping and gliding through the sky.
Pretty villages, historic market towns packed full of independent shops & incredible gastro pubs – the Cotswolds has it all!
The Cotswolds are home to scenery pretty enough to make you feel as if you have stepped into a painting. Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, and Chipping Campden are just three of a clutch of bustling market towns you will never want to leave. With some of the best gastro pubs in the country, an abundance of country houses and gardens to wander around, and a central location in the country, it’s hardly surprising the Cotswolds is such a popular choice for a weekend away.
Choosing Your Romantic Cottage
Book a romantic cottage – you get plenty of space, privacy and maybe even a log fire and hot tub
It is not only the location of your self-catering romantic break that will make your time so enjoyable but the details of your cottage. Heat up a winter weekend with an open fireplace, or make your evenings a delight with a glass of something cold and fizzy in your outdoor hot tub. Even if you plan on spending most of your time gazing into each other’s eyes, a cottage with a view will be appreciated. Your self-catering choice should feel better than a home-away-from-home so take a look at our hand picked romantic cottages for a holiday you’ll never forget.
Make time to spend together and memories to last a lifetime