Some friendly advice to all you lovers out there…cheesy cards, soppy soft toys and flowers from the petrol station are not the way to Valentine’s Day success.
Then of course there's nothing quite like a minibreak in some of the UK's most romantic destinations if you're looking to spend some quality time together away from the daily grind.
Get yourself in the good books with a night away at a romantic retreat. Be it dinner and dancing, a cosy cabin or a hot tub under the stars, here’s a collection of sweet stays guaranteed to warm their heart.
Check out some of our top picks below...
Lovely Lake, District lodges
Stirring walks around glistening lakes, through ancient woodland and picturesque villages – the Lake District always wins hearts, so indulge with your loved one in the next level of luxury in one of Landal North Lakes new lodges, The Sheraton Retreat.
These lodges boast super king beds, a personal sauna and steam room, open-plan living and an outdoor lounge area with covered private outdoor hot tub.
Onsite facilities include a wellness centre. The Solway Coast and the market town of Keswick are nearby too. Three-night break for two in February from £909.
Find out more at landal.co.uk.
Surfing and stargazing
Overlooking Newquay’s famous surfing HQ, Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is a much-loved destination for wild Cornish adventures thanks to its prime location.
Book one of its ‘Best Rooms’ with sweeping views of the crashing waves, with sea-view bathtubs and outdoor balconies – perfect for surf-watching and stargazing.
A suite boasts a spacious lounge area, private balcony and an in-room hot tub. From £133 per couple on February 14, including breakfast and complimentary access to Fistral Spa.
Find out more at fistralbeachhotel.co.uk.
Treetop treat
Book one of six lakeside Treetop Hideaways with elevated terraces and outdoor bathtubs for a memorable couples getaway.
Set among 17 acres of mature, rhododendron woodlands in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, these rural retreats provide quiet solitude in leafy surroundings.
You can relax in hammocks, bathe under the stars, cook marshmallows on the fire pit, row your boat from your own private mooring and feel at one with nature.
Then venture off into Woodhall Spa, one of Lincolnshire’s most attractive villages, set in pine woods. From £209-£289 per night.
Find out more at farmstay.co.uk.
No kids allowed
A child-free haven with grown-up activities and party nights, Warner Hotels offer special two and four-night Valentine’s breaks across 15 country and coastal properties throughout the UK.
Arrive at Alvaston Hall, Cheshire, on February 13, for a two-night stay featuring musical theatre star Laura Magann, with breakfasts and three-course evening meals for £149pp.
Or go for a Valentine’s escape to Warners’ Bembridge Coast resort, on the beachfront on the Isle of Wight, for £179.25pp.
Find out more at warnerleisurehotels.co.uk.
Grand design
Hidden in the Herefordshire hills, The DugOut in Orcop is a magical holiday home for those who like things quirky and wholesome.
With round rooms, handmade furnishings, exposed wood and a turfed roof, this house was a hit when it appeared on Channel 4’s Grand Designs.
Slow and steady was the owners’ approach and it took them years to construct.
Couples can indulge in an evening of pampering with a free-standing bathtub, enjoy views over three counties from the private garden and get cosy next to a wood burning stove with a glass of bubbly.
There’s seasonal fruit and vegetables from the on-site self-serve shop or head to the local pub, the Fountain Inn, for some authentic Thai food. Seven nights from £1,054.
Find out more at sykescottages.co.uk.
Let’s dance
Waltz off for a romantic weekend at the Metropole Hotel in the historic spa town of Llandrindod Wells, in the Elan Valley, mid Wales.
The one-night Valentine’s weekend break includes a three-course candlelit dinner-dance with live entertainment on February 11 and Welsh breakfast, plus use of the Rock Spa leisure facilities from £155 for two sharing.
Add on a second night dinner B&B on either February 10 or February 12 for a total of £270.
Find out more at rarebits.co.uk.
Go starry-eyed
Nothing beats a castle for a romantic retreat, surprise proposal or a honeymoon getaway.
Stay anytime in February at Glenapp, a 21-bedroom fairytale castle on the Ayrshire coast, and get the romance package of two nights in a castle suite, bottle of champagne, cream tea, three-course dinner, rose-petal turndown and breakfast in bed.
The hotel is situated beside Galloway Forest Park, the UK’s first Dark Sky Park and guests can experience the same expansive skies from the comfort of the castle’s Victorian walled garden.
An astronomer will guide you through the constellations using night binoculars while you enjoy a special Glenapp “tiddly” hot chocolate. On clear nights guests might be able to spot the Northern Lights, £199pppn.
Find out more at glenappcastle.com.
Wake up Maggie
Maggie is a beautifully furnished 1947 Streamlite Rover caravan, in a private orchard with beautiful views near Vowchurch village in Herefordshire.
Create intimate dinners on the little stove inside and sip morning coffee on the outdoor decking space.
Indulge in long romantic walks in the Brecon Beacons National Park and explore Hay-on-Wye or picturesque Hereford. £100 per night, two-night minimum stay.
Find out more at independentcottages.co.uk.
Pop the question
Book one of three five-star barns at Wrenbury, near Nantwich, and and you could add to the 100 marriage proposals which have taken place there.
At these award-winning boltholes, romantic stays, anniversaries, minimoons, honeymoons, birthdays and babymoons are a speciality – and the surroundings are simply the sweetest.
Mezzanine bedrooms tucked up in the eaves of the barns look down onto cosy living areas with real fires. There are roll top baths, some in front of the fire, others are outdoors under glass canopies affording a view of the stars too.
Pick from a range of VIP treats like the champagne candlelit arrival where you’ll be welcomed by a flicker of candles, fire roaring, your favourite track on surround sound and a bottle of champagne on ice.
Or go full-on Cinderella and hire a horse drawn carriage for a romantic ride through the Cheshire lanes complete with on-board picnic and champagne. From £399 to £699 for a two-night stay.
Find out more at cheshireboutiquebarns.co.uk.
Keep it classic
The Devonshire Arms Hotel and Spa is a Grade II listed former hunting lodge set on the Bolton Abbey estate near Skipton.
Dating back to the 18th century, it is one of Yorkshire’s finest country hotels, with an inglenook open fire in reception, sumptuous lounges, original artwork, two restaurants, including the acclaimed 3 AA Rosette Burlington, and a spa housed in an ancient barn.
With prosecco on arrival and a choice of dining or spa treatments, couples can tailor their own Valentine’s escape.
Overnight stay on February 14 from £290, includes home-baked cakes in the afternoon, £40 meal allowance for the Brasserie restaurant or £40 towards a spa treatment, a Macallan whisky cocktail nightcap and morning newspaper.
Find out more at devonshirehotels.co.uk.
Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Fancy a bit of Beckham-style bling this Valentine’s Day? Stay in a luxe log cabin where Romeo Beckham and his girlfriend Mia Regan spent a pre-Christmas break.
The Roe and The Red are two bespoke boltholes that form part of the family-run In The Vale cabins near Keswick in the Lake District.
With private wood burning hot tubs and dramatic views over Blencathra, they are ideal for a romantic escape in rural surroundings. Wooden king-sized beds face huge bi-folding doors to maximise the panorama.
Then roam like Romeo on a visit to Catbells Fell and Derwentwater. From £102 pppn for a seven-night stay or £119pppn for a two-night stay.
Find out more at holidaycottages.co.uk.
