Old windmills, dramatic lighthouses, cosy cabins – even old railway carriages… A unique holiday home is the perfect setting for your Valentine’s Day break. Explore woodlands, footpaths and wild winter coasts before heading back to your wonderfully quirky and luxuriously comfortable retreat.
Make this Valentine’s Day a real celebration with a short stay in one of our most remarkable holiday properties.
What could be more romantic than a Victorian folly or ancient Scottish broch? We have an incredible selection of unique historic buildings among our collection, from boat houses to converted churches. Admire the sweeping views from the top of your tower or windmill, or snuggle down in your cosy old bothy. For something truly unique, how about a neoclassical temple, set in sweeping parkland?
A lakeside location is always romantic. Picture it: taking a boat out into the water from your own private shore, or sitting at a sunset table as the water gently laps against the walls. From old boat houses in country estates to Scandi-style log cabins on fishing lakes, we have a lovely choice of beautiful waterside holiday cottages across the UK.
If you prefer your water a little wilder, look out for unique holiday cottages by the sea. Curl up in the window watching the waves or head out for a bracing walk along the windswept sands. February is the perfect time for a romantic coastal escape, when the beaches empty of visitors and the harbourside streets are quiet. Old fishermen’s cottages and fish cellars make cosy retreats for two – but if you really love the sea, look out for converted lighthouses and keeper’s cottages.
How about a Nordic cabin nestled in a clearing, or a shepherd’s hut at the edge of the woods? A forest break is all about cosiness as you settle down for the night in your own woodland nest, separated from the everyday world by the trees. During the day, the pale dappled light and fresh, late-winter scents of the woods create idyllic surroundings for a stroll. After a few days of forest bathing, you’ll emerge feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Feel like the only couple in the world… Book a remote retreat in the wilds of Scotland for Valentine’s holiday. Miles away from the nearest main road or village, the skies are clear and so, so dark at night, and the only sounds are the call of night birds and little rustlings among the trees. If you want time together, just the two of you, a secluded escape cottage could be just what you’re looking for.
Maybe you don’t want to escape to the wilderness for your Valentine’s short break. We have unique retreats and romantic cottages close to towns and cities across the UK, so you can easily enjoy fine dining or an evening at the theatre. Look out for elegant apartments and townhouses in traditionally romantic cities like Bath, Edinburgh and York, or converted barns and chapels in nearby villages.
What luxurious extra details do you want for your Valentine’s Day escape? Woodburners, four-poster beds, tables for two with romantic rural views… We have a collection of cottages with hot tubs, and some of our properties come with access to swimming pools and spa facilities (book a couples’ massage as a relaxing Valentine’s Day treat). If your holiday cottage is part of a larger estate, you might be able to add extra little luxuries like a breakfast hamper or champagne delivery.
To find your luxury Valentine’s Day short break, take a look at our collection of unique holiday cottages. There’s still time to find your perfect romantic idyll.
Are you looking for a beautiful place for your British self-catering holiday? Find inspiration by researching the country’s many National Landscapes, formerly known as “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty” (AONBs).
There are 46 National Landscapes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with magnificent National Scenic Areas in Scotland. When an area is designated as a National Landscape, it becomes protected under law, ensuring that its beauty, its communities and its wildlife habitats are preserved.
If you’re dreaming of fresh air and tranquillity among stunning scenery, or can’t wait to stride out into the great outdoors, these unique places make excellent holiday destinations. Discover our picks here, and read on for more inspiration.
When it comes to walking holidays, you’re spoilt for choice in Britain. Stride through the varied landscapes of the Peak District or along the dramatic Pennine Way, or enjoy the gently rolling countryside in Sussex. We love walking the unspoilt Northumberland coast, and in the summer, there’s nowhere like the famous South West Coast Path, which takes in several National Landscapes along its 630-mile way.
If we had to choose one place in the UK for a walking holiday, it would be beautiful Cumbria, where there are three National Landscapes as well as the Lake District National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking routes vary from gentle ambles around the lakes to more arduous mountain terrain: there’s a path for everyone.
As an island, Britain has miles and miles of stunning coastline. Head west to North Wales and the beaches that encircle pretty Ynys Mon (Anglesey), or explore the rugged coast of the Llyn Peninsula, dotted with castles and harbour towns. In England, there are National Landscapes along the famous Cornish coast, heading eastwards to both Devon’s coasts. Holidays in all these lovely locations can be packed full of watersports and sea-based adventures, or you can simply enjoy spending your days on the sand, breathing in that salty air. There’s nothing like it.
If you love a traditional seaside holiday, there are some wonderful Victorian resorts and smaller fishing towns along the East Anglian coast. Here are some of our favourite spots for a family getaway, from fish and chips on Southwold Pier to a gentle sail along the Norfolk Broads.
Holidaying in an AONB or National Park doesn’t have to mean endless outdoor adventures. For many of us, a holiday in a National Landscape is simply about sitting back and admiring the view. If you dream of sitting back in a comfy chair in the window or on the balcony, watching the sea and sky change with the day (add a good book and a cup of tea for maximum relaxation points), take a look at our holiday cottages with sea views, or explore our collection of secluded escapes for some peace and quiet.
Our small island home has such a diverse landscape: don’t automatically choose a coastal cottage for outstanding views. You could wake up to the dappled light of a woodland setting or to the patchwork fields and farmlands of the Howardian Hills. We love the unspoilt beauty of the Kent Downs and the plunging gorges and rocky outcrops of the Mendip Hills in the west.
Find your perfect countryside stay in our Rural Retreats collection.
With its softly rolling hills and honey-hued cottages, the Cotswolds is probably England’s most famous National Landscape. Visitors come here to explore a way of life as well as to enjoy the views and the footpaths. The 787 square miles of National Landscape is home to the country’s prettiest villages and, you’ll be pleased to hear, some of the country’s best small-scale food and drink producers.
If your idea of a good walk involves stopping at welcoming old inns and picking up locally made picnic treats to enjoy en route, this is the place for you. It’s even better if you have a dog to join you on your journeys, and there’s plenty of wildlife parks and visitor centres for families to enjoy.
Over the last few years, many of us have come to love forest bathing. It’s simply immersing yourself in the world of the woods, drinking in the scents and sounds of the forest. From the dappled green light of full summer to the blazing shades of autumn, the woods are beautiful at any time of year. For the more adventurous, you can do far more than bathe your senses in the woods – look out for vertiginous canopy walks, zip wires and adventure playgrounds
England and Wales’ National Landscapes feature plenty of woodlands, including Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland and the leafy Wye Valley. We have luxury lodges in wooded areas across the UK: perfect if you love to wake up to the sound of birdsong and gently rustling leaves.
In Scotland, there’s a slightly different system of designation to the National Landscapes of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland’s “National Scenic Areas” cover 13% of the country, from stunning mountain ranges to coastal landscapes. Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and The Trossachs are all covered by this designation, along with other much-loved areas such as the Shetland Islands and the Cairngorm Mountains (there’s some crossover between the NSAs and National Parks).
Wherever you stay in Scotland, you’ll be surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Spend time among the hills, lochs and mountains of this majestic country, in that matchless clean air, and you’ll soon feel all your cobwebs start to blow away. Choose one of our remote holiday cottages or lodges for dark, starry skies and peaceful days.
At Handpicked Cottages, we have a range of luxury holiday cottages across the country. Take a look at our Lochs and Lakes collection for example, one of many collections of cottages in beautiful areas.
We’re so lucky to have such beauty on our doorstep, from gently rolling countryside to dramatic mountain ranges, and of course, that long and varied coast. What will you see from your holiday cottage?
If you have any questions, you can use our form below to send an email and we’ll be in touch.