Spoil your loved one with a weekend away in Yorkshire this Valentine’s Day. We’ve rounded up some of the most romantic places in God’s Own Country. From city breaks to outdoor adventures, there’s bound to be something that inspires you to getaway together for a while.
Yorkshire Dales
This vast, wild and rolling green landscape just begs to be explored. If you’re an adventurous couple, the Yorkshire Dales will make for a perfect Valentine’s getaway.
Choose to stay in one of the many boutique hotels, like the five-star Yorebridge House in Bainbridge, Wensley Dale, and splash out on one of their hot tub rooms. For foodies, book a stay at The Star Inn at Harome, owned by renowned Yorkshire chef Andrew Pern, where you can enjoy a Michelin star dinner and spend the night in one of their beautiful lodge rooms. Or for something a little different, try glamping at somewhere like Camp Katur in Bedale and stay in a luxury Geodome pod.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of quaint towns and villages to visit in the Dales. We’re particularly fond of Richmond, a market town with a towering castle keep in its centre. Pateley Bridge, in the heart of Nidderdale, is another charming market town worth visiting too.
Those adventures we mentioned earlier, you’ll find them at places like Malham Tarn and cove. The colossal white limestone cove really is a sight to behold and there are steps to climb to the top if you’d like to see one of the most breath-taking views in Yorkshire. Or try Aysgarth Falls, probably the most well-known of Yorkshire’s waterfalls, where the water flows down in three huge steps. This local landmark was once sketched by Turner while he was on a tour of the north.
Harrogate
We were bound to include the most famous spa town in Yorkshire (and the place where Slingsby was created), Harrogate, in this guide. This stunning destination will have you falling in love all over again with its charming atmosphere.
Make Rudding Park your base for the weekend. Here you can stay in a luxury lodge, a spacious suite or you can really impress your love with a lavish spa room. There are two fantastic spas in town, Rudding Park and The Turkish Baths, to get your romantic weekend off to a relaxing start. The roof top spa at Rudding is truly special and the fully restored Victorian Turkish Baths will give you a taste of Harrogate’s history, so take your pick!
If you’re a couple who like the outdoors, then the Valley Gardens or RHS Harlow Carr should be on your to-do list. We’d recommend combining the two and walking from Valley Gardens, through the Harlow Hill pine woods and ending up at Harlow Carr. Make sure to take a look around the independent shops and antique centres in the Montpellier Quarter while you’re in town too. You’ll find our store at 5-7 Montpellier Parade, come in to sample some of our award-winning gins.
While away an evening together with a meal at Bettys. The Harrogate Bettys was the first to ever open, back in 1919. Then head to Porco Rosso for a fine wine or a cocktail (or two!) . Or if you fancy doing something a little different, why not book on to one of our gin experiences? Become a master distiller and create a bespoke bottle of gin to take home or find out more about the history of gin. Both experiences involve tasting lots of delicious gin!
York
This historic walled city is the ideal place to whisk your other half away to for a romantic break. We’d recommend catching the train to York station and making your way around on foot. That’s the beauty of this picture-perfect city, it’s small enough to walk everywhere, which is pretty novel these days! Check in at The Grand Hotel and Spa in the heart of the city or opt to stay at the luxurious Hotel Du Vin and resist hopping straight into that relaxing looking roll top bath because there’s so much to see!
The city walls are an absolute must, the whole circuit will take you two hours and you’ll see some breath-taking views along the way. Be sure to do a spot of shopping on the shambles, a stroll down this medieval street will transport you both back in time. Of course, you can’t visit York without taking a tour of the 800 year old, world-famous York Minster. We recommend the tower tour, where you’ll find yourself climbing the 275 steps of the central tower.
If you’re in need of a cosy lunch spot, tuck yourselves away in a quiet corner of Mannion & Co and share a delicious grazing platter. And if you’re looking to experience the quirky side of the city, head to the House of Trembling Madness for evening drinks.
The Yorkshire Coast
A weekend road trip along the Yorkshire coast sounds like a dream to us. Book a couple of cosy B&Bs and prepare for that fresh sea air. Start at Filey Beach, its quieter than the neighbouring Bridlington and Scarborough beaches, which makes it the perfect spot for a romantic stroll.
Then, if you’re looking for some good old-fashioned fun, make your way along to Scarborough’s South Bay for a turn in the arcades. The sea front is lined with eateries selling all of the treats you’d expect, from fish and chips and fresh crab, to candy floss and sticks of rock. Next, it’s Robin Hood’s Bay, for stories of Smugglers and a chance to glimpse a little changed part of the coast.
Carry on to the iconic Whitby, with the legendary Abbey towering above the harbour town on the cliff top. There’s so much more than just a beach here. Make sure to climb the 199 steps from the town up to the Abbey and visit the ruins that inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. Stop under the whale bone arch for a while or sit by the working harbour watching the colourful fishing boats come and go.
We would also recommend dinner at The Star Inn The Harbour, which is another of Andrew Pern’s exceptional restaurants. Tuck into classic fish and chips, devilled whitebait or roast rump of Yorkshire lamb followed by a visit to the ice cream parlour for some childhood classics with a twist.