be In all tastes but a stay here nill certainly be a memorable espet’icnce.
What’s the damage? linin £300 per night. litkli.
Booking HIHZ‘) 732(01
n n n.lrt iggtttatitii'hotelcottk
Lottery winners
ll yntt'xc suddenly come into a lnrtune and need some help redistributing it. consider booking :\uchtermuchty is most palatial pad tor the night. With nine bedrooms to choose lrnnt. the the- star. lbth century \lyi'es ('astle is normally rented ntit to larger groups. but on Valentine's Day you can book it lnr Inn. Not tliat you'll be alone; rental cntttcs nith a stall nl~ Icn. nhn are
ready to sei'\e _\otl alternnon tea. champagne in
the castle‘s turret. a picnic on the beach. a candlelit dinner or nhatey er else your heart's desire. 'l'hosc til it scttsilhc disposition shottltl be named lltttl ltt'cttkl‘ttsl in bed is scl'\ ed [0 the sound nl' pipes.
What’s the damage? Rate {2.000 per night. ttll-illc‘lllslH‘.
Booking 0| 33/ 828350, n n n.nt_\ rescastle.cotn
Old-fashioned romantics
You can haye your nnn sneet loxe-in it you rent a Romany caraxan in \Vest \Vales. Sleeping Inn. the gypsy cai'a\an is set in an acre ol' riyerside tneadon. nith bathroom and kitchen l'acilitics in a separate cabin. just a ten steps an a). his rented out by ethical cottage rental agency. l'lltlcl' The Thatch. nhich specialises in renmating derelict buildings tising traditional methods and drops its prices substantially in ninter. to generate year-round custom l'nr local businesses. 'l‘hey‘re as caring and sharing nhen
V. U.
Romany caravan
“.-
5 e.
‘10 ‘fiw .
7 I
it comes to their customers. Inn. (ittests are e\ en g‘lH‘lt littl natct‘ lNilllC\.
What’s the damage? l-‘rom £1 15 for Inn nights. sell—catering.
Booking 0| 23‘)
H5 | 4 l0.n n n .tindet‘thethatchctruk
New romantics
l-or anyone nhn has recently caught the lnxebug. this is the [k‘l‘lccl place 10 seal the deal. \tillilllg says ‘lnxe tne‘ like n hisking your nottld—be amour In a cosy Scottish ln\e~nest and l.nn Shore. 20 steps lrnm the sea. is just the place tor the job. Set in the coastal \illage nl‘ Whitehills. outside lianll. it may be a traditional lisherman‘s cottage limit the outside but there‘s nothing cnmentional abotit its recently relurbished interior. Sleeping Inn. it l'eatures a bright. attic bedroom. a sly lish li\ ing and dining room and a contemporary kitchen and bathroom.
What’s the damage? l’rom £350 per n eek. sell—catering.
Booking 07030 433704. n n n. l Ulnn shnre.com
Sociable qastronauts
l’cl'lhsltit'cK \lttttttcllylc .\lhot' hotel boasts sotth oi the most heart—stopping \‘iens in Scotland. 'l‘here non't be much time tor ga/ing ottt at the neighbouring mountains and loch il‘ you book into room ll. though. One ol‘ the hotel's most tlcczttlcltl rooms. lls \ttsl ttlltl \‘L‘l'_\ sl_\'lisll bathroom comes nith his‘n‘hers slipper baths. .lust don‘t soak Inn long. or you‘ll miss out on a pie-dinner drink at the bar. The hotel‘s eccentric chel/nn net'. Tom l.en is. skill'ully steers comersatinn along so you‘ll end tip chatting anay In other guests rather than languishing in loner Valentines coupledntn.
What’s the damage? Double rooms start from
n a;
achyle Mhor Hotel
W5 per night. Bats. Room ll costs from £235 per night. 8&8.
Booking 01877 384022.
n n n .mnnachy lemhorcom
Itchy-footed Valentines
\Vant In make sure you get Valentine's Day oil' on the right track‘.’ Then consider booking a berth just for [no on the (‘aledonian sleeper. (‘Iimb on board at lnyerness. Aberdeen. Fort William. (ilasgon'. lidinburgh or Various other destinations en route. head down In the Lounge (‘ar bar for a celebratory drink as you start rolling south. then snuggle tip in your bunks for a night on the rails bel‘ore n'aking up to a (basic) breakfast in bed before you arrive at London liustnn lt'esh tor a day nttt in the big smoke. It you really nant to do things in style. book to trayel back the same nay that night.
What’s the damage? Various tickets and fares are ayailable btit standard apex sleeper fares cost from UN return from lidinburgh to London. Booking 08457 550033. n'n'n.lirstscotrail.com
Serious escapists
The High Cabin. in Wales. is possibly the country‘s most elaborately decorated cabin. Mod cons here include satellite TV. a DVD library. a hi-tech kitchen and even an outdoor hot tub but the real appeal is the setting. Directions are given on a need-Io-k'non' basis but it‘s no secret that the cabin looks ottt over some of Britain’s most spectacular scenery. tucked high on a wooded
High Cabin
ridge above the (‘onwy Valley. II'~ men} and managed by the nearby (iroes lnn. so there's also plenty of scope for a cosy pre-dinner pint. What’s the damage? From £195 per night for [no nith some food included.
Booking (ll-192 650545. n'n'wgroesinncom
Green wellie-wearers
This pint-si/ed cottage sleeps just two and comes complete with a cream-coloured Rayburn. n'ond-burning stch‘ and cosy attic bedroom (reached \‘l‘d a ladder). As green as it is pretty. it's set on a working organic farm by the Galloway coast and gets its electricity from a small wind turbine. This does mean there’s no TV or other power-gUZIling gadgets. but who needs those n'hen you can set off along the neighbouring beach for romantic hand-in-hand walks or polish oil the delicious homemade cakes the owner leayes for guests'.’
What’s the damage? From £150 for three nights. sell—catering.
Booking 0 l 988 600694. n'n'n'galltin'ayht)useestateco.uk
Rhiannon Batten is the author of Higher Ground: How To Travel Responsibly Without Roughing It (Virgin, £12.99).
’1‘ Jan—14 Feb 2008 THE LIST 25