This Valentine’s why not spend quality time together with a beautiful scene of loch, mountain, coast or cityscape spread before you? From luxury city apartments and holiday homes with hot tubs to idyllic island escapes and beach retreats, Scotland offers a vast range of possibilities for unique Valentine’s holidays, with backdrops to truly sweep you off your feet.
Here are five ideas for a special Valentine’s getaway.
A Scrumptious Seafood Dinner
Scotland is heralded across the world for its fine fare, so make sure you savour the mouth-watering seafood and fresh local produce during your stay as well as the breath-taking scenery. You could buy seafood straight from the harbour and whip up a romantic feast for two in your holiday home or dine out at a seafood restaurant.
There are plenty of places in Scotland where you could enjoy a scrumptious seafood dinner during your Valentine’s break, particularly along its lengthy coastline. Oban is known as the ‘Seafood Capital‘ of Scotland, with a number of fantastic places to dine, and Argyll has a Seafood Trail featuring eight top seafood restaurants.
The East Neuk of Fife is also known for its seafood, with many lovely restaurants and places to buy fresh seafood. And what could be better than enjoying a fabulous meal right by the sea?
Loch Lomond Sea Planes
For a unique experience, you could take a trip with Loch Lomond Sea Planes – surely one of the most romantic ways to experience some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes. Imagine taking off from the water and soaring over the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, taking in the magnificent loch scenery and west coast vistas. Or seeing a bird’s eye view of the Isle of Skye, the Small Isles and the Outer Hebrides in an unforgettable seaplane journey. Definitely a romantic retreat to remember.
Castle Trail
When it comes to romantic backdrops you can’t beat a castle. You can, of course, find castles scattered all across Scotland but Aberdeenshire is home to the country’s only dedicated Castle Trail. There are 17 castles to discover, including the fairytale-esque Craigievar Castle (said to have inspired Walt Disney); the atmospheric ruins of Dunnottar Castle, perched on the edge of the North Sea; and Castle Fraser, with its lovely, secluded walled garden – perfect for a romantic stroll.
The West Highland Line
A trip on what was once voted ‘the most scenic train journey in the world‘ would be a wonderful experience for a special Valentine’s getaway. This incredibly beautiful train journey takes you from Glasgow to Fort William and onto Mallaig, with the option of heading west at Crianlarich to Oban, and is frequently included in lists of top train journeys.
With beautiful loch and mountain views, stunning West Coast scenery and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct (featured in Harry Potter), it is sure to leave you spellbound.
Stargazing
If Scotland’s scenery hasn’t already made your loved one starry-eyed, why not spend an evening basking in the beauty of starry, starry skies? The Galloway Forest Park in the south of Scotland is the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, where over 7,000 stars and planets are visible.
The Isle of Skye is also home to some dazzling dark skies, with nine ‘Dark Skye Discovery Sites‘ that are perfect for enjoying a romantic evening of stargazing.
And talking of dreamy skies – you might even be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on a clear February night…
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