5 Cosy Cottages For A Romantic Break

Sometimes the best thing you can do for each other is simply get away. No agenda, no commitments, just a change of scenery, a good fire, and time that's entirely your own.

Whether you're after wild countryside, a Norfolk beach on your doorstep, or a tucked-away Cotswolds hideaway, these five Sykes cottages make an excellent case for booking something sooner rather than later.

Celyn, Bontuchel, Denbighshire

Celyn. Picture Courtesy of Sykes

A beautifully designed single-storey cabin set on the grounds of a working farm near Cyffylliog, with sweeping countryside views and a genuine sense of seclusion.

It's a property built for two, the open-plan living space has sliding glass doors that frame the landscape beautifully, and the kitchen is well equipped for those evenings when you'd rather cook something together than venture out.

When you do venture out, The Red Lion is just a mile away for a proper home-cooked meal and local ales. The real draw, though, is the private hot tub on the patio, an evening under the North Wales stars with a glass of something cold is hard to improve upon.

For those wanting more of the region, Llyn Brenig, Ruthin Castle Spa, Snowdonia National Park and the coast at Traeth Pensarn are all within easy reach. A genuinely special base for a couples' escape into rural Wales.

Book The Celyn >>

Spring Cottage, Sea Palling, Norfolk

Spring Cottage. Picture Courtesy of Sykes

About as close to the sea as you can get without actually sleeping on the beach, the shore is just 0.2 miles from the front door, and on a still night you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves from the king-size bedroom with its double-aspect windows.

This is a characterful mid-terrace cottage presented to a lovely standard, with a woodburning stove in the sitting room, a well-equipped kitchen with a stable door opening onto the patio, and a separate dressing room that makes the whole place feel just a little more considered than your average coastal rental.

Dogs are welcome too, making it an easy choice for couples who travel with a four-legged companion. The nearby towns of Stalham and Norwich offer plenty when you want a change from the coast, but honestly, the pull of the beach and a bag of fish and chips is hard to resist. Adults only.

Book The Spring Cottage >>

Anvil Cottage, Churchill, Near Chipping Norton, Cotswolds

Anvil Cottage. Picture Courtesy of Sykes

Exactly the kind of place you picture when you imagine a romantic Cotswolds break, a quaint cottage tucked away in a quiet corner of a picturesque village, with a woodburning stove, a garden with cottage-style planting, and a fantastic pub almost literally on the doorstep.

With two king-size bedrooms each with en-suite bathrooms, it works just as well for two couples travelling together as it does for a family, and the space is genuinely comfortable rather than just pretty.

Beyond the garden gate is a playing field with a cricket pitch, and just beyond that the charming towns of Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold, both ideal for an unhurried afternoon of exploring. A proper Cotswolds retreat.

Book The Anvil Cottage >>

Cosy Cottage, Ambleside, Lake District

Cosy Cottage. Picture Courtesy of Sykes

Lives up to its name entirely. Set over three floors and nestled among some of the oldest cottages in Ambleside, it's a lovingly refurbished Lakeland property with real character, slate worktops, local artwork, exposed brick, and a woodburning stove in the open-plan sitting area that makes it feel like somewhere you'd genuinely want to spend a rainy afternoon.

Both bedrooms are king-size, one with an en-suite walk-in shower, and there's a bathroom with a full bath for those evenings when something more indulgent is called for.

The village itself is excellent, with independent shops, cafés, restaurants and watersports facilities close by, while Lake Windermere, Scafell Pike, Rydal Cave and Grasmere are all on your doorstep. For couples who want to fill their days with walking, wild swimming and good food, this is a natural choice.

Book The Cosy Cottage >>

Clamoak Cottage, Near Bere Alston, Devon

Clamoak Cottage. Picture Courtesy of Sykes

Something a little different: a romantic hideaway dating from 1815, set on the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and resting on the Tamara Coast to Coast Way, with views over the Tamar Estuary that are, by any measure, spectacular.

The conservatory is the heart of the property, ideal for morning coffee, quiet reading, or watching the light change over the water, while in cooler months the woodburning stove beneath original beams in the sitting room makes for an equally compelling alternative.

Both the sitting room and conservatory look directly out over the estuary, where birds drift over the mudflats and dinghies, sailboats and kayaks pass by below.

The kitchen is generously equipped with both induction and AGA cooking, and there's a terrace and lawned garden outside for warmer evenings. Tavistock is a short drive for markets and excellent food, and the wider area offers walking, cycling, fishing, golf and some genuinely beautiful coastline.

Two well-behaved dogs are welcome. A cottage that earns the word romantic without having to try.

Book The Clamoak Cottage >>

All five properties are available to book through Sykes Cottages.