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Lake District named most romantic destination in UK

More than half of people think they can tell romantic potential of a place from photographs

Tuesday 11 February 2020 14:24 GMT

(Getty Images)

The Lake District has been named as the most romantic destination in the UK in a nationwide poll.

A study of 2,000 British adults discovered the most idyllic spots in the lead up to Valentine’s Day, including St Ives and Loch Lomond.

The popular Cotswolds villages of Bourton-on-the-water and Stratford-upon-Avon also featured, as did Dorset’s Durdle Door.

Windermere in the Lake District took the top spot and Scottish sites made up two of the top 10 places, with Arthur’s Seat joining Loch Lomond.

Although 64 per cent would opt for the countryside when thinking of romantic places, urban sights including the London locations of St Paul’s Cathedral, Little Venice and Greenwich Park made the top 40.

8 best hikes in the UK

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1/88 best hikes in the UK

8 best hikes in the UK

Ben Macdui, Cairngorms National Park

Swap busy Ben Nevis for the scarcely-smaller Ben Macdui, Scotland’s second highest peak at 4,295ft, and scale CairnGorm – which ranks sixth – for good measure. Twelve miles long and likely to take eight to nine hours, a rollercoaster of a hike bagging both begins from the Cairngorm Ski Centre car park. You’ll shadow a run down Cairn Gorm, cross heathery moors and flank the small Coire an Lochain water (walkhighlands.co.uk).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Sandwood Bay Loop, Sutherland

One of Britain’s great beaches, Sandwood Bay’s wind-blasted white sand is inaccessible by road; you must walk a four-mile track from Blairmore – in remotest northwestern Scotland – past small lochs. Its lagoon, supposedly-haunted bothy, crashing waves and spindly sea stack look even better from above. So zigzag up the southern cliff before taking the faint coast path and then crossing bumpy, boggy peat moorland back to the main track (ramblers.org.uk).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Bochlwyd Horseshoe, Snowdonia

Snowdon is Wales’ most famous bluff, but nearby Tryfan is more eye-catching thanks to a shark-fin shape. It forms part of the Bochlwyd Horseshoe, which involves much scrambling over scree fields and – due to some wispy ridges – a head for heights. Veteran hikers are rewarded with scintillating, panoramic Snowdonia vistas and photo-ops on the overhanging Cantilever stone. The slow-going route is only eight miles, but will feel longer (mudandroutes.com).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Scafell Pike via Corridor Route, Lake District

The ways up England’s highest mountain vary in popularity. Leaving the Lakeland hordes to follow an easy path from Wasdale, use instead the Corridor Route to steeply approach Scafell Pike’s quieter north side. After attaining its boulder-strewn, 3,209ft summit, loop back to start-point Seathwaite via burly Broad Crag. Almost ten miles long, this tough circular promises riversides, ravines, a waterfall and four Hewitts – hills over 2,000 feet (mudandroutes.com).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Slieve Binnian Trail, County Down

A challenging circular through Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains which starts off gently before plunging up alongside the attractive Mourne Wall: an early 20th-century dry-stone dyke built to separate cattle from a reservoir below. Though some scrambling is required to reach Slieve Binnian’s 2,449-foot crest, its views – to the Isle of Man on clear days – easily merit the effort, as does a diverse descent past the Blue Lough and Annalong Wood (walkni.com).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Byrness to Kirk Yetholm, Northumberland, Scottish Borders

It can take 16 days to complete the 268-mile Pennine Way, but if you only have one to spare then combine the last (and usually least-crowded, due to a lack of accommodation) two stages for a real wilderness walk. Traversing the wild Cheviot Hills and hugging the Scottish border, it’s a lonely 27-mile trudge characterised by bog-hopping boardwalks and slab paths (nationaltrail.co.uk/pennine-way).

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8 best hikes in the UK

The Broomway, Essex

It’s only six miles long, yet the Broomway is reckoned to have killed 100 people. From Great Wakering, it heads straight out to sea at low tide, eventually reaching the marshy island of Foulness. Why so perilous? Because the path is mostly unmarked, the tide returns faster than humans can and there is a lot of quicksand on the route. But in good weather, and traversed safely, this can be one of the most bracing beach walks Britain has on offer (broomway.org.uk).

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8 best hikes in the UK

Yorkshire Three Peaks

What do Pen y Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough have in common? Well, they’re Yorkshire’s highest mountains, they each offer fine views and all three are surmountable during a gruelling 24-mile trek. Along with over 5,000 feet worth of ascent, you’re promised the Ribblehead viaduct, picturesque Dales High Way sections and, of interest to geologists, distinct limestone-gritstone overlaps. Begin and end at Horton in Ribblesdale, where pubs are happily on standby (threepeakschallenge.uk).

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Simon Ewins, managing director for Premier Inn UK, which commissioned the research said: “In the lead up to Valentine’s Day it’s great to celebrate what we have on our doorstep.

“The UK clearly has lots of romantic destinations for days out or weekends away to escape the busy everyday and enjoy quality time away.

“Whether you opt for a city skyline or secluded green space, there are plenty of idyllic spots to enjoy.

“It’s important not only on Valentine’s Day but throughout the year to experience new destinations with a partner and enjoy what the UK really has to offer.”

The research also found half the nation believes UK romantic spots are underrated compared to those abroad.

Coastal destinations in the top 40 list include Tenby in Wales, Langamull on the Isle of Mull and Liverpool’s Crosby Beach.

The ideal recipe for a romantic place was found to include a viewpoint to watch the sunset (61 per cent), a quiet and secluded area (58 per cent) and greenery (44 per cent).

Popular green spaces in the list include The New Forest, Richmond Park and Windsor Park.

The favourite places of people in Britain for marriage proposals include Arthur’s Seat, Durdle Door and Brighton Pier.

More than half of those polled said it’s important to visit romantic destinations with a partner to keep the relationship strong, and 47 per cent have revisited a favourite spot.

A fifth even admitted to visiting the same scenic place with a previous partner.

And an eighth of those polled via OnePoll went to a romantic destination on a first date.

The average couple goes on two weekends away together each year, costing around £187 each trip.

While 63 per cent think of places as romantic if they have memories of visiting there with a partner, more than half said even if they haven’t been somewhere they can tell its romantic potential based on photos.

A fifth chooses to visit destinations they’ve seen on TV or in films, and a quarter want to show their other half places they visited as a child.

And a third said wanting to cover areas of the UK they’ve never seen makes them decide where to travel with a partner.

SWNS

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