66 Março 2010 CASA CLÁUDIA CASA CLÁUDIA Março 2010 67

Passou anos a tentar decidir se preferia viver no campo ou na cidade. Como não chegou a qualquer conclusão, manteve a sua casa de Londres e comprou outra em Dartmoor, sul de Inglaterra. A história do retiro de Suzy Bennett, jornalista de viagens, decorado pela designer de interiores britânica Holly Sullivan.Texto Petra Alves Fotografia Constantino Leite

romance no campo

romântica

68 Março 2010 CASA CLÁUDIA CASA CLÁUDIA Março 2010 69

Omau estado em que a casa se encontrava não desmotivou Suzy Bennet, que uma hora depois de ter as chaves da sua nova (segun-

da) morada já envergava um macacão de trabalho e retirava o velho papel de parede. O espaço não é grande, mas foi suficiente para que a jornalista caísse de amores. Na época, procurava uma casa de campo “inserida num parque nacional, por haver menos risco de construção a rasgar a paisa-gem, como auto-estradas, por exemplo”. Num passeio pelo sudeste de Inglaterra descobriu Dartmoor: “Nem queria acreditar como era bonito. Já viajei muito, mas sinceramente penso que este é o lugar mais bonito do mundo. É um cenário perfeito para uma casa de férias: os telhados de colmo, o pub, a igreja, o verde dos carvalhos, o sentido de comunidade, a paz e o sossego, o ‘clip clop’ dos cavalos, meio de locomoção de alguns moradores… Aqui não mudou muita coisa nos últimos 300 anos!” Em três dias, visitou seis casas para venda; uma delas dava pelo nome de Moorland View. Através do agente imobiliário tomou conhecimento de que a casa integraria, no fim-de-semana seguinte, a secção de imobiliário do The Guardian. Não perdeu tempo e logo fez a sua oferta ao proprietário, impedindo a publicação do anúncio. “Tinha de me mexer, não podia brincar com o assunto. É que a perfeição é coisa rara de encontrar e eu encontrei-a assim que vi aquela a casa.”Por esta pertencer a um parque nacional, as normas de (re)construção são muito mais rigorosas do que em qualquer outro lugar. Lembrando a época em que teve

Foram mantidos intactos o maior número possível de elementos, como a laje do pavimento do piso térreo e a tábua corrida do superior, as vigas de madeira à vista, incrustadas nas paredes rebocadas. Boas ideias: na sala de jantar, a decoradora conjugou a estrutura de uma mesa com o tampo de outra; no WC social, exíguo, lavatório em inox de diâmetro reduzido assente sobre tábua de madeira

romântica

▲

70 Março 2010 CASA CLÁUDIA CASA CLÁUDIA Março 2010 71

de pedir dezenas de autorizações, além da permissão para alterações estruturais, Suzy graceja: “Quando perceberam que eu vivia em Londres, devem ter pensado que eu queria transformar a cottage (casa de campo) num open space cheio de aço inox!” O processo burocrático foi um dos grandes desafios deste projecto. Uma vez transpostos todos os obstáculos a esse nível, outros emergiam: como acompanhar a obra a partir de Londres? “Eu trabalhava em tempo integral como jornalista de viagens e a Holly tem ateliê em Londres. Dávamos as indicações ao res-ponsável de obra e quando regressávamos, semanas depois, nada estava como previsto. Uma série de falhas de comunicação obri-garam a que a maioria das coisas tivesse de ser refeita duas e três vezes, o que encareceu o orçamento inicial.” Apesar de todos os contratempos, um ano de-pois a casa de campo estava pronta. Aquando da remodelação foram mantidos intactos o maior número possível de elementos, como a laje do pavimento do piso térreo e a tábua corrida do superior, as vigas de madeira à vista, incrustadas nas paredes rebocadas. Sob a orientação profissional de Holly, amiga, além de designer de interiores, o projecto ganhou forma, cor, texturas. “Ela ‘fez’ o meu apartamento em Londres, que adoro. Para a Moorland View, dei-lhe carta branca e apenas uma indicação: quero uma casa romântica, com algum luxo.”A intervenção resultou num estilo “britânico moderno, com sotaque francês”, colorido a cinzas luminosos, verdes, castanhos-cho-colate e rosas-pastel. A rusticidade do

romântica

Curosidade: no piso térreo, na parede das escadas, há um cesto pendurado no cabide

onde se deposita a correspondência; na cozinha, sobre a bancada, junto à janela, a tábua de cortar é de carvalho. Ainda na

cozinha, destaque para os utensílios à vista

▲

72 Março 2010 CASA CLÁUDIA CASA CLÁUDIA Março 2010 73

pavimento e toros de madeira cravados na parede é suavizada pelo papel de parede ‘cintilante’, lustres e espelhos. Como peças favoritas, Suzy elege a banheira de cobre – cujo transporte para o 2.º andar foi uma aventura – comprada pela “internet por menos 60% do valor do mercado de loja”; a tábua de cortar, em carvalho, os utensílios da lareira, encomendados a um ferreiro local: “Estavam ainda quentes quando os fui bus-car”, recorda. No que toca aos pormenores, a jornalista descreve-os assim: “Lençóis brancos de linho, bem passados, proporcionam-me sonhos encantadores, cores neutras e bem coordenadas clareiam os meus pensamentos, linda loiça artesanal faz com que me apeteça cozinhar pratos saudáveis e criativos!” Se o todo faz sentido, é porque o detalhe foi realmente bem trabalhado.Quando optou por uma segunda casa, Suzy sabia que teria de a rentabilizar, pois o seu orçamento não suportava duas habitações. Decidiu, então, alugar a casa de campo por curtos períodos, férias (www.moorlandview.com), a ‘visitantes’ cuidadosos em busca de dias tranquilos e ambiente romântico. A iniciativa está a ser um sucesso!

romântica

C

A intervenção resultou num estilo “britânico moderno, com sotaque francês”, colorido

a cinzas luminosos, verdes, castanhos-chocolate e rosas-pastel; a rusticidade do pavimento e toros de madeira cravados na

parede é suavizada pelo papel de parede ‘cintilante’, lustres e espelhos.

Curiosidade: a banheira da casa de banho foi comprada pela internet, 60% mais barata do

que o seu valor no mercado

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PASTURES GREENA new life

in the country

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How to commission a work of art

HIDDENTREASURES

HOTELS TOHIBERNATE IN

Cover_PRESS_ARTWORK.indd 3-4 2/11/09 13:12:52

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VIP TRAVEL KELL SKÖTT

CELEBRATED WEST LONDON HAIR STYLIST; KELLSKOTTHAIRCARE.COM

DREAM WINTER SUN

ESCAPEA private jet to the Eastern Transvaal where we’d stay in suites at Singita Boulders (right) in Kruger National Park (mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/south-

africa/kruger-national-park/singita-boulders). Next we’d fl y to Port Elizabeth, hire a Ferrari 250 GTO and take a leisurely drive through

the Tsitsikamma national park, where we’d stay in at the Tsala Treetop Lodge in

Plettenburg Bay (below). Constantia would be our next stop via the Garden Route and

some whale watching; we’d have a long leisurely lunch under the trees at La Colombe,

eating melt-in-your-mouth kudu tartare and drinking Veenwouden Merlot 2004.

Dessert would come with a bottle of superb Vin de Constance wine, Napolean’s death-

bed drink of choice.

FANTASY HOLIDAY HOMEA Bauhaus-inspired glass-fronted house on Lake Como, with functional Danish design and furnishings, Italian fruit trees and a Fiat 500 Arbath in the garage. There would also

be an infi nity pool, a helicopter pad and a riva moored at the water’s edge.

SCALDING5

FOOD & TRAVEL getaway

TWITTER It’s isn’t just about celeb-stalking; follow Trazzler, Smithhotels and inoqo.com for top holiday tips

APRÉS-SKI GROOMING Beauty & the Piste provides

in-chalet treatments in Nendaz, Verbier and Crans-Montana.

beautyandthepiste.com

CRAFTSMANSHIP We’ll take embellishments

handmade over mandmade – such as centuries-old frescoes

in Florence’s Il Salviatino. salviatino.com

DEVONSHIRE CREAMRevel in boutique-hotel style amid country-cottage cosiness at Moorland View, a two-bedroom house in North Bovey. Soothing

neutral tones, fi ne linens and Conran crockery means considerate touches such as an all-sizes stash of wellies might not even get used. From

£540 for three nights. moorlandview.com

SLEEPING ON STRANGERS’ SOFAS

Even if it is free. couchsurfi ng.com

TACKY HEN NIGHTS Sign us up for the sybaritic

Swan Parties at the Dorchester’s new spa

dorchester.com

BOXING DAY BOREDOMHead to Central Africa

for Imaginative Traveller’s 15-day Masai Mara & Mountain Gorillas tour.

imaginative-traveller.com

6WASH OUT

ART AND SOULA few black-and-white photos just won’t cut it. Bravo Kit Kemp & co for the colourful

commissioned pieces in SoHo’s new Crosby Street Hotel, NYC, Firmdale’s fi rst foray out of London (right; crosbystreethotel.com). Pete Clark’s collages rule – especially his cheeky

British bulldog. For a fuller-on serving of eye candy, head to China. The sculpture park at Hotel of Modern Art (Homa) in Yangshuo makes it more gallery than mere getaway

(main picture; guilinhoma.com).

TRAVEL TREATSTake one H by

Harris’s military-style Sh4 weekend bag, £734 (HbyHarris.com), add Meher Kakalia’s fold-up

leather Bee slippers, £55 (meherkakalia.

com) and Irwin & Jordan’s Buster sunglasses, £225 (irwinandjordan.

com).

ESCAPEROUTE

Juliet Kinsman staves off Boxing Day boredom with sophisticated spa action and original artwork

TRAVEL BAROMETER

118 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | December 2009

P00_Travel_v1.indd 118 28/10/09 17:30:30

05/11/2009 15:01The Herald Digital

Page 1 of 1http://theherald.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

38 THE HERALD MAGAZINE 31.10.09

TRAVELDARTMOOR

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle didn’t doDartmoor any favours.A sinister, fog-shrouded wasteland stalked by amurderer and a hound from hellawaitedSherlockHolmes in the spine-

chilling case ofTheHoundOfTheBaskervilles.He omitted to mention grasslands ablaze withgorse andheather, sun-dappled riversmeander-ing through woods and meadows, zany dancesat folk festivals and the heroic exploits of theRugglestone Inn tug o’war team.That’s not to say it was his fault. Times have

changed since Sir Arthur visited the moors,heard legends of diabolical black beasts withblood-red eyes preying on travellers after dark,and penned one of his classicmysteries.Dartmoor National Park, the largest and

wildest open country in southern England, isnow aplace forholidays rather thanhorror.Anystrange sounds heard after dark are more likelyto emanate from folk singers in pubs than super-natural creatures.Mywife and Ifind abunchof the former in the

OxenhamArms, a 12th-century coaching inn inthe village of South Zeal, during the DartmoorFolkFestival.This is an annual event thatdrawsthousands of enthusiasts for aweekend of tradi-tionalmusic anddancing, including a stepdancecompetition on a 15in square board in the backof a hay wagon.While professional musicians perform in a

nearby hall, patrons in the bar of TheOx amusethemselves and anyonewho cares to join inwithlusty renditions of sea shanties and workingmen’s songs from Cornwall to Northumbria.This is no drunken bawling, but harmoniousballads by men with fine voices singing for thelove of it.The tinmines that inspired someof thesongs are long gone from Dartmoor, and thehigh moors are the domain of untamed poniesborn free in the wind-blown cotton grass. Thevistas of wild, lonely land are immense, withskylinesdominated by tors – jumbles ofmassivestones squeezed up as molten granite throughtheearth’s crust 280millionyearsago.Like ruinsof ancient hilltop forts, they are the sentinels ofa bygone age.Among the most impressive is Hound Tor,

standing imperiously above tracesof amedievalsettlement.Over the years it has gained a repu-tation for ghostly sightings, andevenunder kindskies it has amystical presence. This was notedby SherlockHolmes, and later by BBC produc-ers who used it as a location for an episode ofDoctorWho.With artistic licence, Conan Doyle ignored

the fact the moors are surrounded by woodedvalleys,where hamletsof thatched cottagesnes-tle in farmland among dry stone walls andhedgerows.This ishobbit territory,where rosesrambleonhoney-coloured stonewalls, andcoun-try lanes are full of butterflies and songbirds.The patchwork of fields, meadows and wood-land is criss-crossed by amaze of narrow lanesbarelywide enough fora singlevehicle, boundedby high hedges.Driving is a slow affair, periodi-cally interrupted by cows, horses and tractors.

Approaching the market town of Moreton-hampstead – the longest one-word place nameinEngland –we find the road blocked by amaninacarandanotheronahorsewhohave stoppedfor a chat. In no hurry to go anywhere, we pullinto a passing place and wait, and when therider and motoristmove on, we receive cheerywaves of thanks.

Our base for the weekend is North Bovey, ahamlet of thatched houses around a villagegreen that boasts a 13th-century church, a puband a community hall. Regulars in the Ring ofBells pub include farriers, sheep shearers and amole catcher, drawn by a cheery ambience andthe local Otter real ale. This gives rise to carstickers saying: “I could murder an otter.”Thepub iswherewe collect keys toMoorland

View, a cottage a fewsteps away thathasmywifesighing with delight. It is the kind of luxurious

The slow-burningcharmof ruralDevonis impossible to ignore,writesGavinBell

Answering thecall of

hideawayBilboBagginsmighthave lived in if hehad won the lottery – oodles of character andcomfort in a mix of traditional West Countrystyle and mod cons, including awireless digitalsound system and a wondrous copper and tinbath that could accommodate a small family.In the morning the sunwarms a bench by the

front door, and in the late afternoon it shines ona seat by a lily pond in the garden. One day weare woken by a clip-clop of horses’ hooves, andfind a leaflet by the door announcing that ordersare being taken for this year’s lamb. For £46 wecan have half a lamb butchered, cut, packed andlabelled for easy freezing, or a half carcass ofmutton“finished slowlyonherb-richmeadows”.In ruralDevon,who needs supermarkets?We could have gone for ahike on themoors,or

even signedupwithDartmoorLlamaWalksandhad our picnic lunch transported by the pony-sized animals, butwe opt for amore sedate stroll

TheDartmoorlandscape, dottedwithgranite torsandwildponies, hasmore thanapassingresemblanceto theShire imaginedby JRRTolkien inLordOfTheRings

PHOTOGRAPH:ADAMBURTON/PHOTOLIBRARY.COM

IN TOMORROW’SSUNDAY HERALD

MAGAZINE

Getonyourbike for Scotswhisky tour

GETTINGTHEREANDWHERETOSTAYThesimplest routebycar is theM6 thenM5 toExeter,abouthalfanhour fromNorthBovey.Therearedaily trainservicesandflightswithFlybe (from£116pp

return) fromGlasgowtoExeter. FromSeptember toApril fournightsatMoorlandViewcosts from£540andsevennightsfrom£810.Visitwww.moorlandview.comorcall07786264865.

TRAVELNOTES

thewilds

along the banks of the River Teign at Chagford.This is your quintessential English babblingbrook, flowing past lush green meadows, oldwooden gates, stately oak trees and an old millby the stream.My wife sums up the scene: “It’slikewe’ve fallen into the pages of a storybook.”Babbling brook number two lies near our

doorstep.Down a lane from the cottage,we finda footpath by the River Bovey that leads viastepping stones and old stone bridges to BoveyCastle, erstwhile baronial pile of ViscountHambleden, heir to the WH Smith book andstationery empire. It is now a luxury hotel andsporting estate where, for a price, guests candisport themselves with archery, falconry,pheasant shooting and golf on a course ratedamong thefinest inEngland.GuestsofMoorlandViewhave free access to the swimming pool andspa, but we’re happy just rambling by the riverand throwing sticks in rock pools for wet dogs.

RoyalCaribbean(royalcaribbean.co.uk,08444932061)hasafive-nightMediterraneancruise from£424ppincludingmeals.DepartsMalagaonWednesday.

Lastminute.comhassevennightsinMadeira from£531pp.PriceincludesB&Batafive-starhotelandreturnflights fromGlasgowdepartingNovember16.

ArchersDirect(archersdirect.co.uk,08714238638)hasa15-day tourofSpain,PortugalandMorocco from£999pp.Priceincludes14nights’B&B,sevendinnersand returnflightsfromNewcastle,EdinburghorGlasgow, departingNovember22.

Flyglobespan(flyglobespan.com,08719871689)hassevennights inSharmelSheikhfrom£388pp.Priceincludesall-inclusiveaccommodationatafour-starhotelandreturnflights fromGlasgowdepartingNovember21.

FirstChoice (firstchoice.co.ukor08716649011)hassevennights inCyprusfrom£449pp.PriceincludesB&Batafive-starhotelandreturnflights fromGlasgowdepartingNovember11.

DirectHolidays(directholidays.co.uk,08716647764)hassevennights inTurkeyfrom£315pp.Priceincludesall-inclusiveaccommodationatafive-starhotelandreturnflights fromGlasgowdepartingNovember18.

Flexibletrips (flexibletrips.com,08701609192) has twonightsinAmsterdam from£171pp.PriceincludesB&Batafour-starhotelandreturnflights fromEdinburghdepartingJanuary25,2010.

LATEDEALS

31.10.09 THE HERALD MAGAZINE 39

There are bigger pools in the River Dart atNewbridge,whereAtlantic salmon rest en routeto spawning sites upstream. This is good newsforotters looking for takeawaysnacks. Insummerthe indigenous wildlife gives way to anotherform of wild life – people riding rubber ringsover shallowrapids to apopularpicnic spot, andleaping from rockyheights into adeeppoolwithsqueals of fright and delight.For some, the marquee at theManaton Show

and Fair, organised by the young farmers club,is an equally exciting sight. Wooden tables areladen with a cornucopia of prize runner beans,carrots,herbs,roses, treacle tarts,flowerarrange-ments,handmadetoysandamateurphotographs.Competition is intense for theSweetPeaCup, inmemory of Lt Col and Mrs Donald Smith, forthe best dahlias.We arrive too late for the Fun Dog Show,

including classes for the dog or bitchwith the

Barpatronsamuse themselveswith renditionsofseashantiesandworkingmen’s songs

NigelBruceandBasilRathbone in the1939filmTheHoundOfTheBaskervilles,basedonSirArthurConanDoyle’smurdermystery featuringadogsaid topreyupon travellers inDartmoorafterdark.Thearea isbetterknownnowasaholidaydestination

TRAVELDARTMOOR

31.10.09 THE HERALD MAGAZINE 41

THECYCLEbyFergalMacErlean

THERIVERTAY,CRAIGVINEANFORESTANDINVERWOODLocation:Dunkeld,PerthshireMap:OSLandranger52(GR003437)Distance:5miles (8km)Time:2.5hoursTerrain: footpaths, tracks

This lovelywalk takesyoualong thebanksofoneofScotland’sfinest riversandpastoneof itsmostpopularbeautyspots,beforeheadingthroughoneof itsoldestmanaged forests.Althoughyoucanstart

from theNTScarparkatTheHermitage, it’sbettertocontinuenorthup theA9and turnoff left immediatelybefore thebridgeover theRiverTay, thenpark in theNewtonCraigcarpark.Cross the roadand takeapathdownhillbeneath therailway thenunder theA9roadbridge,droppingdowntowards thebanksof theTay.Themixofwoodland issplendidandfurtheralongyoucome toabenchandagnarledoak tree tenaciouslyclinging to thebanks.This isNeilGow’sOak,or theFiddleTree,namedafter the

famous18th-centuryfiddlerwho reputedlycomposedmanyofhismuch lovedreelsandstrathspeyshere.Continuealong the river

towithinsightof thefive-archbridgebuiltbyThomasTelfordatDunkeld.Then,where theRiverBraanmeets theTay, followthebanksof theBraanbackunder theA9.Don’tcross

over the footbridge, take thepath leadingaway from theriver to reach Inver, thenattheendof the road take thepathbeside theA9andfollowthis to theNTScarparkatTheHermitage.Here, themainpath leads

under the railway toOssian’sHall,a lovelyspotat this timeofyear.Take themain trackleading rightwards, then

after50mgoleftonanothertrackandfollowthisas itswingsround into theCraigvineanForest.Continuestraightaheadonthemain track for1500m,then turnsharplyrightdownanother track for50mandlefton toagrassy tracksignposted InverWalk,which leads toapathdownhillback to thestart.

P

P

PP

River Tay

DUNKELD

CraigvineanForest

The Hermitage

A9(T)

InverWood

Start/Finish

THEWALKbyRabAnderson

STIRLINGTOLINLITHGOWMap:OSLandranger57,65,orSustransRound theForthcyclemap (£3.99 fromwww.sustransshop.co.uk)Distance:34miles (55km)Time:4hoursTerrain:mainlyflat, quietroadsandcyclepaths

Ifyou’remore familiarwithdrivingbetweenStirlingandLinlithgowyou’llbesurprised to learnhowgoodthecycle linksare.TheNationalCycleNetworkroute76,whichwill linkStAndrews in thenorth toBerwickUponTweedoncefinished, runsbetween thetwo townswithfewbusysectionsorascents.FromStirling train

station, turn rightandfirstright to reachasmallroundabout.Turn rightagain to join theSustrans

routewithviewsdown to theRiverForthwhich,despitebeingso far from thesea,is tidal here.Cycleon tojoinanold railway linewhichgiveseasycyclingpast the formerminingvillageofFallin.Furtheronthere’sacircuitous,butexcellent, routeonveryquiet roadsbyDunmoreandLethammosses.TheForthcomes into

viewagainasyouapproachGrangemouth,afterwhichthe route leads throughKinneilEstatebyBo’ness.KinneilHouse,said tobehauntedbyLadyAlicewholeapt toherdeathfromitstower, isnoplace to tarryasdusk falls tonight.FromBo’ness the route

climbssteeplyaway fromtheForth to join theUnionCanal.Followthecanalwest forLinlithgowand thetrainstation.

Bo’Ness

Linlithgow

Culross

Alloa

North Queensferry

Rosyth

Bannockburn

Stenhousemuir

Denny

Bonnybridge

Falkirk

Queensferry

R i v e r F o r t h

START

FINISH

most appealing eyes, and the dog or bitch thejudge would most like to take home. We’re intime, though, for thegrand spectacle of the show,the fiercely contested Inter Pub TugO’War.We cheer our local heroes and reigning cham-

pions, the North Bovey Ringers, who aresporting shirts warning: “Danger –Men on thePull.” Our brave lads brush aside a challengefroma“foreign” team– theRoyalOakfromSussex–butfinallygodown, literally, ina titanic strugglewith the Rugglestone Inn from over the hill. ARoyal Oak ladies team, given the advantage ofan extra body, beat their own men to take thirdplace.Amity between victors and vanquished isthen restored at length in the bar over foamingpints ofGunDog bitter.Sowhat happened to the diabolical hounds of

Dartmoor,with an insatiable hunger for humanflesh and souls? Go to Wistman’s Wood ifyou dare, we are told, for that is their lair. In1797, the Reverend J Swete wrote: “Silenceseemed to have taken up her abode in thiswood– and to a superstitious mind some impressionwould have occurred approaching to dread, orsacred horror…”From a distance, the wood of ancient oaks

above the West Dart River is a small patch ofgreen that doesn’t look much like a door to hell.Theonly vaguelydangerousbeastwe encounteron theway is abull, too intentonpropagating hisspecies topayus anyheed.On adark and stormyHalloweennightWistman’sWoodmight liveupto its reputation as a den of ghosts and devils,but on a bright day it is amagical place.A remnant of woodland dating from prehis-

toric times, it is a labyrinth of gnarled dwarfoaks writhing among a clutter of granite boul-ders, all of them swathed in luxuriant ferns,mosses and lichens. With sunlight filteringthrough the foliage, it is a place for poets ratherthan phantoms.It seems the Hound of the Baskervilles is

long gone. ■

BellaIce surprise!

2 FEBRUARY 2010ISSUE 5 85p

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DEAD PEOPLEATTACK ON‘FAT’ HOLLY

NO BLOATDIET PLAN

My children see

The high energy

A taste of the exoticStep back in time with a visit to Fez in Morocco, one of the most impressive walled medieval cities on the planet. Riad Louna in the medina is the perfect retreat: rooms are simply but stylishly furnished and there are soothing courtyards with fountains and a rooftop terrace.

Step outside and you’re in the souks, where you can haggle for bargains before enjoying a scrub, bath and massage at a traditional hammam.❤ Doubles cost from around £80 per night, including breakfast (www.riadlouna.com).

Snuggle upThe quirky but homely décor, welcoming hosts and award-winning breakfasts are what draw visitors to the 190-year-old Quay House in Clifden, Galway.

Most rooms overlook the harbour, and the town, with its pubs and restaurants, is a 10-minute stroll away. The Irish weather might not be reliable – but this is the perfect place to hole up with a book and a cuppa.❤ Doubles cost from around £120, including breakfast (www.thequayhouse.com).

top 5 travel

With these special places that are not just for valentines

Rural romanceMoorland View, an 18th-century cottage in Dartmoor National Park, is the ultimate love nest, with oak beams, a log fire and a copper bath big enough for two. If you don’t want to cook, you can stay in for a pre-ordered meal or visit the village pub.❤ Moorland View has two bedrooms and sleeps up to four. Three nights cost from £700 (www.moorlandview.com).

Island retreatAll accommodation is five star at the Elounda Gulf Villas and Suites on the Greek island of Crete, but for privacy, splash out on a villa with an infinity pool overlooking the Med.

You can self cater or call in room service but there are restaurants, a bar and a spa for when you want to venture out. And Crete has some great beaches and ruins to explore. ❤ A suite for two costs from around £225 per night, including breakfast, while a villa sleeping four costs from £540 (www.eloundagulfvillas.com).

Capture the castle Whisk your prince away – without paying a king’s ransom – to Hôtel Le Château Fort in Sedan, a four-hour drive from Calais. It forms part of the biggest medieval castle in Europe and is an impressive sight.

It’s the perfect place for a romantic adventure and, if you’ve got kids in tow, there are family duplexes, too. While you’re there, take an audio tour of the fortress itself.

The castle makes a good base for exploring the Ardennes (www.ardennes.com), a beautiful, relatively undiscovered region of forests, rivers and rolling hills.❤ Double rooms cost from around £66 (www.hotelfp-sedan.com). SeaFrance does return Dover-Calais crossings for a car with up to five passengers from £19 each way (www.seafrance.com).

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