Top 10 Romantic Things to Do this Valentines Day on the Hartland Peninsula

With heart stopping scenery, endless starry skies, cosy fires to cuddle up by and a unique range of places to stay, this is the ideal destination to spend a romantic Valentine day, night or weekend.

 

Whether you want to be pampered in a B&B, inn or hotel, or enjoy the seclusion, privacy and luxury of self-catering  you can find your perfect far-from-the-madding-crowd place to stay here. Choose from cliff side cottages to cosy converted barns, and from historic houses to hidden lodges. Visit our accommodation pages and check our special offers too. World famous Clovelly, for example, has a whole romantic getaway weekend for just £110pppn including Prosecco, chocolates, rose scented bubble bath, 6 course tasting menu, a la carte dinner, full Devon Breakfasts, a relaxing spa treatment and a delightful treasure hunt around this most scenic of villages.

The Hartland Peninsula has a long tradition of farming, fishing and foraging, and local food providers pride themselves on supplying the best meat, fish, dairy and produce the area can offer.  

 

Many of the local restaurants and pubs are offering extra special menus for Valentine weekend and the big night itself. Choose from formal dining to extra special cosy-by-the-fire pub meals. Check them out here.

 

The Peninsula is encircled by the South West Coast Path. Soaring granite cliffs – some of the highest in England –  sweep down to secluded bays, wooded valleys and sheltered farm land.  Some sections are extremely challenging, and others are easy and level, but everywhere offers unparalleled views of the wild Devon and Cornwall Atlantic coastline and that jewel in the sea, Lundy Island. No wonder the shoreline and hidden inland valleys have been used in many film and TV locations. Find out more here.

 

It’s also no wonder that one of our beaches, Speke’s Mill, is the Times No. 1 Secluded Beach, Right around our coastline are quiet, unspoilt beaches and bays, some with sand at low tide, many with spectacular rock formations and all with masses of pebbles rolled smooth by the tides.  Explore the beaches and beauty spots, go rock pooling, beach combing and make a perfectly harmonious pebble tower together.

 

Aside from historic Hartland village there are no built up or urban areas on the Hartland Peninsula and absolutely no light pollution, making it a wonderful dark sky location.  On a clear night you can step out and gaze up just about anywhere on the Peninsula (and some accommodation providers offer telescopes), but for truly spectacular, 360 degree night sky views why not take a blanket and a bottle of bubbly and drive up to Bursdon Moor, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Alternatively park in the top car park above Hartland Quay to see not just the fabulous starry skies, but the moonlight on the water too. Download a star gazing map here.

 

6. Be pampered with a treatment or relax in a rural spa

A number of accommodation providers offer massage and beauty treatments as part of their accommodation package and some also have hot tubs and swimming pools, In addition the Hartland House Spa is a totally unique rural spa offering top quality facilities and full treatments in a stunning location overlooking the coastline and Lundy Island.  Booking is essential, check out their prices and special offers here.

 

 

A sumptuous Devon cream tea, with lashings of local cream and home made strawberry jam, is the number one favorite of locals and visitors alike, but make space too for the many other delicious, locally produced sweet treats on offer here. Fantastic cakes, ice creams, fudges and desserts are all produced and sold across the Peninsula. Find all the eating & drinking places here, plus The Old Bakery Coffee Shop, open all year, is right in the centre of Hartland and not to be missed for the finest cream teas, cakes, lunches and drinks.

 

The incredible scenery and light here makes the Peninsula an inspiring home to artists and artisans of all kinds, many of who have open studios, workshops and galleries for you to visit. Find a truly unique and memorable Valentine’s gift from the printmakers, potters, jewelry makers, photographers and artists living and working here or even have something bespoke made, painted or drawn for you. The White Hare Studio~Gallery, for example, will make jewellery to match a favourite outfit or scarf or create a painting or sketch to your instructions or photo. See here for all the artists and artisans you can visit.

 

Nothing is more romantic than cuddling up by a real fire, especially after a long winter walk or a night-time star gazing trip. Many accommodation providers have real fires, and so do lots of the local hostelries including the lively Old Smithy Inn at Welcombe, the spectacularly located Wreckers Bar at Hartland Quay, the historic New Inn and Red Lion at Clovelly and Hartland’s gem of a village pub, the Hart Inn.  They offer a great atmosphere, local food and drink, including some excellent local beers, and a very warm welcome.