The day that has been decreed as the most romantic of all is approaching fast and you – like many others – are probably just beginning to turn your mind to how to celebrate it.
So, if you haven’t gone lavish on it and booked yourself a trip abroad to a luxurious romantic location you’re probably looking at getting somewhere in Ireland. So, what are your options?
The obvious one, which most have tried before, is a bunch of flowers, but this is not exactly challenging the grey matter when it comes to being romantic. So, we here at RTÉ Travel have a few other options for you.
1. National Botanic Gardens
Tucked away in Glasnevin in Dublin 9 is one of the country’s most romantic locations. The National Botanic Gardens is a luscious area of walled land with a variety of different gardens and greenhouses that display selections of flowers and nature from all over the globe. A couple of stolen hours in the Bots, as they’re known, is peace personified. The quite stunning range of flora in the tropical greenhouses transport you to foreign lands without having to leave Dublin City. Snuggling up in the local pub, the Addison Lounge, is the add-on for your romantic Valentine’s Day out.
2. Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy
Ireland is a country famous for romantic boltholes and you probably have your own go-to destinations in this regard. Our pick is Arnolds in the little town of Dunfanaghy in northern Donegal. The family-run hotel, that boasts a superb restaurant serving local seafood and a cosy bar and fireside, can also arrange horse riding through its stables, fishing, painting or photography classes or rambles through the local wilderness. They can also arrange surfing trips for the more adventurous or you can just escape it all in their Café Arnou wine bar.
3. The Burren Perfumery
The isolated beauty of The Burren, with its limestone surface of 250 square km, is one of the most isolated places in Europe and a walk through this wildlife gem, with its rare selection of flora and fauna, make it a nature lover's dream. If you get a stretch of the natural park to yourself it feels like you and your partner will be the only people left on Earth. The local Burren Perfumery is a perfect place to stop off after a walk - there you can buy a locally produced fragrance and eat in their café focusing on locally grown products.
4. Carton House Hotel and Spa
County Kildare’s Carton House is romantic from the minute one begins to drive down its long, winding driveway, towards the main house set on its stunning 1,000-acre grounds.
Inside, the 18th Century manor house has been refurbished to an exceptionally high standard with a world-class spa and a superb fine-dining option with the Linden Tree Restaurant. It’s perfect for a day-trip, or you can turn the trip into a romantic holiday with an overnight stay.
5. Cliff House Hotel, Co Waterford
Waterford is a county that we have long been fans of, and the oldest city in Ireland has a number of eateries and hotels that would make fine Valentine’s Day getaways. But if you want to step up a gear into serious luxury territory then the Cliff House Hotel is the place for you.
Located in Ardmore it boasts a scarcely believable scenic location, perched on a cliff looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, if you want to book in for the night. But if you want to make a day-trip of it, The House restaurant has been Michelin-starred since 2010, and its take on modern Irish fare is one of the very best dining options in the country.
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