Going where your heart takes you

February’s a cold old month in which to celebrate the patron saint of love and romance…
if you’re really unlucky, it snows. The festival makes more sense, when you hear that St Valentine was a Roman martyr: a balmy February evening in Rome sounds more conducive to romance than a freezing night in Wolverhampton. But if your DLA won’t stretch to whisking your loved one off to Italy this Valentine’s day (that’s all of us then), Penny Batchelor says these English locations offer a number of ideas to make your special February weekend hot, hot, hot…

Harrogate – Steamy nights and a woman of mystery

This traditional spa town in North Yorkshire is not far from the Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate is a short distance from the bright lights of big city Leeds, but has enough delights of its own to keep you entertained for a weekend of romance.

Why not try taking the plunge with your loved one at the Turkish baths and spa? There are both single-sex and mixed sessions, plus a number of treatments on offer. This is one guaranteed way to put the steam back into your relationship! Admission costs £18 per person at the weekend. Access to the steam room and cold plunge pool is restricted for people with mobility impairments, because the rooms are in a listed building, but the newer treatment rooms have disabled access.

Slap bang in the town centre is the famous Betty’s Café Tea Rooms. Betty’s has served scrumptious cakes to locals since 1919, although the first proprietor was not Betty, but a gentleman named Frederick Belmont. The cakes are priced for a treat not an everyday indulgence but are a great way to tickle your Valentine’s taste buds.

One thing Harrogate excels at is quaint, local shops. Wander round the local antique and jewellery shops to see what’s on offer.

• Harrogate has a Shopmobility service – call 01423 556778 for details.

Detective fiction writer Agatha Christie, creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, became the subject of a police investigation herself when she vanished in 1926. She was eventually found in Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel where she’d checked in under the name of her husband’s mistress, Theresa Neele. Pop into the hotel yourself for afternoon tea and see where the drama took place. The hotel is wheelchair accessible.

Not far from Harrogate is the village of Ripley. The 700-year-old castle there is still owned by the Ingilby family and it has a romantic and turbulent history. Visit and hear how Trooper Jane Ingilby in the English Civil War held Oliver Cromwell prisoner overnight in the castle’s library. The castle’s guides have a hearing loop system and five out of the seven rooms on the tour are wheelchair accessible.

LAKE DISTRICT – Waterfalls and an old romantic

The Lake District is well known for inspiring romantic poetry with its wild landscape and glorious nature.

If you’re prepared to wrap up warm and pack a thermos, perhaps it could inspire romance in you too?

Take a steamer to cruise the lake. Ullswater Steamers runs a variety of routes for you to cruise the waters in the warmth. The winter service boat, Lady Dorothy, does have stairs but the summer boats can easily accommodate wheelchair-users.

• See www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk

Glenridding, at the southern end of Ullswater, offers a number of places to warm up and grab a bite to eat.

There’s also a tourist information centre for the area that can recommend cosy B&Bs.

Near Glenridding are the Aira Force waterfalls. After heavy rain (which, let’s face it, is likely in February) they are at their best with a waterfall of 18 metres between rocks. The location is run by the National Trust and the falls are a short distance from the car park. There are surfaced paths and safety railings but some parts of the path may not be suitable for wheelchair-users.

Visit Cockermouth, which was home to one of the greatest Romantic poets, William Wordsworth. The town was severely damaged by 2009’s floods, but is getting back on its feet again. Like Wordsworth, wander lonely as a cloud around the Romantics’ spiritual home.

• Catch a play or some comedy together at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal. For information on what’s on call 01539 795090.

LONDON – Chocolate and a bit of bling

England’s capital city offers a wealth of romantic opportunities, whether you’re on a budget or can splash out a bit more.

Sip a glass of champagne whilst enjoying a flight on the London Eye (pictured above). Offering views over the centre of the capital, including the Houses of Parliament, the 135 metre high wheel takes about half an hour to fully rotate. The attraction offers discounts to disabled guests, has a fast-track service and is fully accessible.

• To book, visit www.ba-londoneye.com/

Chocolate is a well-known aphrodisiac. Visit one of the capital’s chocolate shops, such as Hotel Chocolat or La Maison du Chocolat for a Valentine’s treat. Dark, milk, plain or flavoured? The choice is yours.
Dress up, then have dinner and watch a show in the West End. There are lots of shows to choose from. It’s best to book in advance if you want accessible seats, but discount tickets may be available on the day.

• Go to www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/access for information on venue access and three types of assisted performances: audio-described, sign language interpreted or captioned performances.

Explore the Tower of London and be thankful that you weren’t married to King Henry VIII who executed two of his wives there in the 16th century! The Jewel House and Crown Jewels are fully accessible. There’s also information in Braille and tactile models of the crown jewels for handling – sadly they won’t let you touch the real thing. The Tower produces an access guide and there are audio loops around. Audio guides can be used with hearings aids that have a ‘T’ switch. See www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

OXFORD – Dreaming spires and Morse’s haunts

The city of Oxford is steeped in quaint history. There’s plenty here to make the heart flutter over a weekend. Try locking yourself away with your chosen one at the Malmaison hotel. Built in the city’s prison, there are bars on some windows, even in the champagne bar. Because the hotel is newly-built it has good, general accessibility. There’s even a love suite.

• Email oxford@malmaison.com for room rates.

Oxford is internationally-known for the many colleges which make up the university. You don’t have to have a PhD though to have a look round, many colleges open their gardens up for visitors. You may have to book your romantic stroll up front. The tourist information centre has all the details – see www.visitoxford.org

Visit the castle quarter where the remains of Oxford’s castle stands. The area has been redeveloped as a tourist attraction with shops, including an arts and crafts market on from 11am, and lots of places to eat.

Hold your loved one close for a trip into the castle’s ghostly past at the “Oxford Unlocked” exhibition.

• For access information see www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk/visiting/access.htm

Pop into a pub – the Turf Tavern in the centre is one of the city’s oldest. Reached down an alleyway, it has braziers outside in the winter to keep punters warm externally and a bevy of beverages to warm you up inside.