Date n̶i̶g̶h̶t weekend: six cosy cabins for romantic breaks

Rowing boats might bring to mind Daniel Cleaver (aka Hugh Grant) capsizing while trying to woo Bridget Jones, but your experience will be much more tranquil at The Riverside in Surrey. A former fishing lodge, it’s a mere 25 miles from London, but in this idyllic nature reserve the urban sprawl feels a world away. Pack a picnic and set out in the rowing boat for a date on the river, gliding past grazing cows and waving languidly at the occasional paddleboarder. Back at the characterful cabin, the water is only a few feet away from the covered deck and there’s a table on the river bank for romantic al fresco dinners at sunset.  If you’d rather someone else fed you, the cafés, pubs and restaurants of Ripley village are only 1.5 miles away and there are plenty of historic houses and famous gardens to explore nearby, including RHS Wisley.

A thatched converted cow shed is the setting for a romantic getaway with a culinary theme at The Gardener’s Shed in Somerset. Not only do friendly owners Ed and Vicky invite guests to join their lively supper nights up at the house, talented chef Ed offers outdoor cookery classes where you can pick ingredients in the vegetable patches before learning how to cook a few dishes over an open fire. If you’re converted to ‘farm to fork’, you can even join the pig club where your hosts will raise a piglet for you and send you the meat when it’s ready. When you need a bit of quiet time, practise your new skills on the BBQ on the deck of the cabin while taking in the spectacular views down the Axe Valley. The owners can arrange for massages and treatments on site and the Jurassic coast and bustling markets of Bridport are close by.

Culture and beer make a satisfying pairing at Lichen Cabin in Monmouthshire. Take your date for an inspiring wander around the Wye Valley Sculpture Garden next door, which is filled with owner Gemma’s creations. Then, once you’ve worked up a thirst, it’s a two-minute walk down the track to Kingstone Brewery, a friendly microbrewery with tours and tastings. They also host a popular open beer and pizza day on the first Saturday of the month. The rustic cabin is a shrine to creativity with upcycled furniture, well-stocked bookshelves, a guitar, chess and a pinboard of inspiration. Sit on the south-facing deck looking out over the apple trees or snuggle up with your partner inside for a card game in front of the log fire. When you’re ready for another adventure, the glorious River Wye, Offa’s Dyke path and Tintern Abbey are nearby and there are miles of hiking trails in the woods all around.

The wild open spaces of Cornwall will blow the cobwebs away after too much time at home on screens. At The Little Black Cabin, your winning al fresco date formula is a picnic on Chapel Porth Beach, a short walk away down a woodland path. As you sit on the sand with views of sparkling sea, tucking into a homemade feast and sipping a glass of fizz, you’ll wonder how any fancy restaurant could top this. The beach walk is one of many paths that lead straight from the cabin including another that meanders down the valley to pick up the South West Coast Path and a hike up to the top of the Beacon with views all the way to St Ives Bay. The owners of The Little Black Cabin have created a sustainable lifestyle on the five-acre site they bought 20 years ago and the cabin is a labour of love, run on renewable energy and softly illuminated at night by fairy lights.

There’s a wild magic in the air in Scotland that sets the scene for romantic wind-swept dates striding through glens and up rugged Munros. Cabin by the Castle does exactly what its name suggests, gives you doorstep access to medieval Duffus Castle, one of Scotland’s finest motte and bailey castles. The best time to walk up to it is at sunrise or sunset when the ruins catch the light spectacularly. You can even take the owner’s bat detector with you to see who’s flying around. The luxurious cabin is a masterclass in ‘coorie’ (that’s Scottish Hygge) with a huge corner sofa, modern kitchen and bathroom, and soft cashmere blankets ready for snuggling. As if all that wasn’t enough, the beautiful Moray coastline is within easy reach and from there you can take a dolphin watching boat trip.

Animals bring out our softer sides so a date that involves a few farm animals is bound to melt the heart of even the most reserved romantic. Abel’s Cabin in Somerset is on Campwell Farm, an off-grid glamping village that promotes simple, adventurous living in nature. Take your date on a lambing tour during the Spring and you can try bottle feeding the new arrivals. Or have a go at sheep herding together and see who can move the woolly crew around a course of obstacles with more skill. You might discover your partner has unexpected hidden talents in the process. The simple shingle-clad cabin has the bare essentials inside and outside there’s a firepit, wood-fired outdoor bath and hammock for peaceful al-fresco living. It might be back-to-basics but there’s a communal indoor heated pool and a games room for guests to enjoy.