14.02.2010
A quick venture into town could leave no doubt about the imminent arrival of February fourteenth, with cards and gifts for sale, advertisements hailing the perfect choice for your loved one and restaurants booking up fast wherever there is still availability. Prices of flowers and soft-toys soar and singletons increasingly adopt dejected attitudes and expressions. Whether you’re a fan of Valentine’s Day or tend to view the festival with dread and displeasure, there are lots of locations you can visit which are all sure to give you that happy buzzing feeling at the end of the weekend.
There is a plethora of quaint, old cottages in the Derbyshire Dales that all offer a night’s sleep on a huge, luxurious bed and a massive English fry-up in the morning with all the trimmings. The rolling hills, pristine countryside and timely date all combine to make a get-away to the Dales a magnificent choice at this time. With spring on the approach, the birds are starting to sing, farmers are preparing for the lambing season and with luck, you will discover a field full of flowers. Chatsworth is often a favourite with the ladies as they can imagine themselves ‘lady of the manor’. As is typical with most rural locations across the British Isles, Derbyshire also offers plenty of activities for men as well. If hikes are not your cup of tea, you could try quad-biking or even paragliding.
Further afield, though still a popular overland destination, is Dublin. With buy-on-the-day return train and ferry ticket prices starting at £60 from Reading, the eight-hour expedition itself is a recommended, affordable adventure. With scenic views featuring the rolling hills of Oxfordshire, the bustling industrial hub of Birmingham, the rugged mountains of Snowdonia and the wild Irish sea, it might be worthwhile taking time over the journey and learning Bretonic Celtic en-route. Once you arrive at Dublin, you will find a hive of activity and a true city that never sleeps. There are several historic landmarks, including the Norman Castle and Guiness factory, cheap shops, romantic restaurants and traditional pubs with nightly live performances of Irish jigs and gigs. With so much happening, you can save money and time by becoming a party animal and giving the hotel a miss.
If you are feeling itchy-footed and desperate to get away from the UK, you can’t go far wrong with Tallinn, Estonia. Due to its location on the Baltic Sea and proximity to Scandinavia, its winters are mild and many people speak English. As it is in Eastern Europe, it is still something of a hidden gem with a rich and varied history, and cheap and tasty alcoholic beverages. Food is delicious, portions are huge, and if you want to experience Continental dining on a student budget, this is definitely the right place. Estonian spas are more peaceful and better equipped than the majority of Scandinavian ones and at less than half the price, are a great way to wind down at the end of an exciting day.
Finally, if you fancy a warmer climate and culture, why not try Malta? Known for its moderate annual temperatures, frequent carnivals, Mediterranean cuisine, prehistoric remains, generosity and openness, it packs a tremendous amount of life into a tiny island. By avoiding the tourist traps of Mellieha, Marsalforn and Comino, you can experience life the Maltese way with sun, sea, sand, dancing in the streets, ever-flowing wine, and delectable seafood that has been sampled and honed over the years to increase metabolism and body chemistry!
Whatever your interests and passions at this time of year, try venturing out of the Reading bubble and see where travel can take you. If you are open to the possibility of trying new things, you might find this February to be the start of a whole new life...
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