Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Make the month of love the perfect excuse to whisk your special someone on a romantic adventure they'll never forget. These are our favourite things to do as a couple in Dorset.
Go for a walk
From beaches to woodlands, Dorset has no shortage of lovely places for a romantic stroll. Great walks for couples include the Iron Age fortress of Coney’s Castle near Bridport (wonderful for viewing bluebells in spring) and Weymouth’s Rodwell Trail, a walking/cycling route taking you past Sandsfoot Castle and disused railway station platforms on an old railway line, with gorgeous Portland Harbour views. See more of our tips for the best Dorset walks.
Have lunch or dinner with a sea view
Dorset has a fabulous array of beach cafés and sea-view restaurants perfect for a memorable meal for two, whatever the occasion. Among our top picks are the Hive Beach Café in Burton Bradstock 35 minutes from Greenwood Grange (with seafood platters, whole lobsters and crabs, and sharing dishes such as whole John Dory and whole sea bass with chorizo, samphire and citrus mayonnaise), and The Pig on the Beach in Studland 40 minutes from Greenwood Grange, with innovative cuisine based on the freshest ingredients from its own extensive vegetable and fruit beds.
Have a picnic together
There are few things more romantic than dining alfresco in a beautiful place on a mild day. Among Dorset’s best picnic sites, we particularly rate the Dancing Ledge near Swanage (great for spotting dolphins and puffins), the Blue Pool near Wareham in the Purbeck Hills and Fontmell Down nature reserve near Shaftesbury.
Have a traditional afternoon tea
Dorset’s cream teas give those of Devon and Cornwall a run for their money any day of the week. One of our top spots for a scrumptious plate of scones, jam and cream to share is Downhouse Farm Café in Bridport 40 minutes from Greenwood Grange, made with Dorset clotted cream from the local Leopard Dairy.
Catch a sunrise or sunset
Dorset is a spectacular place to watch the sun come up or go down, both by the sea and inland. Among our top spots are the iconicChesil Beach, Evening Hill at Sandbanks in Poole, Swyre Head (the Isle of Purbeck’s highest point) and Fishermans Bank at Christchurch. And for those who are in Dorset in December, the sun can be seen rising through the natural limestone arch of Durdle Door for about two weeks either side of 21st December, the Winter Solstice – wrap up warm and be sure to take a torch and a flask of hot drinks…
Stay somewhere special
The perfect couple’s country break requires a cosy romantic bolthole, and Greenwood Grange fits the bill with Abbotsea and Wellbridge, a duo of two-person cottages within our ‘village’ of 17 properties transformed from farm buildings built by Thomas Hardy’s father in 1849. These couple’s hideaways are wonderful for anniversaries, babymoons or honeymoons or just as a tranquil retreat away from it all.
