Honeymoon destinations

Recently we received a postcard from my partner’s grandparents. He smiled as he read their delight scribed on the back. They were back in Minehead, Somerset after nearly 60 years of marriage. It was where they had honeymooned all those years ago and the memories they retold were with great fondness – all golden tint and cheery Call the Midwife tone. Whether you fancy the far flung, or the close to home, or maybe inbetween, there are plenty of options for you and your beau. Here are a few ideas. (As far as the secret to nearly 60 years of marriage – to be continued.)

Italy
A clearly romantic destination; the food, language and passion. If you don’t fancy the flight there, you can head off by rail and share a bottle of Merlot on the night train to Florence, via Paris. Stop off in the city of lights for a night or two before hopping on the Thello train, delicately waving goodbye to Paris as the train chugs away. Like an old movie, taking the train across the heart of Europe is incredibly charming. The food in Florence is deliciously fresh, grown in the surrounding countryside – pop to Gusta Pizza and enjoy boar’s meat sandwiches from I Due Fratelli. As far as accommodation, if you want those stunning hilltop views, stay at  Hotel de Monteverdi, with vistas across the UNESCO-protected Val d’Orcia (picture 2) – a Tuscan sanctuary.
 www.monteverdituscany.com/hotel

Portugal
Luxurious yurt positioned within a valley of northern Portugal (picture 3). Hannah and Derrick and their two children originally from London, have created a sanctuary for couples. The yurts come with a four-poster bed, glorious breakfast in the morning and home cooked dinner upon request. Wild swimming is close by, walks with stunning views surround and there’s a sweet village a short drive away. The yurts are solar panelled and the family work on the gardens growing produce and have a clever – and beautiful – terrace water filtration system. You can hear Derrick’s jazz and laughter through the valley and Hannah is a wonderful artist. A blissful escape. www.yurtholidayportugal.com

Sri Lanka
It’s a long-haul flight to lush green hills, tea plantations and quiet white sand beaches. While the flight is quite expensive, the cost of living is relatively low in Sri Lanka and you can stay in luxurious colonial hotels for around £60/night. That said, there are some fantastic guest houses where the owners will cook you up a storm and you can stay up playing local game Carrom, chatting and drinking cold beers. It would be a crime not to explore Sri Lanka, so hop on the trains and breathe in the impressive scenery. Go up to Ella, to the mountains and down to Galle abundant in history, Midigama for surfing and then Mirissa (picture 1) for those coconut drinking, hammock swinging moments.
Flights from £488 with Emirates.

South West England
Keeping it more local, Blue Chip holidays offer luxury lodges with hot tubs, and log-burning stoves, nestled within the English countryside. Stonerush Lakes (picture 1) cover 28 acres and Blue Chip’s lodges sport panoramic views either across the lake, or sweeping across Cornish countryside. Each lodge has a private decking areas for glasses of bubbles and the estate’s restaurant The Old Mill, serves delicious lakeside meals. Nearby you can discover author Daphne du Maurier’s home, Fowey, accessed by the Bodinnick Ferry. Take a boat along the estuary while you’re there and absorb the landscape that inspired Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. www.bluechipholidays.co.uk