With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you’re maybe starting to think about planning a little something for your special someone.
If you’re looking for that special idea, let us grab our bow and arrow and help you out.
While we can’t deliver the romantic days of steam travel and the accompanying glamour, we can certainly get you where you need to be for a day or evening of quality time with your loved one. Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, so if it’s an evening you’re heading out for or planning a bigger weekend away, an Off-Peak ticket will save you some pennies for the grand gesture.
Here are a few of our favourite ideas to get you started:
A night at the movies
There are plenty of opportunities to cuddle up with your loved one in the dark in front of the big screen with the likes of the Vue, Odeon and Showcase Cinemas in city centres across the country. But why not enjoy a quirky and more romantic cinema experience at some of Scotland’s vintage picture halls? We’re spoilt for choice in Glasgow with two great places to choose from - The Grosvenor
with its comfy leather sofas and Everyman Cinema
(pictured) in Princes Square with its super-snuggly armchairs and sofas. Everyman is showing the romantic classic Ghost on February 14th, or if you would rather celebrate the special girls in your life, you can celebrate ‘Galentine’s Day’ on the 13th with a showing of Booksmart.
The east of the country has some classic cinemas for a cosy evening out - why not try the Perth Playhouse where you can enjoy craft beers before or after your film in its adjoining City Café? The Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen is also a good shout for those up North. For those of you in easy reach of Edinburgh, The Dominion is perfect for a cosy evening.
Share a chateaubriand
Is there anything better than enjoying a juicy steak and a nice bottle of red wine with your loved-one on Valentine’s Day? You can’t beat a speciality steak restaurant and Scotland has loads! Miller and Carter is one of our favourites though and with restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, which are all walking distance from train stations, you can enjoy a nice romantic meal on the town with your other half.
Be swept away by enchanting castles
Nowhere else in the world will you find such an abundance of castles so spectacular they’ll take your breath away. Get caught up in the romance and imagine yourself being swept away with a day trip to a Scottish Castle. The most famous is probably Edinburgh Castle - nestled in the heart of the city, it’s easy to reach by train and offers so much history to uncover. Or you could head to Stirling Castle. Sitting atop a huge volcanic rock, the views are something else. Looking for the wow-factor? Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven definitely won’t disappoint with jaw-dropping views and a dramatic cliff-top backdrop.
Put a ring on it?
If you’re planning a proposal this Valentine’s Day, well conveniently enough, the Scottish Wedding Show takes place the following weekend at the SEC Glasgow. It’s the ideal event for couples across the country who are planning to walk down the aisle. There will be a wide range of wedding suppliers exhibiting and you can even enjoy a live band showcase to find your perfect wedding singers.
For the singletons...
If you find yourself without a date come Valentine’s Day, there’s no need to stay home and wallow. Grab your pals and head for a spa day. Many spas include fitness centres so those of you still committed to your ‘new year, new me’ resolution can go for a workout. Or for those purely looking to relax, you could enjoy a swim and soak in a jacuzzi before signing up for a massage treatment. There’s loads of choice of spas across the country but some of our favourites include the Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow, the Carnoustie Golf Hotel and Spa, and Pure Spa in Edinburgh.
You could even give speed dating a try. With events at the Paramount Bar in Aberdeen and the Corinthian Club in Glasgow, you could very well meet ‘the one’ this February 14th.