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Romantic retreats from South Wales to Sri Lanka: Small islands, laid-back hideaways, and stylish love nests
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Taylor Owner's Cottage, Sri Lanka
There is room for just two at the newly opened Taylor Owner's Cottage, which forms part of the Ceylon Tea Trails estate of restored, former tea planters' bungalows. From its perch above the Bogawantalawa Valley, it delivers far-reaching views over the Central Highlands and tea gardens of Sri Lanka. The cottage is named in honour of Andrew Taylor, Tea Trails' former resident planter. In grand colonial style, tea for two is delivered to your bed by your butler each morning.
Hatton, Sri Lanka (00 94 11 774 5700; teatrails.com). From $1,268 (£845) per night, full board.
GoldenEye, Jamaica
As well as being the former home of author Ian Fleming and the place where he penned his James Bond novels, GoldenEye has a high romance factor. Owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, there is a laid-back feel to this hideaway on the island's north coast. Couples can book in to one of its brand new beach huts, opening on 1 April. Each one is a luxurious take on inside-out living, with outdoor showers and custom made furniture set in a 52-acre resort.
Oracabessa, Jamaica (001 876 622 9007; goldeneye.com). Doubles start at US$400 (£285), including breakfast.
La Villette au Jardin, France
Love nests don't come much more charming than this room for two surrounded by an enchanting garden and swaying wildflower meadows in the heart of La France Profonde in Normandy. Owned by a painter and landscape gardener couple, the 18th-century house sits on the edge of a tiny hamlet called La Villette, and has just one double room. A breakfast of fresh croissants and coffee is left on your doorstep each morning.
Montmerrei, Normandy, France (00 33 2 33 12 51 70; chambre-orne.fr). From €60 per night, including breakfast.
Treleddyd Fawr Cottage, Wales
Long, romantic walks along the windswept beaches of Pembrokeshire are the order of the day for couples staying at one of the National Trust's newest properties. With a clotted-cream colour exterior, Treleddyd Fawr Cottage is a traditional, two-up, two-down crofters' cottage, or tydyyn, with views of Whitesands Beach and Ramsey Island beyond. Just outside St David's, the one-bedroom bolt-hole has a yawning inglenook fireplace, exposed beams and flagstone floors.
St David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales (0344 335 1287; nationaltrustholidays.org). Three nights from £252, self-catering.
The Windmill, Greece
Built to resemble a traditional windmill, this diminutive hideaway on the island of Paxos overlooks the sea from the small hamlet of Arvanitakeika, and comes with its own pool. The small, vine-draped island is criss-crossed with walking trails, and the main town, Gaios, is a short drive away. Hop over to Antipaxos on the ferry for a day lounging on its stunning beaches.
Arvanitakeika, Paxos, Greece. One week's rental starts at £973pp, including flights from Gatwick, transfers, car hire and self-catering with Simpson Travel (020 3355 1957; simpsontravel.com).
La Toretta, Italy
Flowers tumble from almost every available space in the terrace gardens of this small, but perfectly formed, love nest on the edge of Cetona amid the enduringly romantic landscape of southern Tuscany. Villas for two are something of a rarity in this part of the world. Inside has been done with a stylishly bohemian feel and there's a vine-draped pergola for al-fresco dining with panoramas of the scenic Unesco World Heritage-listed Val d'Orcia.
Cetona, Tuscany, Italy. One week's rental starts at £822 self-catering through CV Villas (020 3773 9232; cvvillas.com).
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