If you're after some Valentine's inspiration look no further than the National Trust.

From experiencing country house living in the wing of a stately home in Worcestershire, to rustic coastal life in a renovated Shepherd's hut in Cornwall, the National Trust has hundreds of romantic retreats to choose from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Here are some of the best places to whisk your loved one away to, and if you're searching for a January deal a handful have savings of 15%.

The Water Tower, Trelissick, Cornwall
This extraordinary tower is Trelissick's icon, and it's about as quirky a holiday cottage as you could wish for. Four storeys high, and yet with only one room on each floor, the Water Tower has fifty internal steps as the narrow spiral staircase winds up past each circular room. One for garden lovers there are 500-acres to explore, including waterside meadows and deep wooded valleys with sub-tropical plants.
Price: £535 (10-13 February)

Alder Cottage, County Fermanagh
Located in the Old Farmyard courtyard at the heart of the Crom Estate this cottage has one large, lovely sunlit bedroom and a cosy sitting room with an open log fire. On the doorstep are Crom's 2000 acres of waterways, woodland, parkland and historic buildings, all ready to be explored.
Price: £294 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February)

Sand Wath, nr Penrith, Cumbria
Approached through sweeping parkland which guests can enjoy after hours, Bank Wood offers couples the chance chance to stay in their very own country house. Situated in the west wing of Acorn House, a Grade I listed mansion, this beautiful apartment boasts original features and antiques.
Price: £333 for three nights (17-20 February only)

Nant Las Snowdonia
A chocolate box cottage wrapped in woodland, rose-pink and white against the rugged green hills of Snowdonia National Park, Nant Las is the ultimate romantic hideaway. The cottage may be teensy, but the scenery is epic, with forest walks in all directions, and easily accessible by footpath, is Rhaiadr Ddu, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Wales.
Price: £378 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February)

Chapel Lodge, Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk
For fairy-tale romance this 19th century ginger-bread like timbered cottage is situated in the grounds of the National Trust's moated manor house Oxburgh Hall. Proposal perfect backdrops include the family chapel, which married airmen from the nearby RAF base during the Second World War, the small bridges and summer houses of My Lady's Wood or the untamed landscape of the Wilderness. And after all that exploring the cottage has the perfect cosy living room complete with wood burning stove, white-washed walls and exposed beams.
Price: £385 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February)

Pontbrenmydyr, Aberaeron, Mid Wales
Located in the beautiful Aeron Valley, on the Llanerchaeron estate this cottage is an early seventeenth century Clom (mud constructed walls), stone and thatch cottage. One for country lovers, there's the working farm to explore with its rare Welsh breeds as well as a productive working walled garden, an ornamental lake and parkland and the John Nash (of Brighton Pavilion and Buckingham Palace) designed villa.
Price: £389 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February)

Peel Bothy, Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland
Surrounded by miles of rolling countryside and with no Wi-Fi or phone reception this one storey stone cottage dating from the 1850s is perfect for couples looking for total escapism. Backing onto Hadrian's Wall there are walks in all directions and with two dogs allowed to stay too, there's no need to leave the pooches out of the fun either.
Price: £416 for three nights (17-20 February)

Old Mill Cottage, Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire
Sleeps 3
Cottages don't come more picturesque than this; dating back to the 15th century, it has a pretty woodland garden, beamed living room complete with inglenook fireplace and is reached via a footbridge over a stream. It's also situated on the Brockhampton Estate which means the romantic 14th century timber-framed moated manor is just waiting to be explored, along with miles of footpaths which wind their way across woods and parkland, through farms and down hidden dingles.
Price: £435 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February) (sleeps three)

Minstergate, York, Yorkshire
Few places can boast the history and character of York and for a truly authentic experience you'd be hard pressed to beat the atmosphere of this building, with its exposed timbers, sloping floors and interesting nooks and crannies, not to mention its views overlooking York Minster. Simply open the front door and get exploring, discovering ancient churches and cobbled alleyways with pubs and tearooms along the way.
Price: £460 for three nights (17-20 February) (sleeps three)

Saxon Cottage Steyning, Sussex
Looking for a taste of life in a market town? This thatched cottage stands in a convenient location just off Steyning's bustling High Street, with its independent shops, cafes, restaurants and monthly farmer's market. It's also just a short bus ride to the hustle and bustle of Brighton, so you get the best of both worlds. There's also easy access to countryside, including the South Downs Way.
Price: £477 for three nights (10-13 or 17-20 February) (sleeps three)

Groom's Cottage, Corfe Castle, Dorset
This quirky and romantic little cottage is located in the heart of the magical village of Corfe Castle, with its independent shops, pubs, tearooms and museums right on your doorstep. The imposing ruins of Corfe Castle towers above the village. With over 1000 years of history as a royal palace and fortress it's well worth exploring, especially as it hill top position offers breathtaking views across Purbeck.
Price: £476 for three nights (10-13 February)

A handful of National Trust cottages are offering savings of 15%

Special offers

Tri-A-Hanner, Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd
With its clear sheltered waters lapping against two dozen stout stone houses, Porthdinllaen really is a jewel. With its prime location, this cosy cottage will be a favourite amongst couples who want to wake up to the sound of the sea, as it is set back just a few metres from the beach. Don't miss watching fishermen bring in the daily catch while relaxing with a drink at the Tŷ Coch Inn, which opened as an inn in 1842 to feed the hungry (and thirsty) shipbuilders who worked on the beach.
Price: £322.15 was £379 (10-13 February)

Granny's, Gorran, Cornwall
This deceptively spacious little cottage was once home to Granny Whetter, matriarch of the local farming family. It is a charming building, with the bedroom taking up the whole of the first floor and gardens to the side and front. Snug and cosy, this is a perfect base for exploring the beaches of Vault and Hemmick as well as the unspoilt coastal village of Gorran Haven.
Price: £300.90 was £354 (10-13 February)

South Wing, Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire
Built in 1701, Hanbury Hall is an elegant William and Mary style house standing in acres of stunning gardens and fine parkland. This second floor apartment in the Hall, with its wooden panelling and exposed beams gives a taste of life in a stately home, and offers the chance to experience life the eighteenth century gardens and wider estate after hours.
Price: £323.85 was £381 (10-13 February)

Engine Cottage, Cotehele, Cornwall
Engine Cottage is tucked into a valley with the woods rising steeply behind. This intriguing building was originally built in the early 19th century to house a Cornish beam engine, used to pump water out of the Danescombe Valley Mine (sometimes called Wheal Calstock). Later it was reused as a blacksmith's shop on the ground floor, with a miner's dry (changing room) on the floor above. Today it makes a cosy and romantic little hideaway in a wonderfully secluded part of the Cotehele estate.
Price: £328.10 was £386 (10-13 February)

5 Rowleaze Cottage, Farringdon, Oxfordshire
This traditional estate workers' cottage is situated at the end of a row in a peaceful rural setting in the historic market town of Farringdon. Close to the Thames there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy country walks to and watch the swans and boats pootle by, or for the more adventurous row boats can be hired nearby. And with a cosy log fire to return to it's the perfect romantic break in the country.
Price: £349.35 was £411 (10-13 February)

Penarvon Cabin ,Helston, Cornwall
This romantic little wooden cabin perches amongst trees on a low bluff above Penarvon Cove, on the outskirts of Helford village. Below you, the waters of the Helford lap at the shore and birds feed on the incoming tide, close by are the popular pub and post office in the village and the ferry to the northern bank. A circular walk behind the cabin leads through woodland and past the commemorative chapel of St Francis on the water's edge.
Price: £359.55 was £423 (10-13 February)

Skipper's Cabin, nr Padstow, Cornwall
Thankfully there are no shepherding duties when you check into Skipper's Cabin, a renovated traditional stone shepherd's hut in an enviable position at the head of a secluded valley running down to Porth Mear cove. Porthcothan's sandy beach is just a mile away, making this the perfect base for wintry coastal walks.
Price: £303.45 was £357 (10-13 February)

Pont Creek Cottage, Lanteglos-by-Fowey, Cornwall
Just metres from the water's edge, and with densely-wooded banks rising on either side, Pont Creek Cottage makes a cosy and enchanting base from which to explore the delights of the Fowey estuary. Fowey is a charming and bustling coastal town with plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs guests will be spoiled for choice.
Price: £333.20 was £392 (10-13 February)

Serpentine, Helston, Cornwall
Just above Cadgwith Cove, the National Trust has converted three barns of the former Inglewidden Farm into comfortable, single-storey holiday accommodation. A few minutes' walk along the coast path takes you to the awesome Devil's Frying Pan - a large sea-cave whose collapsed roof has left its entrance forming a bridge to a bay which 'boils' during rough weather. Cadgwith itself - with its charismatic pub, cafe and shops - is a short walk down a delightful path, whilst the villages of Ruan Minor, Mullion and the Lizard are nearby.
Price: £409.70 was £482 (10-13 February)

Book online at nationaltrustholidays.org.uk or call 0344 800 2070

Packed with feel-good appeal every single National Trust holiday cottage booking supports the Trust's work as a charity looking after special places, for ever, for everyo