Valentine’s Day, celebrated on 14th February, is believed to have stemmed from a Roman named St Valentine who was martyred on that date in 269AD and left a card for the jailer’s daughter signed ‘From Your Valentine…’  St Valentine eventually became the patron saint of lovers and it is following his lead that romantic messages are exchanged on 14th February each year.

Many people celebrate Valentine’s Day in that way – swapping cards, normally signed ‘From Your Valentine’ to add an air of mystique, and others give their loved ones chocolates and flowers.  A lucky few get taken away for a romantic break!

If you don’t want the stress or expense of travelling abroad for a short break, why not look closer to home?  There are many fantastic short breaks here in the UK.  You could take the car, but with the ever-increasing cost of petrol – and perhaps a desire to spend the journey gazing into the eyes of your loved one rather than at the road – you may decide to do what so many people are choosing to do these days and take a Stagecoach bus to one of several destinations in the UK  that are simply great for romantic getaways.

Stagecoach buses run all over the country, from the South West of England up to the North of Scotland and most places in between.

If you’re thinking of heading up to Scotland this Valentine’s Day, you’ll be following in the footsteps of several celebrities who have chosen to tie the knot up there, so beautiful and picturesque is the scenery… an ideal destination if you’re thinking of popping the big question this Valentine’s Day.

Or head up to the North East, which has a surprising number of beautiful areas to explore, like Bamburgh beach (ideal for romantic walks with gorgeous views of Holy Island or Budle Bay), or Embleton Bay.

Further south, in Yorkshire, there are also plenty of romantic places for a Valentine’s break – some beautiful harbours in the East Riding, castles and abbeys to explore in the North, West and South Ridings.

Wales is an easy place to picture as an ideal destination for a romantic break – all those hills, valleys, beaches and coastal walks.  Utterly charming towns and villages, castles and coves.  The same applies to the South West coast, with plenty of beautiful harbours, coastal paths, wide sandy beaches and mountainous paths to trek along, followed by a cosy night in together.

Wherever you decide to visit for Valentine’s Day and the surrounding days, take the Stagecoach bus – and even better, you can earn My Ice points that can lead to some fantastic savings – visit www.myice.com for details.  It’s free to join, all you have to do is book with their selected partners (like Stagecoach) to earn points that can be used as payment for other services.