When I told my boyfriend we were heading on a weekend away at Europe’s most romantic resort, he was – naturally – very excited.
‘Is it in Paris?’ he asked. ‘Rome? The south of France?’ Then, optimistically, ‘the Maldives?’
Wrong on all accounts – in fact, we would be travelling just over two hours from home in London to the middle of the English countryside: Derbyshire would be the place for Cupid to strike.
Swinney Wood Log Cabins, right on the edge of the Peak District, was voted Europe’s Most Romantic Resort 2025 in the World Travel Awards.
And while it might not possess the glitz and glam of places like the Ritz in London or Paris’s elegant five-star hotels, it has features I consider deeply romantic: peace, privacy and time to spend together as a couple.
Living in London and both working busy jobs, it’s increasingly difficult for my boyfriend and I to get quality time alone without distractions.
The notion of a whole long weekend without a single interruption is almost unheard of, amid our work, busy social lives and travel.
As we drive north through the countryside, we’re dreaming of everything we’ll get up to – naturally, because we’re both super-organised ‘Type A’ people, we’ve created an itinerary.
There are several small towns to explore nearby, as well as many walks, National Trust properties and more. We’ve even come prepared with a couple of board games and a stack of cards.
There’s lots to do in the area, and we grab a coffee in nearby Belper – a 2019 winner in the Great British High Street awards – en route.
It’s pretty, and full of cute coffee shops including Cocoa Cafe @ I Should Cocoa, where we stop for an hour to enjoy the small-town atmosphere. It’s also home to Crich Brew Co Tap Room, a microbrewery tap room with a rustic bar.
Shortly after we arrive, that itinerary goes out of the window.
Driving up to Swinney Wood and the out cabin with our names on, Serein, it’s abundantly clear that this is not the place for a jam-packed weekend – not because it’s quiet (although it is), but because the charm comes from the slowing.
Gone is the hustle and bustle of London and the chaos of our daily lives – it’s like time has slowed down. Instead of the busy, ‘productive’, activity-filled weekend we planned, we find we’re both content to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Serein, we are informed, means ‘fine rain that falls at sunset.’ Our cabin’s theme is described: ‘Here you can gaze upon the natural beauty of the land with Serein overlooking the stunning Derbyshire countryside. Snuggle up under the stars and find your little piece of heaven.’
Our home for the weekend is a two-storey rustic log cabin that sleeps two adults, with ebbing views of the spectacular Derwent Valley, a World Heritage site recognised by UNESCO for its outstanding international importance.
The first order of business is, of course, the private hot tub and sauna.
We crack open a bottle of Prosecco for me and a beer for my boyfriend; fortunately, the cabin has a wine cooler, so we’re blessed with ice-cold beer from the comfort of our hot tub while we enjoy the unobstructed views of the countryside stretching out before us.
It clearly lives up to expectations. We’re lucky to be blessed with rain, albeit slightly after sunset and of the ‘pouring’ rather than ‘fine’ variety, but the ambience of a private hot tub while we listen to the sounds of pattering rain is like something out of a rom com.
We’re impressed by the open plan kitchen and living area with a log burner and a luxury bathroom – with the largest shower I’ve ever seen.
In the bathroom, we find two dressing gowns, slippers and Molton Brown mini toiletries – perfect for an at-home spa night.
As an avid chef, I’m keen to properly scope out the kitchen. To my pleasant surprise, it’s extremely well kitted-out.
On our first night, I manage to rustle up a salmon dish. With better equipment than my own kitchen at home, I feel like Gordon Ramsay – there an induction hob, oven, high-quality knives and much more.
Upstairs, there’s a king size four-poster bed, as well as a free-standing tin bath and an internal bridge leading out to the first floor balcony.
There are three other cabins, too, boasting equal luxury.
With only four cabins available, it’s easy to see why Swinney Wood is in such high demand – I can only imagine how many other couples would enjoy the quiet, tourist-free privacy the lodges provide.
Each cabin has been individually crafted from Western Red Cedar tree trunks, giving it an authentic, natural feel.
Rebecca, Swinney Wood’s director, tells me: ‘Our aim has always been simple: to create a truly romantic, peaceful retreat where guests can step away from busy lives and reconnect – with nature and with each other.
‘Every detail has been thoughtfully designed to offer privacy, comfort, and a sense of calm, while still preserving the integrity of the woodland around us.’
My boyfriend and I spend most of the weekend watching movies, catching up, relaxing in the hot tub and doing very little else, very much in line with the purpose of these cabins.
By our fourth and last day, we decide we absolutely must explore the area a bit.
A highlight is the Tissington Trail – we walk a short three-mile stretch from Tissington to Ashbourne, where we enjoy a well-deserved pub lunch at Machine Inn.
I enjoy the soy and Guinness braised blade of beef while my boyfriend tucks into fish and chips; we’re thoroughly impressed with this classic British fare.
We also venture to nearby National Trust property Kedleston Hall, built in the 1760s as the seat of the Curzon family.
On our final morning, after breakfast and, more importantly, a final cup of coffee enjoyed from the comfort of our hot tub (at 9am, I might add), we set off home.
I might be a city girl at heart, but I feel myself gazing back longingly as the fields and quiet gradually fade away behind us.
