Romantic winter breaks by a log fire

As the temperature drops and the depths of winter approach, spending even a few minutes outside can induce longing for the warm indoors. And there is no better place to warm the cockles with a loved one after a spell in the cold than by a nice cosy fireplace with a roaring log fire.

To help you find the ultimate romantic log-fire experience, Teletext Holidays has identified the ten best destinations to experience the warmth of a fire place.

Romantic winter breaks in England
Starting off close to home, Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons in Oxford combines gourmet dining with sumptuous accommodation. The hotel, owned by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, is set in a 27 acre garden and has 32 individually-styled rooms. One such room, Opium, comes highly recommended. It boasts its own private Zen garden, bamboo ornaments, and of course its own open, wood-burning fireplace.

Romantic winter breaks in Wales
Hurst House in Carmarthenshire, Wales, is a boutique property in Wales that boasts split-level rooms, each with an open fire that just invites you to curl up in front of after a day in the cold. If you can tear yourself away from lazing around reading a book or watching TV in front of the warmth of your own fire, the bar also has its own roaring fire to ensure you don't go without while having a tipple.

Romantic winter breaks France
Journey across to France and stay in Le Macassar – an art deco mansion in Corbie, Picardie. Opt for an art deco suite that offers 1920s ambience, a separate living room and of course a carved stone fireplace. For those who prefer classic French elegance, another room offers wood paneling, hand-woven rugs over waxed floorboards, and a marble fireplace.

Romantic winter breaks in Italy
Head to Tuscany, Italy and the Monsignor Della Casa Country Resort, which lies on a large 16th century estate, just 40 minutes' drive from Florence. Accommodation comprises inviting split-level suites and villas furnished with beamed ceilings, jacuzzi tubs and romantic fireplaces. The focus here is well and truly on relaxation.

Romantic winter breaks in Austria
There can be few better ways to while away time than spending a couple of hours out in the cold skiing before heading indoors, via a Turkish steam bath and sauna, to a comfortable lounge bar offering a circular log fire and all-round panoramic views. That is exactly what a break at the four-star Hotel Edelweiss und Gurgl, in the Austrian ski resort of Obergurgl, has to offer. A great way of relaxing after a day on the slopes.

Romantic winter breaks in Finland
For a true sample of rustic luxury head to the cabins of Hotel Kakslauttanen in the heart of Finnish Lapland – 250km from the Arctic Circle. The hotel's facilities include the world's largest smoke sauna, a snow restaurant, ice gallery, ice bar and ice swimming. But if all that gets a bit too cold head back to the cabins, which sleep six, boast views of the Northern Lights, and have a roaring log fire.

Romantic winter breaks in South Africa
The need to keep warm by a log fire is not something that would spring to mind to most people considering a holiday in South Africa. But the Singita Ebony Lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reseve, adjoining Kruger National Park, has several spacious suites with a fireplace to keep the nighttime chill at bay. The resort, which is consistently voted one of the world's premier safari destinations, also offers floor to ceiling windows, private patio decks, personal plunge pools and even outdoor showers offering uninterrupted views of the wildlife.

Romantic winter breaks in the US
Huge open fires blaze 24 hours a day in the ultra-luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The hotel, which was built to resemble a hunting lodge, has 237 rooms, 77 of which have fireplaces creating a private snuggle zone after a day on the slopes. The hotel is so plush that even the streets are heated to prevent any slip hazards on your return from a day's skiing.

Romantic winter breaks in Canada
Ornamental fireplaces adorn the rooms in the Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise, which enjoys a secluded location in the heart of Banff national park, Canada. The hotel is surrounded by the Rockies and a glacial lake, providing spectacular views, making it ideal for a skiing holiday or romantic winter treat.

Romantic winter breaks in Australia
La Foret Enchantee, which is entered via centuries-old French iron gates, is located in the heart of the Margaret River Wine Regions, just south of Perth, Australia. Accommodation comprises a secluded cabin in a fairytale woodland setting, just metres from the river and under a canopy of jarrah and peppermint timbers. The cabin features a marble bathroom, elegant furnishings and a flaming log fire in the living room.

For more information on romantic destinations, please visit www.teletextholidays.co.uk