We love city life, we really do, but romance is not always conducive to it.

It's harder to exchange sweet nothings with your amour when your phone's going off every two minutes and you've spent your day being elbowed out the way by strangers on the tube escalators. 

For true love to flourish, we need space - lots of it - and preferably no mobile reception.

But that idyll of cosy log fires and king-size beds needn't cost the earth. We've selected five charming and remote cottage escapes for under £500 a week.

From a converted barn in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales to a split-level Derbyshire studio complete with whirlpool bath, these off-radar retreats guarantee a little luxury peace and quiet: 

This converted stone barn in the heart of Teesdale is perfect for who really want to get away from it all. Situated in the peaceful village of Romaldkirk, it is surrounded by miles of secluded countryside with cycle trails, rivers and the nearby Eggleston Hall to explore. An open-plan kitchen with patio doors leads onto a large garden, with rambling fields in the distance. Foodies will delight in the award-winning Rose & Crown restaurant and hotel just up the road. 

Sleeps 2. From £221 for a seven-night stay, sykescottages.co.uk

Nearest train station: Darlington (21 miles away)

Hope Cottage is a delightfully snug hideaway in the south Cotswolds village of France Lynch. It is beautifully appointed with spectacular views of the Golden Valley and several good, friendly pubs in walking distance. Built in 1753, it has plenty of character features including exposed stone walls and beamed ceilings. Warm up by the wood-burning stove or take a trip to the award-winning farmer's market in the nearby town of Stroud. 

Sleeps 2. From £75 a night for a minimum three-night stay, hopecottageholidays.co.uk

Nearest train station: Stroud (five miles away)

The Barn, in the village of Manaton, is a magical spot that's shrouded by the moors, woodlands and fields of Dartmoor National Park. On winter nights, you can gather around the quaint kitchen Rayburn or snuggle up in the king-size bed. During summer months, the private terrace garden is a great spot to watch the sun set from. Water comes from an on-site spring and you can buy homegrown organic veg from the cottage's B&B owners. 

Sleeps 2. From £245 a week, sawdays.co.uk

Nearest train station: Newton Abbot (10 miles away)

This Norfolk flint cottage dates back to 1812 and is beautiful inside and out. There are two bedrooms (one king-size) kitted out with Egyptian Cotton sheets and large bath sheet towels, and a pretty courtyard garden. The house is situated in Burnham Market, a thriving Georgian town filled with art galleries, independent boutiques and well-respected places to eat, such as The Hoste. The delights of the North Norfolk coastline are a stone's throw away. 

Sleeps 4. From £370 a week, norfolklavendercottages.co.uk

Nearest train station: King's Lynn (20 miles away)

This arty, chic retreat falls just outside the budget of our selection (it's under £500 for a three-day stay, not a week) but it's worth it for a series of luxury amenities including a two-seater whirlpool bath and a romantic galleried bedroom. The former barn, which blends antique and modern furniture, boasts a log-burning stove, an iPad for guests to use and homemade cakes on arrival. The haven is dog-friendly, so you can bring yours along to enjoy one of the Peak District's many splendid walks. 

Sleeps 2. From £395 for a minimum three-night stay, tomsbarn.co.uk

Nearest train station: Matlock (12 miles away)

Words: Anna Brech