As Valentine’s Day approaches and cupid draws his bow, new research from Sykes Cottages, the UK’s leading independent holiday cottage provider, has found that over a quarter (26%) of couples in the North East who enjoy doing physical activity together see a positive impact on their sex life.
The research forms part of Sykes Cottage’s campaign to champion UK breaks and help North East couples get their pulses racing over Valentine’s Day while experiencing and enjoying more of the great outdoors.
The survey also found that more than two-fifths (42%) of North East couples that take part in physical activity with their partner say it increases their overall affections for them. A third (32%) think it gives them more energy to do other things, almost a sixth (16%) say it increases their sex drive, while one in ten (8%) say it makes them feel more adventurous in the bedroom.
Overall, North East couples who get active together feel a positive impact on their relationship. The research revealed that it helps almost a sixth (15%) of those coupled up argue less, while over half (56%) said it makes them laugh more with each other. Half of couples in the North East (50%) found it actually helps them to talk to each other more and nearly a sixth (15%) said it helps to build trust in their relationship.
Uncovering what couples across the UK think is the most romantic activity to do this Valentine’s Day, Sykes’ independent survey found that a weekend break to the country took the top spot. Followed closely by a candle-lit meal at a restaurant (25%) and a weekend city-break (16%).
James Shaw, chief marketing officer at Sykes Cottages, said: “A weekend break to the country is one of the best ways that couples can get their pulses racing, from paragliding in the Lake District to caving in Somerset and rafting in Wales, we really do have it all here in the UK.
“It’s also pretty incredible to see that so many couples in the North East are not only staying active together, but that doing so positively impacts on their love life. We’d definitely encourage more couples to get out there and try a bond-building country break this Valentine’s Day. And most importantly, see if it helps to spice up their relationship.”
Leading psychologist, Donna Dawson, commented on the pulse-racing findings and has also revealed the UK’s most-active breaks for couples looking to strengthen their bonds together, she said: “Indiana Jones got it right, adventure leads to romance! Any physical activity where you have to work together as a couple, strive for a goal, prove your prowess and endure a degree of fear or excitement releases hormones that encourage bonding, loyalty and trust.
“Add to that increased self-esteem and ‘couple pride’ in an activity enjoyed and successfully completed, and you have the perfect opportunity for a multitude of good feelings to channel themselves into romance, affection, better sex and more. It’s been proven: the relationship that plays together, stays together.”
The UK’s top seven bond-building breaks, compiled by leading psychologist Donna Dawson:
1) Rafting in Wales: Rafting is a competitive, high-octane activity, where you compete against the currents and possibly against other rafts. At the same time, your companions need to cooperate with each other, working as a team to keep the raft stable and afloat. The roar of the water, the speed, motion, and implicit sense of danger all work together to create an exhilarating atmosphere that raises your pulse rate and releases adrenaline, causing you to feel excited but focused and alert. Also released is a hormone called ‘oxytocin’, which encourages feelings of trust and social bonding – and more specifically, pair-bonding. It is the hormone that encourages fidelity, and it makes those heightened feelings of togetherness last, long after the event itself is over.
Does rafting in Wales take your fancy? Then why not visit Coniston, in Rhos-on-Sea, which is just a couple minutes’ walk to the coast: http://www.sykescottages.co.
2) Hiking in the Yorkshire Dales: This is a wonderful, mellow way to get close to each other. Ambling at your own pace, you can relax and unwind in the Great Outdoors. Away from the stress of daily life, conversation flows more naturally. An hour of such aerobic activity releases feel-good chemicals in the brain such as ‘Anandamide’ (AEA, also known as the “bliss” compound) that help you to feel happy and serene. Any feelings of anxiety or depression disappear. If the sun is shining, your skin will absorb UV rays that will be converted to ‘serotonin’, another happiness chemical. Laughter also boosts serotonin production, and the end-result is that you will return to your hotel feeling relaxed, happy, and in the mood for more romance.
For a hiking break in the Yorkshire Dales, Poppy Cottage No 1 near Skipton offers all you could need on your doorstep and more: http://www.sykescottages.co.
3) Surfing in Ireland: This activity challenges you in many ways: catching the surf, staying upright on your board, and riding the wave to the end. You compete to do the best against yourself and you also compete with each other, to see who can stand up first. It provides the same kind of adrenalin rush as rafting, but it’s more personal, because it’s each man for himself. It requires stamina, endurance, perseverance and hard work, but there is a reward at the end of it – an experience that immerses you in nature, puts you at one with the ocean and wind, and makes you feel more alive. To succeed in this stimulating environment makes you feel better about your own abilities and those of your partner. You have tested yourselves and won.
Surfs-up in Ireland. Why not try visiting Summerfield Lodge in County Cork for a white-knuckle experience: http://www.sykescottages.co.
4) Rock-Climbing in the Peak District: This is a very precise and methodical activity that requires careful planning and the utmost concentration and cooperation. You need to trust each other implicitly, because where you put your hands and feet on the next move will determine your safety. A slight feeling of ‘fear’ is a great binder, and working together through that fear releases the bonding chemical, ‘oxytocin’. After a successful climb, you gain a sense of both your own achievement and that of being part of a striving, ambitious couple. Both of these feelings lead to appreciating each other more.
Fancy heading to the Peak District for a rock-climbing adventure? France Fold Cottage near Holmfirth is the quintessential country pad to complete your trip: http://www.sykescottages.co.
5) Horse-Riding in Cornwall: This is a sport that challenges you to multi-task: staying in control of your horse, keeping up with your partner or the group, and appreciating the scenery. Once you have conquered any anxiety, you gain a euphoric feeling of being at one with Nature and with your mount. You have the choice to be as relaxed or as active as you want – a quiet walk, a brisk trot or an all-out gallop. You can either lead the way, shadow your partner or challenge him/her to a race; it’s your call. The freedom, the fresh air and sunlight, the feeling of mastery, the different perspective on the natural world, all contribute to a sense of well-being that you can both revel in.
Bude, near Cornwall, is the perfect place for a spot of horse-riding so why not take a trip to Stables Barn to complete your getaway: http://www.sykescottages.co.
6) Caving in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset: This activity combines the care and caution of rock-climbing with the personal achievement associated with either horse-riding or surfing. However, because it all takes place in an enclosed, dark space, it can create a frisson of fear that challenges you to conquer and control it. Fear transforms into feelings of ‘excitement’, as you work closely with your surroundings and each other. This is an experience that boosts the romance quotient, because when danger is shared, you bond more closely together.
Cheddar Gorge is a caving hotspot and this barn is perfect for some rest and recuperation after a long day of pulse-racing activity:
http://www.sykescottages.co.
7) Paragliding in the Lake District: If you want the ultimate surge of adrenaline, then this is the activity for you. If one of you is proficient, then the two of you can fly strapped together (tandem). Not only will you experience flying as if you were ‘one body’, but the bonding hormone, oxytocin, as well as adrenaline, will act to heighten the whole experience. Up in the air, you both experience the world from a whole new dimension, and the rush of sights and sounds will leave an overwhelming impression. Once landed, relief, gratitude and the survival instinct kicks in, making you feel much closer to the person you shared it with.
After a day up in the skies, ‘Secret Nook’ in the Lake District is the perfect chill-out hideaway:http://www.sykescottages.co.
Based in Chester, Sykes Cottages offers a fantastic choice of over 7,500 holiday rentals across the UK and Ireland from cosy cottages for two – to larger properties that sleep 20 or more.
Founded 25 years ago, Sykes Cottages is one of the best-known brands and most respected operators in the holiday cottage rental agency market, having won the British Travel Award for best large self-catering agency for four consecutive years.
To book your bond-building break, please visit: http://www.sykescottages.co.