A romantic picnic is a wonderful way to spend a lazy day, or just an hour or two

A romantic picnic is a great way to show you care, whether you’re at the beginning of a relationship, or you’ve been married for ages.

Pick a venue you know – one where you’re certain you can be alone. It’s not a good idea to try out a new venue for a romantic picnic, because it might not turn out to be quite what you think. You don’t want to share your picnic spot with a herd of cows, a plague of midges or a crowd of fruit-pickers!

If you have children and can’t escape too far, why not have a picnic in the garden under a canopy or in a tent? The children can be in bed or at an age where the garden is “out of bounds” for an hour or so, but you are close-by in case of emergencies.

If a short journey’s no problem, choose somewhere you know your partner would like, a hidden recess with a nice view or the noise of running water for example.

No babbling brook or gently breaking waves nearby? Perhaps you could have some of their favourite music – or how about an old favourite such as “All you need is Love” by the Beatles.

Don’t kill the passion by forgetting to pack a waterproof blanket, a cosy rug and perhaps some pretty cushions. You might be advised to put in an umbrella too – preferably a large, golfing one. Many a romance has been signed, sealed and delivered in wet weather!

You have something even more romantic in mind? How about a picnic in a boat or after a horseback ride? If you don’t own horses, you might be able to hire them and if you can’t ride animals, how about bicycles? The ones with picnic baskets in the front of course!

Maybe you want to say “I’m sorry” or “Thank you” or just simply “I love you”. A romantic picnic is a great way to do this and one that will surely get his/her full attention, especially if you organize it in advance and the picnic is unexpected.

Sunrise or sunset are good times for romantic picnics. A picnic under a full moon is romantic too, and if you have a cozy blanket to snuggle under if it gets chilly, and some torches, candles, or glow sticks pushed into the grass, sand or soil, so much the better.

To add to the romantic ambience, little tea-lights can be concealed inside coloured glass tumblers and if they are citronella tea-lights they have the advantage of keeping bugs away too.

If you get the time and place right and you’re with the one you love, is the food important? Yes of course it is!

Romantic picnic food should be different to the normal meals you share together but it doesn’t have to be extravagant.

Keep things simple, delicate and tasty. Make the food look attractive and think in terms of nibbles rather than a big nosh!

Champagne is always seen as romantic but it’s not appropriate if you’re driving or riding on horseback! If you do have champagne, then take proper champagne flutes (it’s just not the same drinking champers out of plastic cups!) and 2 white linen napkins.

If there’s no chance of the sun on your back on your romantic picnic, then choose something like a steaming flask of soup and fresh baguettes stuffed with figs, blue cheese and honey.

Sausages, wrapped in foil and still warm if possible, ready to dip in a spicy salsa, will also keep the fire in your heart on a chilly day!

In warmer weather, bread and cheese, some olives, a healthy dip or two, with crudités – is romantic picnic food at its best.

Wine, cheese and fruit is often the most indulgent and sexy. Take a freshly baked loaf of bread and food that you can eat off one shared plate. Add a paté, thin slices of prosciutto or parma ham, sliced sausage, prawns, smoked salmon, anchovy fillets and other tidbits if you wish.

Make it a really aphrodisiac experience by feeding each other. Keep your eyes closed while your lover feeds you. A much more sensuous way of eating and you’ll savour the taste more! And, (need I say it?) – avoid garlic in the food, unless you both love it.

As a last temptation, how about some peppermint creams? Or a bar of luxury chocolate might do the trick and is simplicity itself to provide.

If you’re not a sweet-tooth sort of couple, then whisper your sweet nothings over a piece of runny Brie or nutty Manchego cheese with a crisp apple or pear, or a handful of bright red cherries.

If you want to put more time into an “I love you” desert, then bake a heart-shaped chocolate or cheese cake and, either decorate with such things as nuts and rose petals, or make it as whacky and personal as you like by writing love notes on it in icing.

Enjoy melt-in-the-mouth, heart-shaped, biscuits with voluptuous, creamy deserts or strawberries dipped in chocolate sauce – and then lick each other’s fingers . . . .