Ten Ideas For High Summer Dating

It’s no secret that we love summer. All those long, hot days, tennis tournaments, BBQs with friends and family, not to mention the incredible profusion of summer fruits and fresh vegetables to choose from. With all this joy in the air, it’s a wonderful time to get outside and get dating too. We’ve put together our ten favourite ideas for summer countryside dates.

1. Beer garden or rooftop terrace

Balmy summer evenings make outdoor dating a pleasure. Pub gardens are a fab place to meet for a first date; they tend to be really busy and accessible, making it a safe and easy option. You can also turn the evening into drinks and dinner if things are going well, or part ways after just one drink if your date isn’t for you. The informal vibe of being outdoors makes the whole experience a little more relaxed too and, if you’re a dog-lover, you might even be able to take along your own faithful companion too.

2. Picnic party

Remember that abundance of fruit and vegetables that we mentioned earlier? They make a picnic date a doddle. Meeting for a picnic is a super idea for a third or fourth date when you feel a little more comfortable together and can easily hang out. You can combine it with a walk, a bike ride or a visit to a local area of outstanding natural beauty too.

3. Mini Golf

An element of fun competition might be just what you need to kick-start your dating life. So, grab your sunnies and your sneakers and head down to your local mini golf. Hopefully there’ll be an ice-cream waiting for you at the end too.

4. Country walk

We love a long ramble and here in the UK we have so many places to roam. From our national parks to our local parks, beaches and lakes to canals and rivers. All you need is a map (or a phone!), a route and a plan for your watering holes and lunch spots.

5. Country shows

A traditional country show is a great day out for you and your date. From all the rural and agricultural displays to the animals, floral and jam competitions to the ubiquitous tea tent and BBQ, there’ll be plenty for you to enjoy together. Farming UK has a fantastic diary of events here.

6. Outdoor Lido or wild swimming (if you’re brave!)

All around the country, towns and cities are opening up their Lidos for a spot of open air swimming. Pretend you and your date are on the Med and head there for the afternoon or, if you really are hardy, why not try wild swimming? We recommend you go to a recommended wild swimming spot and follow all of the safety precautions – more details on Wild Swimming here .

7. Ice-cream crawl

All the fun of a pub crawl without a hangover! Locate your nearest town or beach resort with a few ice-cream parlours and plan your route. You might need to take a few hours over this one to avoid an unpleasant sugar rush but believe us when we say you can learn so much about someone from their taste in ice-cream…

8. Hot air ballooning

This date is one that will truly impress. Fancy drifting over the Somerset hills at dawn… wow. Head to Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta this August and you’ll be able to have a date in the sky. What could be more perfect than that?

9. Stargazing

What’s more romantic than a shooting star? the UK has so many areas with incredible dark skies so pack a picnic, a thermos and plenty of warm clothing and head out to enjoy the star show. Find the best dark skies near you here.

10. Cloudwatching

It’s time to look up and gaze in awe at the summer skies. Cloudwatching is big news and little wonder; summer clouds are things of beauty. You can even visit the UK’s first cloud bar in Lincolnshire.