Mountains of love

Valentine’s Day is on the way. Skip the flowers and chocolates this year and use the mountains to say those three magic words: how much further?

Share a mountain top

Robert Knight sang about ‘Love on a mountain top’. Alan Partridge’s son, Fernando, was conceived on Helvellyn. We’d suggest sitting arm-in-arm and enjoying the view is enough. We’re a family publication.

Love rocks

Keep an eye out for heart-shaped rocks dotted around the mountains. Whether they’re fortuitously eroded pebbles or large blocks in constructed paths, you’ll find a few on any hill walk.

A decent proposal

You can keep the Eiffel Tower, fancy restaurant or Venetian gondola – the summit of a mountain, a secluded glen, or tarn-side beach are all far more romantic locations to get down on one knee. Just don’t drop the ring.

Get smitten

Gloves keep your hands warm, but they do rather spoil a hand-in-hand stroll. ‘Smittens’ on the other hand (excuse the pun) maintain that all important skin-toskin intimacy.

A night in a bothy

Snuggle down with a glowing fire, your faces lit by the glow of candlelight as you gaze into each other eyes, listening to the hammering of the rain outside, the scuttle of mice in the rafters, and the snoring of your bothy-mates who didn’t get the ‘no gooseberries’ memo.

Take comfort in a cwtch

St Dwynwen’s Day celebrates Dwynwen, the Welsh saint of lovers, on 25 January. If you’ve missed it, pick up a Welsh Love Spoon on your next trip to Wales and be rewarded with a cosy cwtch (Welsh for a hug or cuddle – what did you think it meant?).