Some plans need no booking and no timetable, and a beach picnic is the perfect example. You pack the basket in the kitchen, get in the car and, 10 minutes later, you are at La Barrosa with your feet in the sand. No rush, no waiting for a table and the Atlantic as your backdrop. And when the afternoon fades, the best part is still to come: heading home for a dip in the pool.

Here is how to plan a beach picnic from start to finish, from the basket to that last swim that rounds off the day.

Pack the basket at home, at your own pace

Part of the charm of a beach picnic is getting it ready slowly. Having a kitchen to hand changes everything: you can slice, assemble and pack at your own pace, without relying on whatever happens to be open along the way. If you want to fill it with local produce, our guide to eating in Chiclana has ideas for markets and wineries.

For inspiration, this is what usually works best on a beach picnic:

• Wooden boards to serve cheese, cured meats or whatever you fancy, with no table needed.
• Picos and regañás, the crunchy Andalusian breadsticks and crackers that stand up to the heat and never go soft.
• Fresh fruit and vegetables: sliced citrus, strips of pepper, asparagus or whatever you have at hand.
• Nuts to nibble on between swims.
• Plates, glasses and napkins from home, because a pretty picnic is also a feast for the eyes.
• A large rug or blanket and a couple of cushions so you stay comfortable all afternoon.
• A cool box with cold water, because on the beach you can never have too much.

A simple trick: keep the food in tightly sealed containers and leave the cool box in the shade. That way everything is still fresh when you sit down to eat.

From the kitchen to La Barrosa in 10 minutes

The big advantage of this beach picnic is how close it is. There is no need to get up at dawn or carry everything around for hours: you put the basket in the car and you are soon choosing your spot on the sand. If you forget something, popping back for it is no big deal.

That short distance also gives you the freedom to plan your beach picnic on the go. If the day starts out perfect, you head off early. If you prefer the afternoon light, you leave after lunch and stay until the sun starts to sink.

How to set up a beach picnic that lasts all afternoon

Once you are on the sand, a few small details make the difference between an awkward hour and a perfect afternoon:

1. Choose your spot carefully. Do not set up too close to the shoreline: on this coast the tide comes in and out, and what is dry sand now may be wet in a few hours.
2. Think about the wind. If it is blowing, place the cool box and bags on the windward side to act as a screen and keep sand off your plates.
3. Find some shade. A parasol or a small sunshade lets you stretch out your beach picnic without overdoing the sun.
4. Bring the food out in rounds. Whatever you are not eating is better kept in the cool box.
5. Take everything with you when you leave. Bring a bag for rubbish and leave the sand as you found it.

With that sorted, all that is left is what really matters: eating slowly, swimming whenever you feel like it and watching the sea change colour as the afternoon goes by.

The pool, the best way to end a beach picnic

If anything makes a beach picnic even better, it is what comes afterwards. You get back with salt on your skin and sand even in the basket, take a shower and jump into a pool that is all yours. No sharing sun loungers or bumping into strangers on the way to the water. It is the perfect contrast: from the bustle of the shore to the calm of your own garden.

And the evening does not have to end there. With a terrace and barbecue to hand, your beach picnic can turn into an open-air dinner without leaving the house. If you are looking for somewhere to stay for this kind of getaway, Los Refugios del Alce rents out entire houses in Chiclana, 10 minutes from La Barrosa, with a garden, terrace, barbecue and private pool, with no neighbours or shared areas in between. You can see Los Refugios del Alce on Google Maps to work out the drive to the beach.

Frequently asked questions about a beach picnic

Is it a good plan with children?

Yes. A beach picnic is one of the easiest plans with children: bringing food from home lets you adapt the menu for the little ones and eat whenever suits them, without depending on opening hours. Just add shade, plenty of water and a few toys for the sand.

What food is best left out of the basket?

Anything that spoils quickly in the heat, such as egg-based sauces or cream desserts. You are better off with cured cheeses, fruit, raw vegetables, nuts and finger food.

Do I need to bring a table or chairs?

It is not essential. A large rug or blanket, a couple of cushions and some wooden boards to rest the food on are enough to be comfortable. If someone in the group prefers to sit higher up, a folding chair takes up little room in the car.

What if the wind picks up?

Pack away the lightest things, use the cool box and bags as a barrier and, if it does not die down, nothing stops you from finishing the picnic at home. That is the advantage of having it so close.