Places to Picnic

Picnics are synonymous with memories of summer days, lazy lunches in the sun with family and friends and relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Just as your holiday should be. A picnic epitomises the holiday idyll and here in the South West we have a plethora of picnicking paradises, perfect places to set the scene so life really can be a picnic.

Spread a blanket to claim a piece of green and create a scene reminiscent of a period drama literary creation. For a nineteenth century-style al fresco afternoon try one of the West Country’s many historic houses and gardens. Think croquet lawns and sun umbrellas and you’ll quickly be transported to an era of elegant eating. Try to avoid it becoming a Mad Hatter’s tea party!

A family picnic doesn’t have to mean leaky flasks and soggy sand-filled sandwiches. Finding a farm shop is definitely no needle in a haystack in this part of the country, there are plenty of places to ‘piquer’ (from the French for picnic, to pick at food!) and ensure you are never a sandwich short of a picnic. Many shops offer ready-made hampers or you could truly make a meal of it and start the day by picking your own strawberries for the afternoon cream tea.

Why not take it a step further and pick your entire meal whilst exploring the area with a guided wild food walk. Some even cook for you at the end of it (we forgive you for cheating, you are on holiday). So, you can enjoy the simple pleasures of the outdoors and sample the best of the west along the way.

Alternatively, head for the coast and live the surfing lifestyle with a barbie on the beach for a pirate’s picnic. Find a sheltered cove, dig a pit or hide amongst the sand dunes to dine outdoors with the sound of the shore in the background. Don’t forget to stop at the fishmonger’s on the way for some freshly caught local specialities as a backup landlubber’s grub when the homemade crabline gets tangled. Or you could just pick up a pasty. The more adventurous sea-farer’s may prefer something a little different and try a self-catering boat trip.

However, if all of this sounds like too much effort, or the weather scuppers your supper plans, a fireside rug and a bottle of wine count don’t they?