England – it’s simply the best
KEEPING it simple is often the best way to spend time with your family and take it all in, whether you’re spotting wild ponies in the woods or unfurling the picnic blanket next to a gleaming lake, says KATIE ROWE.
THE ENGLISH RIVIERA, DEVON
THE South West is one of the best places to enjoy a cream tea. Grab a table outside the much-loved Burridge’s Cafe Tearooms in Torquay and spend the afternoon sipping tea and scoffing scones while enjoying views of the bustling harbourside. Alternatively, take a step back in time in the nearby village of Cockington, just a few miles from Torquay. This village is one of England’s prettiest and is home to a real hidden gem – the Weavers Cottage Tea Shoppe, an 18th Century cottage with a walled courtyard garden where you can indulge in a speciality cream tea.
WINDERMERE, CUMBRIA
THE Lake District’s dramatic peaks, twisty crags, luscious green fields and tranquil lakes form one of nature’s most striking works of art, and there’s no finer place for a picnic than on the shores of England’s largest natural lake after a day spent exploring the sites. Unpack your Cumberland sausage sandwiches, Grasmere gingerbread and Kendal mint cake on to a cosy blanket and gaze at the towering peaks reflecting in the glistening waters of Windermere. Flanking the southern tip of the lake, the National Trust-owned Fell Foot Park is an idea spot, with its picnic benches, waterside cafe and rowing boats.
NEW FOREST, HAMPSHIRE
THE New Forest is more than 900 years old, so while ‘New’ might be a bit misleading, the ‘Forest’ bit certainly isn’t. The 219 square mile national park features not only mile after mile of woodland but also crystal-clear streams winding their way through wide-open heathland, heaps of trails to explore, and picture-perfect villages hidden in the glades. Make the most of this magical place by camping in the very heart of the New Forest at Ocknell Campsite, where you’ll most likely be joined by wild ponies and herds of deer at breakfast.
RAME PENINSULA, CORNWALL
IF YOU’RE planning a holiday with your dog, be sure to add the five- and-a-bit-mile walk from Cawsand to Whitsand to your itinerary. Just across the border from Devon, this rugged section of the South West Coastal Path passes Whitsand Bay and pubs including the Rising Sun and the Devonport Inn in Kingsand, all of which are happy to welcome dogs. There’s plenty for humans to explore too, including the historic chapel at Rame Head, where the Spanish Armada was first spotted in August 1588.