Tuck in to your sarnies and... Drink in the glorious views
IT IS the finest of British traditions: the summer picnic, where the simplest food tastes even more delicious and special when eaten outdoors. Whether you want to linger over a family feast or just stop to drink in the landscape, we’ve found 100 perfect picnic spots. Many of these stunning locations are known only to locals and each one offers a spectacular view. We’ve covered the whole country, so let us inspire you to make the most of summer in Britain’s glorious countryside…
South East England 1 ST MARY’S, CLOPHILL, BEDFORDSHIRE above
Where: In Bedfordshire’s Flit Valley, find Clophill’s leafy main street and take a ten-minute walk up Old Church Path.
The spot: An eerily abandoned hilltop parish church with views. Relax on the grassy slope under nearby trees.
The shot: Atmospheric, roofless, windowless country church – or climb the tower during weekend openings to enjoy impressive country views.
Perfect for: Romantics who gaze at rural horizons, mystery-lovers revel in dark ghost stories: watch out for the legendary ‘hooded monk’.
2 WATERFORD HEATH, HERTFORDSHIRE
Where: From Vicarage Lane, Waterford Heath, take the picnic basket back under the bridge, along the footpath between houses.
The spot: Eat alfresco on the banks of a lovely protected stretch of the River Beane.
The shot: English rural classic: wildflower meadows along a dark river overhung by weeping willows.
Perfect for: Wild swimmers who can brave deep river pools. The less energetic will enjoy a wildlife hunt: can you spot the rare ‘Grizzled Skipper’ butterfly?
3 LEG O’ MUTTON, BARNES, GREATER LONDON
Where: Just six miles from Trafalgar Square, find a secret overgrown world just off the south bank river path. The entrance is in trees between Barnes railway bridge and Hammersmith Bridge – a short path leads to the metal gate.
The spot: Settle down under overhanging trees on the sloping manmade banks of this hidden Leg o’ Mutton reservoir nature reserve (which is also called Lonsdale Road Reservoir). The shot: You’re near the heart of the capital, but all sorts of wildlife call this surprisingly wild overgrown Victorian reservoir home.
Perfect for: Jungle-lovers as nature has taken over here, with trees breaking through concrete, reeds filling shallows and herons nesting on rafts. Locals opposed any housing redevelopment and now happily say everything from tawny owls to terrapins lives here.
4 COOMBE HILL, WENDOVER, AYLESBURY, BUCKS
Where: Amid Chiltern foothills, head south from Butler’s Cross. Lodge Hill leads to a small car park among trees. Carry your picnic uphill on an easy footpath.
The spot: Green slopes looking west to left of hilltop monument. Locals say you can see 50 miles to the Cotswolds.
The shot: Rolling fields of Aylesbury Vale from 850ft hill or closeup of Coombe Hill’s impressive Boer War memorial.
Perfect for: Nature-lovers seek rare butterflies and unique wildflowers, celebrity-spotters peer into Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country mansion. Coombe Hill was once part of its garden.
5 NEWLANDS CORNER, NEAR GUILDFORD, SURREY
Where: Find room to relax in this 250-acre North Downs beauty spot. It’s four miles east of Guildford, with parking in woods off the A25.
The spot: Walk west for best views or east, across the road, for more seclusion.
The shot: Rolling panoramas of Surrey hills from the natural grandstand of this prominent chalk ridge. The luckiest picnickers spot roe deer and tawny owls.
Perfect for: Picnic sleuths ponder the unsolved case of The Newlands
6 WYE, NEAR ASHFORD, KENT
Where: In the Kent hills. Head north-east from Ashford to a leafy car park on the south side of Coldharbour Lane. Take a five-minute walk south.
The spot: Set baskets down on green slopes looking right along the centre of The Devil’s Kneading Trough. The shot: The No1 view in the Kent Downs: spectacular steep natural canyon brimming with orchids and butterflies leading off to hazy views of a distant sea.
Perfect for: Picnickers don’t have to drive: this is easy for cyclists (on Route 18 of National Cycle Network) and walkers, too (on the North Downs Way footpath from Surrey to Dover).
7 HAMBLEDEN LOCK, NEAR HENLEY, BERKSHIRE
Where: South of the Thames turn into Ferry Lane by the Flower Pot pub in Ashton. Park under trees by tiny river jetty at the end. Carry picnic for a few minutes north along river path.
The spot: Dangle your feet from the bank with views of frothing weir, historic lock and tiny paddling beach.
The shot: Colourful barges, overhanging trees and islands create one of the prettiest (but least well-known) Thames beauty spots.
Perfect for: Literary types discover Dickens used this as a location, history buffs spot 1,000-year-old Domesday mill on the far bank. And in 1829, this was where the first University Boat Race started.
COPPERAS BAY, NEAR WRABNESS, ESSEX
Where: Either leave cars at Stour Wood, just off the B1352, and follow the path through trees, or take a longer stroll along the Essex Way coast path from Wrabness.
The spot: Discover a secluded grassy bank under overhanging trees.
The shot: Photogenic expanse of River Stour, with moody saltmarshes, sandflats and swaying reeds.
Perfect for: Anyone who likes surprises: this hidden bay is just round a headland from Harwich’s busy port. Quiz fans will love asking: ‘What was the copperas industry?’ The grisly answer involves 18th Century children collecting stones to make sulphuric acid. Disappearance. In 1926, author Agatha Christie’s car was found crashed here.
After 15,000 volunteers scoured woods in vain, she was found… staying 200 miles away in Harrogate under a false name. No one knows why.
TANNERS LANE BEACH, LYMINGTON, HAMPSHIRE
Where: In the New Forest lanes, drive south from East End and follow a traditional black-andwhite signpost to ‘Tanners Lane’. Park right on the beach or, if worried about the tide, use verges in the lane. The spot: 50 yards to the right (west) there’s a grassy bank under wind-shaped trees at back of beach. The shot: The beach, the Isle of Wight… and all the boats in between. Perfect for: Not for swimmers but
STEEPHILL COVE, NEAR VENTNOR, ISLE OF WIGHT
Where: A ‘secret’ cove hidden off the road in the south-east corner of the island. Best approach is from Ventnor, walking south on the coast path.
The spot: Instantly lovable sandy bay with no roads, backed by a handful of old cottages and steep, wooded cliffs. Find best views on cliff next to modern wooden home called The Lighthouse.
The shot: Enjoy the rare sight of a quiet, pretty South Coast beach that’s free of cars and amusements.
Perfect for: Children love rockpools and a safe, sheltered beach, while parents note that fishermen arrive to supply the seafood cafe. If the picnic runs out, try the delicious takeaway crab pasties. muddy beach keeps crowds away. It’s a popular spot instead with crabs, swans and New Forest ponies wandering along the water’s edge.
MOUNT CABURN, NEAR LEWES, EAST SUSSEX
Where: From the bridge at Lacys Hill in Glynde village, take a 20minute walk on the uphill footpath. The spot: Find soft grass slopes near the south side of the hilltop – but don’t sit on the rare orchids! The shot: Epic South Downs panorama includes a view along the Ouse Valley to the sea at Newhaven, and the rooftops of Lewes. Perfect for: Classical music fans will prefer to face north – towards Glyndebourne opera house just beneath the hill. If you tell adventure sports enthusiasts to take a run and jump, they just might – it’s a popular hang-gliding launch site.
WOLSTONBURY HILL, PYECOMBE, WEST SUSSEX
Where: Unpack the boot in the South Downs village of Pyecombe. Find paths next to the church leading up a chalky hill.
The spot: This ancient hill fort, nature reserve and natural viewpoint is a rare secluded beauty spot near Brighton because it’s not accessible by car.
The shot: Look south to the twinkling sea or north to Elizabethan Danny House, site of David Lloyd George’s romance with his secretary, the world’s oldest cricket pitch (more than 300 years old) and Churchill’s War Cabinet meetings, which adjourned for walks up this very hill.
Perfect for: Foodies in need of extra picnic flavour. Lots of wild garlic, but don’t pick the rare orchids.
CHERRY HILL PARK, ELY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Start at the free Forehill car park in historic Ely, then take a short walk along Broad Street,
through grand metal gates to the park.
The spot: On the north side of Castle Mound spread the blanket under the trees.
The shot: A classic British image, hardly changed for centuries: uninterrupted views across wildflower meadows to one of our most distinctive, decorative Gothic cathedrals known as The Ship of The Fens. Perfect for: History-lovers, who can discover how the castle mound was built 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror to subdue fenland rebel Hereward the Wake. And if children are mischievous, tell them the legend that William installed a witch to shout curses at any rebels.
BARROW COMMON, BRANCASTER, NORFOLK
Where: Follow the North Norfolk coast road to Brancaster, then take lane inland up the hill to Common.
The spot: Walk through bushes to a long bench in a clearing overlooking coast. The shot: Wide, flat Norfolk farmland runs down to inlets dotted with sailing boats. Perfect for: Children and history buffs who’ll find intact wartime radar buildings between gorse bushes where 80 men once provided early warning of German attacks.
RIVER BLYTH, SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLK
Where: Take picnics to the pretty mouth of the River Blyth. It doesn’t matter which side you arrive – there’s a ferry between Ferry Road in Walberswick and Southwold Harbour Road.
The spot: Choose between old wooden benches or tufty grass on either bank overlooking bobbing boats, sleepy river and busy ducks.
The shot: Watch a traditional Suffolk punt rowing boat operating its busy passenger ferry.
Perfect for: Boat-lovers who like a ferry ride. It runs daily until September 27 and half-terms, then at weekends. It costs just £1. Beach-lovers have appealing long sandy choices either side of the river, too.