Every month, Mrs Hudson, along with her three children and Dinky the Irish Wolfhound investigate the best family and dog friendly heritage attractions that the UK has to offer.
I don’t know about you but I’m certainly looking for some better weather so we can get out and enjoy the fresh air and now I know that National Picnic Week falls in June, I’m even more keen to grab a blanket and dine al fresco. I don’t know why, but a picnic fills me with such nostalgic joy and it’s something the kids still enjoy and we can bring the dog along with us! We’re lucky as we live in the West Country, so we have lots of lovely spots to enjoy a picnic, but for those of you elsewhere, we’ve come up with some of the best places to enjoy a picnic across the UK.
Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
As a proud Welsh woman (albeit, not living among the green, green grass of home any more) I thought we should start with one of the best picnic spots in Wales. The beach itself consistently wins awards and there are a host of coastal walks to enjoy either before or after your dinner.
Bowlees Picnic Area, Durham, England
This picnic site is pretty spectacular, you can dine with the backdrop of four waterfalls and enjoy your dinner alongside the river. There is a dedicated picnic area and if you follow the path, you’ll end up at Gibson Cave, which is well worth a visit.
Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire, England
Now managed by the National Trust, the Dunstable Downs are incredibly picturesque and offer a lovely spot for enjoying a picnic. Just keep an eye out for the local wildlife who might want to sneak into your picnic basket!
Tatton Park, Cheshire, England
Another National Trust managed site, aside from the gorgeous Georgian manor and the deer that roam the grounds, there are plenty of spots for a picnic and exploring.
Researching these places made me fall down an Alice in Wonderland style rabbit-hole – I’ve learned so much about picnics over the last few days that I thought I’d share it with you!
According to my research, picnics can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages, though back then, it was more for practicality than fun – like for instance, stopping to eat a packed lunch while out on horseback delivering messages, hunting or heading off to battle. It seems when it comes to the picnics we know and love, we have the French to thank.
The word picnic itself is a bit of a mystery, it seems to come from the French piquer and nique which together means to pick at a small amount. What we do know is that the concept first appeared in a French satire, in which the lead character, a hero of the barricades is also a glutton. From this, picnics became hugely popular in France and unlike what we have here, appeared to be an incredibly extravagant dinner that everyone contributed to.
The French Revolution caused many aristocrats to flee across the Channel, bringing the picnic to England. In 1801, a group of French ex-pats created the Pic Nic Society – they would meet regularly in hired rooms in London and members were required to bring food and wine with them. After dinner, they would enjoy entertainment and gambling. The entertainment was primarily amateur dramatics and as crude as possible.
Sadly for us, the entertaining part of picnicking fell out of favour, but it did start to become a more simple, outdoor activity, particularly in the early 20th century when the advent of the railways made it easier for people to access green spaces and coastal areas. Around this time, picnics began to appear in novels, being popularised from everyone from Dorothy Wordsworth to Jane Austen and even Charles Dickens. It even featured in Kenneth Graham’s Wind in the Willows.
Wherever picnics came from, I’m certainly glad they are still a thing – we just need the weather to be on our side so we can go out and enjoy one!
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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