Top 10 Picnic Spots

There's no better way to celebrate summer than packing a picnic and chilling out with family and friends - especially when your picnic spot is an atmospheric abbey or castle ruin. With sweeping vistas and historic settings, the National Trust's inspiring houses and parkland provide the perfect location for the Great British picnic.

Here's our pick of the top ten idyllic Picnic Hot Spots that are ideal for celebrating summer in style.

Picnic in a Grecian Valley full of wild flowers, or by the Temple of Venus overlooking the lake, beside lakeside pavilions and drink in the panoramic views. Kids will love to play in its wide open spaces and magical corners, even parents can find rare moments of peace and tranquillity here.

Garden admission £6 per adult, £3 per child, family £15. Tel: 01280 822850
Image: © NTPL / Andrew Butler
View an aerial photo of Stowe Landscape Garden

If it's exercise and relaxation you're after, there are 4 new walks in the Park. There are short and long walks to choose, round the lakeside, a wilderness and woodland walk before settling down to a classic British picnic in a classic British setting, beside the bridge, fishing pavilion or lakes and cascades.

Park and garden charge £3.10 pp, £1.55 child.Tel: 01332 842191
Image: © NTPL / Matthew Antrobus
View an aerial photo of Kedleston Hall

Picnic at Petworth Park's beautiful newly restored 18th Century, Capability Brown, inspired 'Pleasure Grounds'. Take a gentle stroll round this 30 acre wooded garden to the Doric Temple and Ionic Rotunda along gently undulating paths then sit and picnic al fresco and enjoy the views.

The entrance ticket is £3 and £1.50 and includes access to the Servants Quarters and Restaurant and Shop. Tel: 017983 342207
Image: © NTPL / F.A.H. Bloemendal
View an aerial photo of Petworth Park

played a starring role as Jane Austen's 'Pemberley', in the BBC's adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice' has a breathtaking setting for a picnic. There is plenty of room to choose a spot as the park covers 1,400 acres and contains an early 18th century hunting tower (The Cage).

Entry to the estate is £4.50 per car which can be refunded against an adult ticket to the Garden & House at £6.50 per adult and £3.30 per child. Of course, if the family choose to be National Trust members all ticket money for the day will be refunded. Tel: 01663 762023
Image: © National Trust / Philip Burt
View an aerial view of Lyme Park

Have a 'Famous Five' picnic at Corfe Castle, Enid Blyton's inspiration for Kirren Castle. Take a hamper and rug and find a grassy spot in the outer bailey and west bailey within the Castle.

Admission £5.00 per adult, £2.50 per child £12.50 family. Family (one adult) £7.50. Discount offered to paying visitors arriving by public transport. Tel: 01929 481294
Image: © NTPL / Matthew Antrobus
View aerial photos of Corfe Castle

Families can picnic in a 'forest garden' and there are many miles of woodland walks and by the River Derwent at Gibside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There are streams to paddle in, woods to explore and open spaces to run around or play a game of footie in. The estate is a Site of Special Interest - look out for red squirrels, kingfishers and other wildlife and rabbits.

Entrance is £5 per adult, £3 per child, £15 per family, 1 adult family £10. Tel: 0207 261 6691
Image: © NTPL / Nick Meers
View an aerial photo of River Derwent at Gibside

Take a boat to Brownsea Island, Dorset an old haunt of smugglers but now a nature reserve. Watch red squirrels, deer and seabirds nose-diving into the sea, see spectacular views of Old Harry Rocks and the Purbeck Hills. Try out the new cliff top walk or the Smugglers' Trail to the treasure chest on this car free island and take your picnic anywhere. Children's lunchboxes are available from the Restaurant.

Admission £4.40 per adult, £2.00 per child, family £11, family (one adult) £6.50. £6.50 Ferry. Tel 01202 707744
Image: © NTPL / Joe Cornish
View an aerial photo of Brownsea Island, Dorset

Soak up the atmosphere in the Georgian water garden at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire, with its lakes, cascades and temples. Spread a rug beneath the gothic arches and spectacular ruins of this Cistercian abbey and watermill. Children's lunchboxes are available from the Restaurant.

Admission £6.50 per person, £3.50 per child, family £17.50. Tel: 01765 608888
Image: © NTPL / Andrew Butler
View an aerial photo of Brownsea Island, Dorset

Picnic on a selection of lawns at Wallington, Northumberland, including a central lawn in the courtyard where children can let off steam. Or, place your rug near some stone griffin heads which look like something out of Harry Potter! For a more secluded spot, walk through the formal gardens to the bottom of the walled garden and choose a grassy area near the pond, under the shelter of trees. Inside the house is a collection of dolls' houses. Peep through two keyholes and a mouse hole to see the mouse house.

Admission £8 per adult, £4 per child, family £20. Tel: 01691 777701
Image: © NTPL / Matthew Antrobus
View an aerial photo of Wallington, Northumberland

the chances are you can place your picnic rug in a secluded spot in 100 acres of landscaped gardens, by the lake or in front of temples.

Garden admission £6.20 per adult, £3.40 per child. Tel: 01747 841152
Image: © National Trust / Nick Meers
View an aerial photo of Blickling Hall

 

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