WE love spending time in the outdoors. And what makes spending time in the outdoors even better? Enjoying delicious food and drink.
Here, we share some of our favourite picnic spots around Scotland, albeit on one condition: you must take all of your litter home afterwards.
Greenock Cut, Inverclyde
Part of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre is the start point to explore a clutch of wildlife and history-packed trails with great picnic spots along the way.
The Greenock Cut itself, a 5.5-mile (9km) viaduct, is a scheduled ancient monument. Designed by engineer Robert Thom, it was built between 1825 and 1827 to supply fresh water to the people and thriving industry of Greenock.
Work up an appetite on a seven-and-a-half mile (12km) circular walk, with spectacular views over the Clyde. There is also the shorter 1.5-mile (2.4km) Shielhill Glen Nature Trail which passes through a mixture of woodland, open moorland and raised wooden boardwalks.
Visit clydemuirshiel.co.uk
Seacliff Beach, East Lothian
Eating a picnic on a beach isn’t without its perils and pitfalls – not least a gust of wind putting the sand in sandwiches – but it is well-worth it to breathe in the fresh sea air.
This private and unspoilt beach, around five miles from North Berwick, is popular with surfers, dog-walkers and picnic lovers. Car entry to the area is controlled by a coin-operated barrier.
It offers gorgeous views of the Bass Rock and the nearby ruins of Tantallon Castle. The tiny sandstone harbour at Seacliff, meanwhile, is widely credited as the smallest in the UK.
Visit visiteastlothian.org
Polkemmet Country Park, West Lothian
The Scottish Owl Centre, a golf course and driving range, orienteering course, adventure play area, a former colliery steam engine and pretty woodland trails, are among the raft of attractions at Polkemmet Country Park.
It is also home to The Horn, an eye-catching public art installation. This 79ft-high stainless-steel sculpture, unveiled by artists Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion in 1997, is often likened to the warbling trumpet in the BBC children’s series Teletubbies.
And once you’ve explored all of that, pull up a pew at one of the scenic picnic spots. There is a barbecue area too, which must be booked in advance via the website.
Visit westlothian.gov.uk/polkemmet
Tentsmuir, Fife
Summer can be a time of compromise: some crave dining al fresco in the sunshine, while others (those of us blessed/burdened with red-hair, fair-skinned genes) prefer a shade-covered haven.
That’s what makes Tentsmuir, with its forest trails that alternate between towering pine trees and open sand dunes, such a fantastic place for a picnic.
Nature fans are in for a treat too. Keep your eyes peeled for red squirrels high in the branches and roe deer among the undergrowth. If you’re lucky, you may even see seals basking on the sand.
Tentsmuir has a fascinating history. Tools and a fire pit from a Stone Age hunters’ camp have been found near Morton Lochs. And during the Second World War, the area formed part of the coastal defences with anti-tank barriers built by Polish troops.
Visit forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/tentsmuir
The Hermitage, Perthshire
The Hermitage is a magical place to visit with its stunning waterfall, folly and hermit’s cave - not to mention some of the tallest trees in the UK. Indeed, the earthy woodland smell and tang of pine needles rate highly among its long list of charms.
Renowned for its spellbinding trails, over the years the paths here have been traversed by everyone from Queen Victoria to the poet William Wordsworth, artist J M W Turner and composer Felix Mendelssohn.
Highlights include Ossian's Hall, a folly with photogenic views over the thundering Black Linn Falls, while tucked away among the trees is a totem pole, carved by members of the Squamish Nation in Canada. There are picnic tables next to the car park which are ideal for post-walk feasting.
Visit nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-hermitage
Duthie Park, Aberdeen
With its lovingly restored Victorian-era features including a bandstand, fountains and boating ponds, Duthie Park is a wonderful place to while away a happy afternoon with a picnic.
Among its many delights is the David Welch Winter Gardens, a botanical gem with a Temperate House, Corridor of Perfumes and Fern House. The Japanese Garden at Duthie Park, meanwhile, was created in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Hiroshima.
The 44-acre park also links directly onto the Deeside Way, a former railway line-turned-popular walking, cycling and horse-riding route. There are nods to Aberdeen’s famed “Granite City” nickname evident throughout in the smattering of majestic monuments and memorials.
Visit visitabdn.com and aberdeencity.gov.uk
Callander Meadows, Trossachs
If you want to stretch the legs yet don’t fancy anything too strenuous, the 1 ¼ miles (1.8 km) loop around Callander Meadows is the perfect stroll.
Passing along the banks of two rivers - Eas Gobhain and Garbh Uisge - close to the junction where they merge to form the River Teith, the area is home to wildflowers and birdlife, including cheeky ducks who may be keen to join your picnic.
There are lots of river-adjacent benches to pick from to sit back with a pre-packed bite to eat. If you fancy an extra treat, grab an ice cream or some takeaway cake from one of the many cafes and shops that line the nearby main street.
Visit lochlomond-trossachs.org
Claigan Coral Beach, Skye
Skye has no shortage of dramatic coastline and among the contenders for most beautiful stretch is the dazzling white coral beach and sparkling turquoise waters at Claigan, near Dunvegan, which never fails to take your breath away, even on dull and overcast days.
Reached along a footpath and some farm tracks, it is just over a mile-long (2km) walk from the car park. The beach is a great location for a picnic. You can potter around collecting quirky seashells and even dip a toe in the waves if you’re feeling brave.
The distinctive bright “sand” on the beach is made from maerl, the calcified remains of a type of seaweed that grows off the coast.
Visit isleofskye.com and visitscotland.com
Forfar Loch Country Park, Angus
This picturesque location can trace its origins to the end of the last ice age when a melting glacier left behind a chain of lochs, with Forfar Loch the most westerly.
The circular 2.5-mile (4 km) route following the shoreline is part of the Forfar Path Network. Wildlife residents include kingfishers, foxes, stoats and otters. Ospreys can often be spotted fishing here during the summer.
There are excellent picnic spots dotted around the loch. The park is only a short distance from Forfar town centre, ideal for stocking up on culinary treats.
Visit visitangus.com
Bow Fiddle Rock, Moray
This remarkable natural formation near Portknockie takes its name from its uncanny resemblance to a bow perched atop the strings of a fiddle. The distinctive shape was forged over time as the force of the waves eroded a type of rock called Cullen Quartzite.
Bow Fiddle Rock is somewhere you can photograph on countless occasions and always capture it slightly differently – be it the everchanging colours of the sky or the mesmerising swell of the sea
There are plenty of grassy areas nearby where you can set up a picnic blanket with views of the rock and do a spot of birdwatching as you dine.
Visit morayspeyside.com
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