Idyllic picnic spots in North Yorkshire
Big up your picnic game
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- Perfect Picnic Places In North Yorkshire
Top places to picnic in North Yorkshire
What better way to spend a sunny day than packing up a picnic and heading to a picturesque spot to lay out your blanket and enjoy an al-fresco spread of sandwiches and sausage rolls in beautiful surroundings.
We’ve put together a list of great places to picnic in North Yorkshire so you can pick your perfect spot.
Valley Gardens, Harrogate
The Valley Gardens, located in the centre of the Victorian spa town of Harrogate is the ideal place to lay down your blanket, bagsy a picnic bench or set up your camping chairs to enjoy a picnic in this beautiful English Heritage Grade II listed garden.
With the town centre just steps away, you can fill up on delicious picnic treats or grab a refreshment from the on-site café Magnesia Well Café and the Games Pavilion.
After you’ve eaten up your picnic, why not take part in the wide variety of outdoor games on offer such as tennis, pitch & putt golf, crazy golf, boating pool, paddling pool and a children's play area. The outdoor games season runs from April to October.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon
We can’t talk about picnic spots without mentioning the glorious Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden near Ripon. You’ll be hard pushed to find a more magnificent spot to enjoy a day out than here.
Fill up your picnic hamper and find a spot within the expansive grounds to marvel at the ancient abbey ruins or settle down beside the awe-inspiring water garden – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open seven days a week (closed Fridays, November to January), there is also an on-site café, shop and playground to enjoy. Dogs are welcome so your pooch can picnic too. Entrance fees apply.
Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales National Park
The three stepped waterfalls at Aysgarth provide a dramatic backdrop for a picnic. Wordsworth visited them and Turner sketched them and more recently they featured in the movie Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.
Find a grassy spot, somewhere amongst the woodland or visit the on-site National Park Centre with café and car park.
Kiplin Hall and Gardens, Near Richmond
Picnic in the grand surroundings of Kiplin Hall. With outdoor space aplenty in a beautiful lakeside location, picnic spots don’t get better than this.
During your visit explore the Jacobean house which is filled with the furniture, portraits, paintings, and personal belongings of the four families who have owned the Hall the past 400 years, take in the sights and scents in the formal garden or wander through the walled garden. If you fancy a sweet treat after the picnic has been eaten, why not visit the Tea Room.
Enjoy a picnic in historic castle surroundings
Pickering is a bustling market town located in the Moors, which is overlooked by Pickering Castle. Bring your picnic and settle down amongst the ruins of the castle, on one of their benches or bring your blanket.
Whilst in the area, why not also visit the Helmsley Walled Garden, a gorgeous garden filled with vibrant borders, glasshouses and apple orchards perfect for a post-picnic stroll.
Sutton Bank, North York Moors National Park
What better backdrop for a picnic than the finest view in England at Sutton Bank? Start your visit with a walk, taking in the magnificent views before settling down with your packed lunch on one of the many benches along the route.
Picnic at the coast
There are plenty of places you can set up for a picnic along the beautiful Yorkshire Coast. Choose from the sandy beaches of Whitby, Scarborough or Filey, or explore a coastal village such as Robin Hood’s Bay or Runswick Bay
Forget the fish & chips (just this once) and lay out your spread on the sand or find a well-positioned bench with dreamy sea views.
Peasholm Park, Scarborough
Located in Scarborough’s North Bay, a few minutes’ walk from the beach, Peasholm Park is a must-visit whether you are looking for a place to picnic or just a great place to while away an afternoon.
Explore the oriental themed municipal park, take a pedalo out on the boating lake or try your hand at mini-golf. Still hungry after your picnic? Pick up a snack from the park café or kiosk.
Whether you want to picnic amongst grand surroundings of castles, abbeys or magnificent halls, picnic by the sea or find the perfect park, there are plenty of places to picnic in North Yorkshire.
Think we’ve missed a good spot? Let us know on social media using #VisitNorthYorkshire.
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