Yorkshire's Perfect Picnic Spots

RAVENSCAR, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Ravenscar is one of the most intriguing places on the Yorkshire coast for those interested in history. Its dramatic clifftop location made it the ideal site for a string of Roman signal stations and The Raven Hall Hotel, perched broodingly on the clifftop, was once owned by King George III’s physician (the king is rumoured to have stayed there). Even if you’re not a history scholar, this is still a picturesque picnic spot with far-reaching sea views.

VALLEY GARDENS, HARROGATE
These grade II listed gardens in regal Low Harrogate provide a secluded escape from the hustle and bustle of the town. There are 17 acres of woodland, known as The Pinewoods, dozens of mineral springs, captivating gardens, tennis courts, a pitch and putt golf course, crazy golf, a boating pool, paddling pool and a children's play area.

PEASHOLM PARK, SCARBOROUGH
With its tranquil lake, dragon boats, intriguing pagodas, bandstand, natural glen and array of rare and unusual trees, Peasholm Park feels a million miles away from busy Scarborough but is actually just a few minutes walk from the town centre.

MALHAM COVE, YORKSHIRE DALES
Malham is a small, pretty village surrounded by limestone dry-stone walls and bisected by a stream. Nearby Malham Cove is a good picnic choice, with its huge curving amphitheatre of rock soaring 260ft high, as is Janet’s Foss, where you can cool off in the plunge pool on a hot day if the mood takes you.

KNARESBOROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE
It seems odd to talk about inland cliffs, but that’s exactly what you get in Knaresborough. The town centre is perched on cliffs above the River Nidd, offering stunning views of an imposing railway viaduct across the Nidd Gorge. If you’ve got a head for heights, this could be your perfect picnic spot.

FARNDALE, NORTH YORK MOORS
Known as the ‘Daffodil Dale’, this is a particularly good picnic spot in spring when the banks of the River Dove are covered in bright yellow blooms.

BEVERLEY WESTWOOD, EAST YORKSHIRE
This pasture, just minutes from the town centre by the racecourse, offers unspoilt acres – complete with grazing cattle – for families to relax in, play games, run around and generally blow off a bit of steam.

DAMFLASK RESERVOIR, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
This North Sheffield reservoir is great for paddling and offers a flat, three-mile accessible walk if you feel like working off your picnic lunch. It also has the closest thing to a beach you’re probably going to find in South Yorkshire too, with a ribbon of sand and stones marking the waterline.