Somerset Life: May 2014

Picnic days are here again - and in we have an outstanding variety of sites for novice or veteran, young or old picnickers to enjoy.

Here Julia Ridge, of vintage and modern picnic basket company My Picnic Days - herself a dedicated picnicker since infancy - chooses her top spots to keep a wide range of participants happy.

Young families and Ham Hill Country Park

Nothing beats outdoor eating for young children. All that freedom to run wild...or hold a teddies' picnic.

Ham Hill Country Park is particularly good for young families, with leafy woodlands, grassy meadows, old quarry areas and fantastic landscape hilly mounds with a great network of paths to explore.

Facilities: Extensive parking, toilets next to the Ranger's Office, open during office hours; picnic tables next to some of the parking spaces.

Location: Ham Hill Road, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset.

Visit http://www.southsomersetcountryside.com/ham-hill-country-park.aspx for full details.

Teenagers and Kilve Beach

Kilve Beach has always proved popular with this age group over the years. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), it's a popular place to hunt for fossils, admire the larger cliffs with amazing coloured formations, play in rock pools, climb, or paddle in the stream. Good flat places ideal for a picnic.

Facilities: Pay and display car park in fields leading down to the beach; public toilets and cafe nearby, shop in Kilve village. It is possible to get wheelchairs down to the edge of the beach.

Location: At TA5 1EG, Kilve is on the A39 between and Williton. From the village turn on to Sea Lane and follow this for about a mile.

Google Kilve Beach for details of car parking and more.

Older family and Wimbleball Lake

Picnics are a great way for the generations to spend time together. If mobility is a problem, local charity Countryside Mobility provides mobility scooters for easy access to the South West’s beauty spots - see http://www.countrysidemobility.org/

Wimbleball Lake is a fantastic place, with so much to do including a nine mile lake walk, water sports, camping, picnicking, boating, sailing and more.

Facilities: Wheelchair-friendly, with limited disabled parking down by the lakeside. Many paths accessible by wheelchairs or buggies; picnic tables in the car park. Tea room, play area, toilets, boat hire, outdoor activity centre.

Location: From Dunster take the A396 towards Dulverton, follow brown signs at Machine Cross. From take the A39 to Washford Cross, and then the B3190 towards Bampton. Sat Nav TA22 9NU

Visit http://www.swlakestrust.org.uk/lakesand-facilities/the-lakes/wimbleball-lake

Racing picnics

Some picnic occasions call for a more formal approach - a day at the races or in an elegant park listening to music, is a good excuse for a sophisticated spread. You can get your best china, glass and table linen out, but still design a menu with the minimum of fuss.

Racing: Somerset has two race courses at Taunton and Wincanton but in the Spring it hosts a number of amateur Point to Point races. These are ideal for picnics if you arrive a couple of hours before the first race, park close to the course with plenty of time to study the form, and enjoy some food (and afternoon tea later).

Facilities: Courses will have a bar, catering and toilet facilities, but the level differs from course to course. Many now have trade stands plus entertainment for children.

For local courses and dates visit: http://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/fixtures_and_courses.html Bands: Most of our large parks have a programme of local bands playing concerts during the summer, such as Bath Band Concerts held at Victoria Park. These are at Royal Victoria Park, Marlborough Lane, Bath BA1 2NQ - or just google ' Bath concerts in the park.'

Peace and quiet at Otterhead Lakes or Holford Combe

For many people, picnics are all about finding quiet special places, and Somerset is full of these.

Here are two favourites - Otterhead Lakes and Holford Combe.

Otterhead Lakes:

This has beautiful wild snowdrops, daffodils and rhododendrons, along with swans and two fine lakes. The Reserve is set around the former landscaped gardens of Otterhead House, demolished in 1952.

Facilities: Parking and limited wheelchair access on surfaced path to the Lakes.

Location: Otterford, Churchinford TA3 7EF - approximately seven miles south of Taunton, immediately south of Otterford. Car park is accessed by a small lane on the western side of the B3170.

For more details visit http://e-voice.org.uk/otterheadestate/

Holford:

Holford Combe (valley) is an enchanting dingly dell with a stream running brightly over pebbles. There are also open, -dappled glades carpeted with soft grass (ideal for picnics) with densely wooded slopes, perfect for hot sunny days.

Facilities: Car park

Location: Holford Village Green, TA5 1SB - follow the A39 to The Plough Inn then turn left if coming from Bridgwater, right if coming from Minehead. Follow sign for Combe House Hotel. After quarter of a mile bear left, right at next junction, and follow the lane through the trees up to the car park.

Driving above Porlock Vale

Even if you don’t feel like being energetic you can enjoy the beauty of our county by going for a drive, and stopping off to enjoy the views and a picnic.

Depending on where you park, above Porlock Vale you can enjoy views right across to Wales or inland across the moor. There are plenty of Exmoor pony grazed grassland perfect for picnic spots - and maybe even meeting the ponies.

Location: Porlock Hill has various small lay-bys and larger car parks along the A39 above Porlock, going towards Lynmouth. Between 2 and 2.5 miles from Porlock village will bring you to this delightful area. Park in any of the roadside lay-bys or larger car parks.

See OS Grid ref: SS 856 463 or visit http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Stargazers picnics at Crowcombe Park Gate

How about a night time picnic! Somerset has some renowned dark skies, ideal for stargazing.

A good area is Crowcombe Park Gate in the Quantock Hills, with views of the combes and countryside before dark sets in, along with good night sky. This road has grassy areas all around offering ideal picnic spots.

Location: Go to the A358 between Williton and Taunton, take the road to Crowcombe village. In the centre of the village turn towards Nether Stowey and follow this small road unsuitable for HGV’s. Park up anywhere along here. OS Grif ref: ST 150 377

Another great spot is Wimbleball Lake, mentioned above, which was nominated as the first Dark Skies Discovery Site on Exmoor in 2011. Stargazing here is phenomenal as there is so little light pollution, with plenty of level hard surfaced areas overlooking the scenic lakeside, ideal for an evening picnic.

Walkers at Cheddar Gorge

Rocky crags tower almost 152 metres over the twisting gorge road, dwarfing vehicles that travel along it. Formed 300 million years ago with spectacular views of the deep gorge - this is a superb spot for walkers to enjoy a much needed picnic. With a variety of walks available, some are also wheelchair and buggy friendly.

Facilities: Information Centre and toilets in Cheddar.

Location: Car park in layby off B3135 near the tourist

For more details visit http://www.walkinginsomerset.co.uk/cheddar.php or http://www.cheddargorge.co.uk/explore/cliff-top-walks

Relaxing at Bridgwater & Taunton Canal

A relaxing summer's day next to the canal watching the birds and boats go by, is ideal for all age groups and an ideal place to picnic. (Look out also for the Somerset space walk - a scale model of the along the route.)

Facilities: Disability access from Maunsel Lock Canal Centre; toilets and parking there too.

Tea Shop www.maunsellock.co.uk, 01278 663160 where you can also book boat trips.

Location: A number of car parks along the canal. For Maunsel Lock Canal Centre at North Newton, leave the M5 at junction 24 and follow signs on the A38 in North Petherton.