The beach is a popular area for families with young children. Across the river stand the priory ruins as a stunning backdrop.

The good old British summer. There’s nothing quite like it, is there? The sound of leather on willow, Wimbledon on the telly, eating strawberries with cream and hosepipe bans when we go without a drop of rain for a couple of weeks.

Joking aside, we really have a lot to be thankful for living in this country and when the weather’s good, and let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not as bad as we might make out, as a nation we love to go out and enjoy yourselves.

And the two ingredients we usually need to enjoy yourselves are good food and great company. They just complement each other so well, don’t they? That’s why picnics are popular. And you can’t get more British than a picnic out in the country. Well, you’d be right if they were British to start with!

The word picnic is understood to go back to the time when French aristocrats brought the idea of eating outdoors with them across the channel as they sought refuge from persecution during the French Revolution. Not that it really matters though, because the picnic is now very much woven into our British way of life.

Decimated by a fierce storm in the 19th Century, The Valley of Desolation is thriving once again.

And while it was once very much a status symbol eating al fresco, these days going for a picnic really is something anyone can enjoy.

All you need is a few nibbles, something to drink, friends, family, kids, whoever we want to be with and away you go. Except for one more thing. Finding a place to go. And that’s where we come in because Bolton Abbey is just the place to go to if you’re looking for a change of scenery, a place to run to or an escape from your usual routine. Whatever your motivation, whether you’re new to picnicking or a serial picnicker, why not come and try us for size.

For all you romantics who want to go the extra mile

Perhaps you see yourself as a bit of a romantic. If you do, then you might love the idea of a panoramic view for a picnic, looking down on the River Wharfe in an ancient wood, feeling the shafts of sunlight penetrate through the trees. If that sounds like the very thing you’re looking for, we’d certainly recommend Strid Wood.

Here, some of the trees have lived for up to 300 years while it’s also home to a stretch of river known as the Strid. Both beautiful and extremely dangerous in equal measure, this stretch of water narrows considerably making it a boiling cauldron of strong undercurrents.

The beautiful but unpredictable River Wharfe. You can see why the artist William Turner was drawn to it.

You’ll struggle to find anything quite like it but you don’t have to take our word for it. The Strid captivated the artist William Turner, the master of romanticism himself, enough to produce one of his paintings here.

From devastation to beauty

Stray away from the river and you’ll find another gem that’s a little harder to get to and more suited for the experienced walker who doesn’t mind a bit of a climb. But trust us. It’s not too exerting. Now the name of this spot might put you off a bit, but the Valley of Desolation – so named after a storm in 1826 flattened the area – is a place of tranquility with a stunning waterfall to greet you.

If your kids want a bit of adventure and why wouldn’t they, get them on our Welly Walk or jump in this case!

Get down on the beach

Not exactly ideal for those with kids but that’s no problem, because coming back down to the river, the beach with the magnificent 12th century ruins of Bolton Priory as a backdrop is a family-friendly spot worth exploring.

And it’s also a great spot for your kids to burn off a bit of energy with our Welly Walk which has a set of obstacles and challenges they’ll find hard to resist. But if that’s not quite your cup of tea and you fancy something much more relaxed, just head a little downstream where the landscape opens up and flattens out with lush green meadows, offering you more peace and quiet.

Only a short walk from Bolton Abbey village, you might also want your kids to get their legs moving at our family cycling zone where they can learn to ride in the safe confines of a picturesque field.

The pure and bare necessities of life

Now, while it’s great to find a spot that’s idyllic and romantic, or that’ll keep your kids entertained, you can’t ignore the practicalities and we get that.

Maybe you’re not the type that wants to sit on the ground with your picnic, or if you’re just not as nimble as you’d like to be, the last thing you want to do is drag some foldable chairs around. You’ve got enough to think about as it is.

We’ve been expecting you! You can order your own picnic from the Devonshire Arms. Just let them know in good time!

So, why not make the most of the picnic benches you can find at the Bolton Abbey and Riverside car parks. You won’t have to go too far from where you park to get one and what’s more you’ll find public toilets and shops, which is handy in case you’re looking for something to go with your picnic or just happen to run out of something and want to see what we can offer.

Dogs by the way are an important part of the family and we love seeing them here. We want everyone to have a safe and memorable experience so please remember to keep them under control at all times, be mindful that not everyone is comfortable around dogs and if you want to go for a walk in any wooded area, don’t forget to put them on a lead.

Armed with a few ideas for your picnic at Bolton Abbey, what you do next is up to you. But to help you really find a place that meets your needs, we’d really urge to have a good look at our interactive online map before setting off.

A time to celebrate being together is what makes a picnic special especially when the location is just right!

And that’s you ready for your day out. So, let’s go through that list of yours, shall we?

Location Bolton Abbey ✔️
Partner, family, friends, dog ✔️
Weather ✔️ (goes without saying!)

No offence…but are you short of a picnic?

What if you don’t have your own picnic though, or don’t want to make one?

No problem at all. We can take care of that for you. We’ll lovingly prepare a picnic hamper for you to enjoy within the beautiful grounds of the Devonshire Arms less than a mile from the Bolton Abbey village, offering a selection of treats all freshly make using local produce.

See our menu and prices before booking your picnic.

Any occasion that brings together the people you love and care about is worth celebrating and with good food that can only be a good thing especially if the place where you meet doesn’t just nourish your body, but your mind and soul too.

Make Bolton Abbey a celebration and an appreciation of what you are grateful for, while connecting with nature. To create those special memories that you’ll cherish, visit Bolton Abbey and make your British summer one to remember.