Best Walks with Perfect Picnic Spots
Want a walk with a super picnic spot?
When the weather is warming up (or not for that matter! We do love a winter picnic!) there is nothing better than taking a walk to a perfect Yorkshire Dales picnic spot! And you know what? We have put all of our absolute best and MOST favourite picnic walks all in one place! (That’s here. It’s here.)
So you’ll find super secret picnic spots, picnic spots with waterfalls, picnic spots with ruins and more!
So the only thing that’s left for you to do is think about what on earth you’re going to put in your picnic bag!
REMEMBER!!! If you picnic anywhere in the Yorkshire Dales (or anywhere for that matter), take your rubbish home and leave nothing behind. In my humble opinion, if you can manage to bring it, you can manage to take it away. BBQs and open fires are NOT permitted in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Leave no trace. Don’t be a tosser.
Paddling in the waterfalls at River Nidd
Secret waterfall picnic spots…
In my opinion, there is no finer place for a picnic, than a place that has somewhere you can paddle in as well and you know what…. we know some absolutely cracking spots!
These ones are super wild, so you won’t see a picnic bench in sight, so make sure you pack up your blanket, grab your rucksack and get ready for an adventure!
Buckden Beck Waterfalls
These are out FAVOURITE picnic waterfalls, so if you go. You’d better love them as much as us and treat them with respect! (Or I’ll unleash the kids on you!)
Buckden Beck waterfalls (pictured top) are found just a little way away from the Buckden Car Park in Upper Wharfedale and are quite simply a beautiful place to spend a couple of hours. The walk to them is a great one for mini wanderers as it’s super short, so check out the full route on our Buckden Beck waterfall page.
River Nidd Waterfalls
These are another great wander for little adventurers as they are just a stone’s throw from the Lofthouse Car Park! The footpath runs right alongside the river and if you peep through the trees, you’ll spot the stunning cataract waterfalls on the River Nidd (pictured above).
Find out more on our River Nidd Waterfalls page.
Playing at the edge of Swinsty Reservoir
Walks with picnic areas
Ah we all love a picnic bench! (Do we? I feel like if we don’t, we absolutely should!)
These walks all have a picnic area for you to plan a perfect picnic!
Swinsty Reservoir
This is such a popular little reservoir wander, with places for stone throwing, stick dens and of course a perfect picnic area complete with super friendly ducks to feed!
You'll find this wander in the Washburn Valley just a stone’s throw from Otley and Harrogate. It’s a top walk on it’s own, or pair it up with Fewston Reservoir for older explorers wanting more of a mission! Find the walk details on our Swinsty Reservoir page.
Aysgarth Falls
This walk is great because if you forget the picnic, you can buy it from the Cafe!
But there are some perfect picnic bench spots at the Upper Falls of Aysgarth! BE WARNED! These waterfalls are veeeery popular and can get busy in warm weather, but they are popular for a reason! The trail is mainly pushchair and wheelchair accessible and fun fact…. they filmed Robin Hood there (Kevin Costner came a cropper in the Upper Falls)
Check out the full details of the walk by heading to our Aysgarth Falls page!
Ilkley Tarn
This pushchair friendly walk has ducks, the millennium maze and is just a stone’s throw from Ilkley town centre and with a picnic area located at the car park, it’s a perfect picnic walk!
Check out the full walk route and all the details over on our Ilkley Tarn page.
Heading up Almscliffe Crag at Sunset
Sunset picnic spots
There is nothing like a Sunset picnic! And if you can find an epic picnic spot that allows you to watch one?
Well, that’s just MARVELLOUS right?
Just so happens that I know a few good’uns.
If you choose to have a sunset picnic then be prepared! It will get dark (shock!) so take a torch with you. These spots are selected because they are close to parking areas and do not require much of a walk to and from!
Almscliffe Crag
This rocky outcrop is pretty much visible from everywhere in the Lower Wharfedale area and is a place that is LOVED by climbers everywhere! But not only is it a great place to go and play, it is an absolutely MARVELLOUS place to watch the sunset.
Find out the full walk details over on our Almscliffe Crag page.
Cow and Calf Rocks
Located on Ilkley Moor, this little spot is an ace place for a sunset picnic! Simply head up to the top of the rocks and find your perfect picnic stop spot! With it being only a stone’s throw from the car park too, it makes it an ace place for a picnic!
If you like this why not try….
Looking for some hot picnic inspiration? Check out our hot picnic blog!
Check out our waterfall walks!
