Winning tip: Brill, Buckinghamshire

As a child, the highlight of the holidays was spent running up and down “the humps and bumps”, as my brothers and I called the hillocks in Brill (13 miles west of Aylesbury), pulses racing, followed by a family picnic on a blanket. Sometimes we would picnic in the back of my parents’ old banger, excitedly peeling the shells off our boiled eggs as the rain slashed against the windows. How I would love to go back, though I’m not sure I could fly around the terrain with such speed any more. I wonder if the old windmill is still there ...
Sarah de Costobadie

Reader’s comment: I’m happy to reassure Sarah de Costobadie that Brill windmill is still very much here. Substantial restoration work done in 2009 preserved the building’s fabric and the mill machinery. The mill is now owned by the village and we open it to visitors every Sunday afternoon in the summer. Come back for a visit, Sarah!
Alison Giraud-Saunders

Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

With its varied and breathtaking landscape, and plethora of birds and wildlife, it is easy to see why Cannock Chase has been named as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are lots of walks and cycle trails, as well as war memorials, museums and the remains of an iron age hill fort. There is a play area, too, so there’s plenty to keep everyone happy and to make for a lovely family day out – or several, in fact, as you wouldn’t cover everything in one trip or ever become bored of the place.
Christine Evans

Lordenshawe, Northumberland

Park at Lordenshawe and head up the steep climb. On your way, look out for red grouse and curlew. Once you get to the top, you’ll have worked up an appetite so find a smooth, warm rock and enjoy the panoramic view over the beautiful Northumberland countryside while you tuck in. Afterwards have a game of hide and seek in the rock formations. You can head home the way you came, or do a whole loop. Supplies can be picked up from superb Tully’s deli in Rothbury.
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Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons

First, visit Cashells deli on Crickhowell High Street for some scrumptious, locally produced picnic goodies, then wend your way down to the banks of the River Usk. The brave can indulge in some wild swimming (there’s a large, deep pool beneath the arched medieval bridge) but you can also paddle for miles along the path upriver, or sunbathe on the flat river rocks exposed during summer months. Wide, grassy acres on the Crickhowell side provide ideal conditions for frisbee or ball games, or you could just lie back and take in the stunning panorama of the Black Mountains.rja123

Loch Lubnaig, Highlands

There are picnic tables on the beach of Loch Lubnaig, a cabin selling hot and cold food made by two fantastically friendly ladies, spotless toilets and a campsite if you want to stay longer. This is a great stop if you’re driving to or from the Western Isles and a lovely introduction to the lochs on your way north.
BikeSausage

Derwent Dam, Peak District

My favourite spot is at the foot of the dam, especially in spring when the snowmelt tends to make the flow of water faster, louder and more mesmerising. The dam itself is protected by the Peak District hills and ancient woods. If you don’t fancy a blanket, there is a little picnic table area slightly south of the dam where, if you have any crumbs left, birds will perch on your hand and eat them. As for food, you are in the Peaks so stop by Bakewell on your way for a tart. Walk off the dessert by climbing up to the top of the dam.
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Studland Beach, Dorset

Anywhere on, or overlooking, the four miles of soft sands and sheltered welcoming waters of Studland Bay is a great spot for a family picnic: it’s safe and traffic-free for children and pets, plus shallow bays make paddling easy and fun. Lovely meadows, kissed by ocean breezes, sweetly suggest afternoon strolls. The area inspired Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books. Stock up with pasties, bread and cheese for the picnic from the Dragons Village Bakery in Corfe Castle – with a few slices of their delicious Dorset apple cake to finish off the picnic.
gallarate

Port Meadow, Oxford

Just a short walk from Oxford’s museums and colleges is is Port Meadow, a vast and ancient area of pasture grazed by cattle and horses. This is the perfect place for a picnic. Either one that precedes a long walk among the ponies and Canada geese, or one that follows a cooling dip in the Thames. The best way to head there is to go up Binsey Lane. This way, you can go via the pick-your-own farm to stock up on fresh picnic supplies and pop into The Perch for the first drink.

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Greenwich Park Flower Garden, London

Finding a quiet spot in London’s parks can be a challenge in summer, but you can escape the crowds and work up an appetite by making your way to the very top of this park for a picnic in its peaceful flower garden. Pick up all you need from nearby Royal Hill – home to local gems The Cheeseboard (artisan cheeses) and The Creaky Shed (local, seasonal produce). Catch your breath under a towering cedar tree and enjoy lunch surrounded by exquisite floral displays, then wander through the woodland to visit the small herd of red and fallow deer.
Susan Bates

Butser Hill, Hampshire

The top of Butser Hill, in the South Downs national park, is a marvellous place for a picnic. Once you have parked at the bottom in Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and made the trek up to the top with kids and dogs, you have really earned your picnic, not to mention the fantastic views as far as the Isle of Wight. Don’t forget to bring a kite, and keep your eyes peeled to see rabbits, birds of prey and myriad butterflies. Heaven.
Joholl