Wild dining – South Hams’ best picnic spots
Rustic and last-minute or elegant and perfectly planned; the humble picnic takes on many forms but is always a combination of three essential elements; beautiful scenery, delicious food, and great company.
And while your choice of nibbles is going to be down to personal preference (as is the social aspect of your soiree), local travel experts Luxury Coastal who bring you Beam Ends, Chy An Eglos and Decoy Farmhouse, can help when it comes to choosing a lovely spot for rolling out your picnic blanket.
Flaunting a dreamy landscape of dramatic coastline and rolling countryside (think lighthouses balancing on headlands and ridiculously wide sea views), the South Hams in Devon is top of their list. And if you’re toying with the idea of making the area your next holiday escape, these beauties just might sway you.
Soar Mill Cove
One of the prettiest in the area and extremely photogenic, Soar Mill Cove is not the easiest to get to but well worth the effort. Set below Bolt Head, it’s accessed on foot via the South West Coast Path, or by canoe or boat if you’re feeling adventurous. The sandy inlet makes the perfect place for a picnic, and if you’re lucky you might spot the odd seal chasing down its fish supper in the shallows.
Snapes Point near Salcombe
With 360 degree views over Salcombe estuary and harbour, the National Trust owned Snapes Point offers one of the best vantage points in the area. We can’t promise you it won’t get busy on a sunny day but there’s a darn good reason it does. And chances are you’ll love being there so much that you just won’t care if it’s a touch crowded.
Mattiscombe Sands
Just a short walk from one of Devon’s most scenic car parks at Start Point (the main image above) and you’ll find yourself in another world overlooking a beautiful little find; a small, secluded rocky beach backed by gorgeous countryside. Popular with locals it’s also dog-friendly all year round so if your picnic party has four-legged companions in tow, this is the perfect place for all of you to hang out.
Slapton Sands
This slice of Devon is a truly unique landscape and feels nothing like the rest of England. There’s a mile and a half of white shingle with turquoise water on one side (perfect if you like a bit of a Mediterannean vibe with your alfresco dining), and the lushest vegetation surrounding the largest natural freshwater lake in the south west on the other at Slapton Ley Nature Reserve.
Little Dartmouth walk
If you like to burn a few calories before you indulge, the 4 mile circular walk from Little Dartmouth car park will reward you with incredible views down to the coast. Pack a picnic into your rucksack and along the way above Shingle Hill Cove, you’ll discover a stunningly secluded spot that’s not obvious to the average passer-by. It’s about half a kilometer down the hill from the coast path and has a bench and plenty of space to stretch out and take in the views.
Stay in one of the three luxury houses which are part of Further Afield and try these amazing suggestions out for yourself
