Planning a Picnic in Perthshire

Picnics are a fantastic way to enjoy the summer weather, experience the joy of the outdoors, and perhaps explore somewhere new. But it must be said that not all picnics are an unmitigated success! Choose the wrong spot and you could be plagued by midges, ants or wasps. Pack the wrong things and you may struggle to keep everyone occupied, or pack them in the wrong way and the oil from that tub of olives will lightly yet seemingly permanently coat the bag, everything in the bag, and anything else you happen to touch.

Some of the above things may happen whatever you do, but some are avoidable, so in this article we’ve put together a guide to planning a successful picnic, plus a few of the best locations in Perthshire for enjoying it.

The first consideration for a picnic for me is actually not the food! It’s what to sit on. In a Scottish summer it’s actually quite rare for the ground to be dry enough that no damp will eventually seep through your clothes, or an ordinary blanket. So instead, you could get yourself a blanket with a waterproof backing, choose a location that has picnic benches in place (more on that below) or invest in some folding camp chairs (a game changer for us this year. We’ve also got a folding table, not necessary but highly recommended!). You can mix this combination up if you like—for example, with adults on chairs and kids on the blanket—depending on how many people will be at your picnic.

Once you’ve decided on seating, it’s still not time to think about food. Sorry. But you should think about what you’re going to pack the food in. There’s something very dispiriting about unpacking a picnic from a plastic bag. Even worse is a 20 year old cool bag which is stained with unidentified liquids and had one corner chewed off by a mouse when it was stored in the garage or attic. If that’s the case for you, you hereby have my permission to replace it. Personally, I’m a fan of a proper hamper, but I realise that’s not practical for everyone, so any cool bag/box/basket will do. Just please make it something a bit fun! Picnics should be frivolous.

Now let’s talk about what to pack. Food of course, and we’ll get to that, but consider also including some games, whether that’s cards or a frisbee or both. But you probably don’t need me to tell you that.

Now food. My top tip for this has always been to buy your picnic food from a local deli, it will be immeasurably nicer and easier. Think scotch eggs, pork pies, tubs of sun-dried tomatoes and olives (packed well), cheese and chutneys, and fresh, crusty bread. Possibly this is mainly because I hate making sandwiches, but this way a picnic isn’t a lot of work for anyone.

So, you’re all ready to go, let’s now talk about four local locations that combine some of our desired features:

Crieff

Crieff’s Macrosty Park combines lovely greenspace with an elegant old charm, mostly represented by the bandstand. There’s plenty of room for games and also a play park close by. You can pick up your picnic at the Crieff Food Co on your way through the town. We can particularly recommend the scotch eggs.

Kenmore

Kenmore beach is a fabulous picnic spot on a sunny day, with amazing views down to Ben Lawers and several picnic benches if you prefer not to get sandy! The Courtyard is very handily located just over the bridge if you’re looking for somewhere nearby to buy your picnic, and the Kenmore Village Shop is actually quite deli-like as well.

Loch Leven

Loch Leven Heritage Trail starts off with a wide green where several picnic benches are dotted about, and also has a children’s play park and lots of open space. There’s also a stretch of sandy shoreline, and opportunities for bird spotting and visiting historical sites. Loch Leven’s Larder makes a convenient spot to pick up your lunch first.

Blairgowrie

It’s always nice to be beside the water when picnicking, and Blairgowrie’s William Macpherson Park is right beside the River Ericht. Although small, its location on the Cateran Trail, within a short walk of Cargill’s Leap, makes it special, and it has nearby parking and a play area close by too. For a food option, you’ll find the Cornerstone Deli on Blairgowrie High Street.

Of course, those are just a few options for picnicking in Perthshire, but there’s plenty more! See what you can find while exploring in the warmer weather.