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The perfect picnic spots from Scotland to Antarctica
By Tempus | 20 July 2022 | Food & Drink, Travel
When the sun is out, nothing beats a picnic, and we’ve teamed up with The PC Agency to bring you some of the best — and most unique — places around the world to crack open the hamper
What's the best way to make the most of a sunny day? Well, for Tempus, no matter if it's in northern Europe or in the heart of the frozen continent, nothing beats a picnic.
Here, we take a look at some of the best destinations around the world in which to pop open the champagne, lay out the blanket and get snacking.
Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland
Glenapp Castle is a 21-bedroom luxurious Relais & Chateaux hotel tucked away on the breath-taking Ayrshire coast. Guests can find themselves getting lost within the castle’s 110 acres of private estate and local woodland or escaping to the majestic Scottish countryside for long romantic walks and beautiful views of Ailsa Craig and Northern Ireland. In addition to its stunning location, the Castle is renowned for offering an abundance of 65 activities, including stargazing, canoeing, coasteering, kayaking, yoga, forest bathing – there truly is something for everyone.
One of the main attractions is exploring the west coast on the Glenapp Castle RIB boat. From the local port Girvan, guests can spend the day on a private boat tour visiting the iconic Ailsa Craig, the volcanic outcrop that is home to an abundance of bird life. The Glenapp Castle team can prepare a wonderful picnic with freshly prepared sandwiches, delicious salads and fresh fruit to enjoy – there is something to suit everyone! There is also plenty of opportunity to spot amazing marine life, from twenty-foot-long basking sharks to dolphins, minke whales, and seals!
Villa Subtilia, Umbria, Italy
Originally a 16th Century farmhouse, this beautifully restored villa to rent sits in a hilltop position on a large estate in Umbria. The spectacular views over the surrounding countryside also encompass the medieval castle of Antognolla, and its adjacent 18-hole championship golf course. As well as a peaceful location, guests at the luxury holiday villa rental will be able to enjoy a wide range of local experiences.
A concierge team is available to arrange everything from in-villa spa services, cooking lessons, wine tastings, truffle-hunting excursions, day trips to nearby hill towns and biking trips! What’s more, the team can organise the most spectacular picnics for guests to enjoy on their excursions. With a small grocery store just a 2 minute drive away, and the village of Pierantonio, guests can expect a picnic full of delicious local produce. There is also the option to request a private chef, or enjoy delicious typically Umbrian dishes at the estate’s restaurant, Il Caldaro.
Within the stunning landscaped gardens (10,000 m2) there is an infinity swimming pool, with separate jacuzzi, with views over the rolling countryside. The pool can be heated on request at no extra cost. The holiday villa rental also offers several outdoor living and dining areas, including a barbecue.
Enjoy a picnic in Antarctica with White Desert
White Desert Antarctica will be launching their third camp, ‘Echo’ in December 2022. Hot off the heels of their second camp, Wolf’s Fang, which launched this season, Echo will be a camp designed and inspired by space travel. The stylish new eco-camp will feature six heated, cutting-edge polar pods complete with expansive floor to ceiling windows commanding views of the dramatic landscape beyond.
Crafted from composite fiberglass, each of the bedroom pods will be designed for two guests, with interiors featuring retro space-age detailing and luxurious furnishings. Original photos taken from the International Space Station (ISS) by former Commander, White Desert guest and retired astronaut, colonel Terry Virts will be featured in each pod. The camp will also offer a central lounge area, dining and heated shower pods.
White Desert offers foodies a range of unique gourmet dining experiences including a five-course sensory tasting menu, a ‘South Pole’ menu that harks back to the age of the first polar expeditions, as well as offering guests the chance to enjoy a delicious picnic at the base of a nunatak with champagne chilled in 10,000-year-old glacial ice.
As with all their camps, White Desert has designed Echo to be dismantled without a trace, leaving no more than a minor or transitory impact on Antarctica. Guests will have access to all White Desert activities, which include fat biking, skiing, skidooing and 4×4 Arctic Truck driving as well as expertly guided hiking, ice-climbing and mountaineering. Antarctic interior highlights such as visiting Atka Bay to see the 28,000 strong Emperor Penguin colony or a bucket-list journey to the South Pole can also be added to any itinerary.white-desert.com
Francis Hotel Bath celebrates summer with a new indulgent picnic menu
Set in the heart of Bath, the 98-room boutique hotel was first opened by Emily Francis in 1884, a leading entrepreneur of her time who merged seven Georgian townhouses to form the property standing today. The hotel is immersed in the heart of a World Heritage Site, with plenty to explore on its doorstep. For example, the River Avon trail – a firm favourite for best walks in Bath – is easily accessible from Francis Hotel.
Allowing guests to explore the breathtaking countryside that surrounds Bath, Francis Hotel has created a picnicoffering that will ensure all the family enjoy a walk! The hamper includes glassware, crockery and comes with a picnic rug so that guests can set up camp wherever and whenever. The menu includes a selection of cheeses, charcuterie, a sumptuous baguette with a range of fillings and all accompanied by a bottle of water. As the ultimate sweet treat, strawberries and cream are for dessert in order to give explorers a burst of energy as they continue their recce of Bath and its surrounding areas. The team at Boho Marché are able to create anything bespoke should guests wish to add or change any of the food items in particular.
Feast on a quintessentially English picnic at Castle Hotel Windsor
Castle Hotel Windsor was established as one of Windsor's finest boutique properties steeped in history dating back to 1528. With just 108-rooms, offering a prime location at the heart of Windsor, the hotel is situated opposite Windsor Castle and the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum. It is a short walk from a plethora of wide, open spaces including the famous Long Walk, Windsor Great Park – including the Long Walk – Savill Garden and the River Thames. All of which are perfect spots to set up and soak in the great outdoors whilst enjoying a picnic.
The picnic menu has been designed by Executive Head Chef, Suraj Lokhande and offers something for the whole family. Castle Hotel Windsor’s picnic offering celebrates the best of British – continuing the festivities after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Accompanied with a bottle of water and comfortable rug, all of the delicious food items packed up in a beautiful hamper – conveniently assembled so that guests can carry everything with ease. The picnicmenu features a charcuterie board complete with cheese and rustic bread for starter followed by a choice of either a healthy superfood or Niçoise salad before indulging in either a Coronation chicken wrap or hummus with grilled pepper vegan wrap. Finally, and remaining quintessentially English, strawberries with cream are the perfect end to this special picnic menu.