DAYSOUT
Picnic Perfection cont...
© Ailison Miles
PEGWELL BAY
Grove Ferry Picnic Site, Canterbury kent. gov. uk
A natural space open to all, Grove Ferry Picnic Site is situated along the picturesque banks of the Great Stour river and has rightfully been named the ideal place to have a picnic in Kent. Once there, visitors can sit by the waterside and watch the boats pass by along the river, or take a gentle stroll along one of the grass pathways to pay attention to local wildlife like birds and butterflies. Open from 9am until dusk, those with a four-legged friend are in luck as dogs are more than welcome to join.
During the summer months, visitors can take boat trips out on the River Stour from the friendly Grove Ferry Inn pub, and Canoewild also offers canoe hire for the more adventurous wanting to enjoy an out and back paddle through the waters of Grove Ferry. At just £ 27 per canoe, families of up to two adults and two children can enjoy the very best scenery along the lively riverside, extending an afternoon picnic in the sun to an exciting day out exploring the tranquility of Kent’ s waters.
Pegwell Bay Country Park, Sandwich kent. gov. uk
Forming part of the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve, this country park boasts stunning cliffside views, a play area, mobile refreshments and plenty of space for picnicking. The main park path is perfect for embracing coastal walks, with this stretch of serene coastline including chalk cliffs, mud flats, sand dunes and saltmarsh. The park itself acts as the entrance to the nature reserve, which is known as an area of national importance for the local bird species and rare flora that call Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve home. In the summer, the grass is speckled with wild flowers like orchids and broomrapes, and the public bird hide is accessible for birdwatchers who want to encounter birds of prey such as the merlin.
The main path at Pegwell Bay is flat and therefore wheelchair friendly, and the coastal path from the car park provides a great route towards the shoreline, where visitors can picnic with a sweeping backdrop across the bay when the tide is low. Cyclists wanting to explore the areas can join the Sustrans National cycle network which runs through the site from Whitfield to the district of Thanet.
Dunorlan Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells tunbridgewells. gov. uk
A richly varied Victorian garden with all the amenities of a modern outdoor space, Dunorlan Park is a spacious stretch of wild grassy slopes, a picturesque lake and sweeping views across to the Weald. Once the private grounds of a grand mansion built by Yorkshire-born millionaire, Henry Reed, Dunorland was laid out in the 1850s by renowned gardener, Robert Marnock. From a chalybeate spring and Grecian temple to a beautiful fountain adorned with water nymphs and classical figures, there’ s plenty to explore.
After enjoying a lunchtime picnic overlooking the lake, visitors can hire a pedal boat, rowing boat or canoe to head out on the water. Afterwards, the Natural Adventure play area featuring its very own Dunorlan Dragon is a great place for little ones to blow off some steam, or instead head to one of the park’ s dipping platforms to enjoy the cooling excitement of pond dipping.
56 • www. insidekent. co. uk