Set Summer Free Dorset Guide

Five Delicious Picnic Spots in Dorset

Today we’re heading due west from 181 Piccadilly in search of deepest Dorset – and the countless opportunities for picnicking that the beautiful county of Dorset has to offer.

Ready for adventure in the great outdoors? After a year in which al fresco exploration has been decidedly tricky, we certainly are.

That’s why all summer, we’re handpicking some of our favourite places to get outside with a picnic and some pals (and the pooch, too).

From beautiful green spaces to seaside excursions and hidden gems of all shapes and sizes, we’re here to make sure that, sunshine-pending, you’re fully-laden with extraordinary ideas for al fresco feasting.

A sweeping, 18-mile-long expanse of pebble and shingle that’s part of Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast, Chesil Beach has been the historic site of many a shipwrecked boat over the centuries and an iconic fishing spot for just as long

THE BEACH

Before we go anywhere else, we’re off to the beach – and not just any old stretch of sand either, but the iconic Chesil Beach.

A sweeping, 18-mile-long expanse of pebble and shingle that’s part of Dorset’s famous Jurassic Coast, it’s been the historic site of many a shipwrecked boat over the centuries and an iconic fishing spot for just as long. It formed an integral part of Britain’s sea defences in the Second World War, has inspired many works of literature – and just as importantly, motivated inumerable hungry picnickers to set down their rug and open their picnic basket.

A perfect spot to stop and sip something crisp (hello, Conker Dorset Dry Gin & Tonic) on a warm day, or something warm and comforting if the wind is whipping.

THE SWIM

There’s certainly paddling to be done at Chesil Beach, but we’re heading deeper into Dorset in search of wild swimming.

A part of the River Stour that trundles through the county, Fiddleford Manor is a tranquil and hidden little millpond situated in the picturesque Stour Valley.

Bordered by ancient woodlands, it’s known to be delightfully cool even at the height of the summer months. Just remember to take a dip before you dive into the picnic supplies...

Fiddleford Manor is a tranquil and hidden little millpond situated in the picturesque Stour Valley

THE ADVENTURE

Standing just outside Bridport in West Dorset is Colmer’s Hill, a picture-postcard hilltop with a cluster of trees at its peak, which jut artistically into the Dorset sky and are visible from miles away in every direction.

So wherever you start your picnic trek, you’ll have a visible destination ahead of you – and once you reach the top you can dive into the cheese and biscuits and take in views across the countryside that are more than worth the effort it takes to haul yourself up there.

THE FAMILY FAVOURITE

Far more than just a family-friendly spot to let your younglings stretch their legs, Blue Pool near Wareham is a truly beautiful picnic destination in the heart of the Purbeck Hills. There are few better spots to sit, sip and scoff than the tables around the eponymous pool – which, in spite of its name, is actually blue, green and occasionally turquoise (and often shades of all three) because of the fine amounts of clay present in the water.

Surrounded by 25 acres of heath, woodland and gorse, the forest areas are criss-crossed with easy-to-follow walking routes and child-friendly trails where the whole family can hunt for Magic Fairy Doors and model squirrels among the trees.

THE DOG WALK

A dog walk that takes in Corfe Castle, one of the most-famous landmarks in Dorset, our favourite pooch-and-picnic walking route begins near the hilltop ruins of the English Civil War-era castle before taking in the rugged, open terrain of Corfe Common and the undulating remains of 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial mounds.