The best picnics in Scotland

Spring and easter always spell the start of picnic season. It may not seem like it when you look out of the window just now with a wet start to spring in Scotland but we are optimists and basic kit is a good set of waterproofs and a tartan umbrella so nothing can stop us! There are so many fantastic places for a picnic and most families have a special place they like to go, whether it's for the peace and quiet, a beautiful view, or a stream for the kids to play in.

We are based in the eastern Scottish Borders and if it's not Coldingham beach then a walk along the Southern Upland Way from Lauder to Longformacus means you can stop at the Twin Law Cairns above Westruther to see if anyone left you some Kendal Mint Cake in the box, or get out of the wind and sit tucked behind the wood to eat your sarnies.

A few years ago Warburton's ran a competition and the public voted for their favourite picnic spot in Scotland. One place has won three years in a row which must make it a very special location. The secret of Loch an Eilein at Rothiemurcus is in it's name meaning "loch of the island" with its 13th century castle sat right on a little island in the loch. The Rothiemurchus Estate, near Aviemore, lies between the peaceful river Spey and the spectacular Cairngorm Mountains, and part of the attraction of a picnic there is all the other things there are to see and do. The Estate is home to the largest native forest in the UK so you are never short of a route to explore through the trees and there are lots of other activities is rambling is too sedate for your family.

The ten Scottish competing picnic sites were the winning Rothiemurchus, near Aviemore; Culzean Castle, Ayrshire; Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute;Kirriemuir Camera Obscura; Point of Buckquoy, Birsay, Orkney; Highland Safaris Picnic in a mountain bothy - Tarmigan Mountain Range, Perthshire; St Abbs Head - National Nature Reserve; Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris; Eshaness, Shetland; Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh

So what do you need for the perfect picnic? It will of course have to be full of Scottish specialities so how about some Scottish smoked salmon sandwiches or oatcakes with Crowdie cheese or a Mull of Kintyre cheddar? And swap the champagne for some of our favourite Thistly Cross cider made the farmhouse way in East Lothian. Or if you want it cheap and cheerful then a Scotch pie and a bottle if Irn Bru is just as good! So then all you need is a waterproof backed picnic rug or a traditional tartan rug to sit on and at least if it get's chilly you can wrap yourself up in it to keep warm!