Whilst the weather is still on our side and the evenings are bright, make the most of the Scottish summer by heading to your local beauty spot for a picnic. Round up a few of your closest friends for a catch up, or get the kids involved with the preparation and make it a fun family afternoon out before the school holidays are over.
There are a few essentials that you’ll want to consider before heading out on your adventure. However, there’s no need to worry as we’ve done all the hard work for you. We’re sharing our guide to planning the perfect picnic in Perth. From location, to picnic food ideas, and even what to pack, we’ve got you covered.
Picking the perfect spot
Photo of the South Inch via Perth Life.
One thing that Perth is certainly not short of is luscious parks, woodland walks and plenty of places to park up for a picnic. Here are some of our favourite picnic spots for you to check out.
North & South Inches
Perth’s North and South Inch parks are the perfect inner city escape. The South Inch has a playpark for the kids to enjoy, whilst the North Inch boasts stunning views across the Tay. You’ll find picnic benches and bins onsite as well as the odd ice cream van! However, as it's right on our doorstep it can be busy on summer days so we definitely recommend bringing along some seats or a blanket just in case.
Scone Palace
Make a day of it and visit the magnificent Scone Palace. The estate has a regal history as the place in which Scottish Kings would be crowned. The likes of Robert The Bruce and King Charles ll were crowned here at Scone Palace. Now, you can wander the gorgeous grounds and book tours to delve even deeper into the palace’s history. After all of that you’ll certainly feel peckish! Luckily, they have an onsite picnic area which is the perfect place to enjoy a lunch in the sun.
Branklyn Garden
This beautiful hillside garden rests just on the other side of Kinnoull Hill. The 1920s garden is a beautiful place to go for a relaxing stroll and admire the immaculate display of hundreds of plant and flower species in bloom. There’s a small gift shop to browse in, as well as a café that offers sit-in or takeaway service, and of course you can make use of their picnic benches and bring your own lunch with you. Branklyn Garden makes for a great picnic spot!
You can also visit Norrie Miller Park, Moncrieffe Hill and Quarry Mill in Perth. Or, perhaps you're feeling adventurous and fancy a beach picnic? Head to Perth's Stanley Beach or further afield to Fife where you can visit West Sands in St.Andrews or Elie beach.
Preparing your picnic lunch
Every picnic needs some delicious food and drinks. Whether you’ve prepared it all by hand in the kitchen, or have popped into your local deli to stock up, here are some Perth-based foodies that you’ll want to know about before your picnic.
Provender Brown
Provender Brown’s delicatessen is one of our favourite places to pick up fresh foods in Perth. They have a beautiful deli counter that offers mouth-watering meats, olives, cheese, pates and plenty of picnic snacks. Top up on sweet treats at their bakery section too! You really will find everything that you need for a mighty feast in the park here. Want to save time? Pop in and pick up one of their grazing platters. They sample a range of foods and make for easy picnic food. Simply collect and go.
Casella & Polegato
Only the freshest baked goods straight out of the oven will do for you summer picnic in Perth! Pop along to Casella & Polegato for homemade bread, buns, biscuits and more. The smell alone when you step into the bakery will have your tummy rumbling. For the freshest baked bread be sure to visit on the day of your picnic.
Martin’s Fruit Bazaar
For juicy, ripe fruit and vegetables, pop along to Martin’s Fruit Bazaar in the heart of Perth. Ideal if you’re planning on cooking up some soup and whipping up a tangy vitamin fuelled smoothie beforehand. Or, simply fancy some fresh fruit for a light dessert on your picnic. Did someone say strawberries dipped in chocolate? Yum!
Ensure that you have all of the picnic essentials
Now that you know where you’ll be parking up for your picnic, and what you’ll be eating, there are still a final few essentials that you’ll want to pack. We have plenty of summer picnic accessories here at Quince & Cook. Let’s take a look at some of our top picks.
Insulated Picnic Bag
This cool picnic bag is perfect for carrying all of you delicious picnic food and drinks whilst keeping them cold and fresh. It has a simple design with sturdy cotton and polyester handles so it will certainly hold a bottle of bubbly or two!
Fiesta Wooden Cutlery Set
Keep your picnic green and say no to plastic with these pretty sets of wooden cutlery. Each pack contains six sets of fully biodegradable wooden cutlery made from sustainable birch wood. These are brilliant for BBQs and children’s birthday parties also.
Agate Picnic Cups
How gorgeous is this natural blue and green agate design? Stylish and practical you can serve almost any drink hot, or cold, in these cups and wash with ease when you return home. We have a full agate range if you are as obsessed with the design as we are. Including bowls, plates and more, these aren’t just for picnics; they'd look great in your home too.
Rust Check Wool Picnic Blanket
On a sunny day in Perth there’s no guarantee that you’ll secure a picnic bench at one of the local parks. So, don’t get caught out and pack a trust picnic blanket that can seat you and all of the family. Our check wool picnic blanket in rust is ideal as you can pack it up and transport it easily with its leather straps. The blanket itself is made from a blend of recycled wool and is extremely durable yet soft and comfy to sit on. Certainly pick up one of these for your next picnic date.
Hopefully, you now feel inspired and fully prepared to picnic in Perth. We’ll see you around!
Quince & Cook
