Harbour Holidays

Top-notch Picnicking

Billowing blankets, hampers bursting with fancy fodder, and a knock your socks off view to wash it all down – premium picnicking is a fine art…

When it comes to the good old British weather, eating outdoors is a somewhat occasional affair. So when those clouds clear, why not make the most of the moment and take your picnicking up a peg or two?

From hunting out hampers, to bagging the best blankets and tracking down the tastiest local fare, we’ve pulled together five key ingredients sure to make yours a premium picnic.

1) Lay your foundations

A crowd of crossed knees and cascade of crumbs calls for a sturdy picnic blanket. Look no further than the Atlantic Blanket Company. This family-run business started making traditional blankets after dodging the rat race and relocating to Cornwall in 2007. Now their range of classic and colourful textiles even includes blankets built for picnicking, which come complete with their own leather straps for convenient packing. You can pick your Atlantic Blanket up from Ocean Blue boutique on Broad Street.

2) Hone your hamper

We all know that wicker trumps fabric when it comes to channelling those Edwardian picnic vibes (minus the boater and bonnets). Luckily in Padstow, it’s not too tricky to get your hands on the perfect picnic vessel. Empty wicker picnic baskets are available at Camel Camping and House Wares in the centre of Padstow, or pre-filled with gourmet Cornish treats from Rick Stein’s or Simply Cornish Hampers.

3) Crowning crockery

Do away with disposable paper dishes, and invest in some posh picnic plates, knives and forks from The Summerhouse on Duke Street – which you can use again and again. And because we all know that glass is a no no when it comes to outdoor quaffing, head to the Rick Stein gift shop on the edge of Padstow’s Quay, where you can pick up a set of non-breakable, and darn-right-fancy wine glasses, complete with a bottle of chilled white. Chin chin.

4) Fine fare

Piecing together your gourmet picnic is surprisingly simple round our way – with all manner of baked goods, delicious delis and artisanal fare ripe for the picking. If it’s a superlative sarnie you’re after The Chough Bakery’s bread can’t be beaten, while cheese, olives and meats can be picked up from Padstow Farmshop and Stein’s Deli. For the king of Cornish sandwiches, try mountains of crab and a squeeze of lemon. Our friends and fishermen at North Cornish Catch can deliver fresh crab (and lobsters) to all Harbour Holiday guests, fresh from the boats to your door.

5) A rug with a view

Throw your blanket wide, unbuckle the hamper strap and sip n’ snaffle beside a spectacular view. Awesome seascapes are plentiful in these parts, but the wide grassy spots along the Trevone Coast Path will take some beating. Jutting into the Atlantic, the headland makes for a tasty picnic spot. But if it’s lashings of country air you’re after, make your way inland towards the banks of the Camel estuary, where you can dangle your feet in the flowing water while indulging in just one more slice.

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