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A spot of lunch, anyone?

Memorable picnic spots

Whether you have just spent the last three hours strolling through the gently rolling landscapes of the Dordogne or walking in the rugged mountains of the Catalan Pyrenees, nothing beats finding a pleasant spot at just the right moment to enjoy your picnic, and perhaps a siesta afterwards…

One of the most fitting picnic spots we can think of is on the Apennines to Tuscany walk, which, as its name suggests, is a journey from the rugged green mountains of the Apennines in Emilia Romagna to the gently rolling, vineyard-clad hills of Tuscany. The walk from Lizzano to Gavinana takes you gradually up through forest to the crest of the ridge that once marked the boundary between the Pope's state and the Tuscan Grand Duchy. Near to the Porta Franca Pass, we were really pleased to find a lovely spot just off the main path from which you can see both the Emilian and Tuscan sides of the ridge. Sitting here, looking into both regions as you tuck into your picnic, you experience a real sense of journey and of achievement.

Another picnic spot which sums up perfectly the entire holiday comes on the route from Vesio to Gargnano on the Lake Ledro to Lake Garda walk. The suggested – and very worthwhile – detour leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monte Castello, which stands on a high, tree-clad cliff above Lake Garda. Linger here over lunch to admire the aerial views of the lake and the panorama of the Monte Baldo mountain range on the opposite shore, appreciating the fusion of lake and mountain that makes the scenery here so dramatic.

Despite its rather morbid name, the Collada de la Fembra Morte (Dead Woman's Pass, thus named because a local legend tells of a woman found dead in this isolated area) is a suitably panoramic spot at which to stop for lunch on the last day of your walk through the Catalan Pyrenees. From the rocky outcrop just by the pass, you have wonderful views of the warm folds of the Garrotxa, the mighty Canigou peak (the last great summit before the Mediterranean), and the looming masses of the mountains above Setcases.

Other memorable picnic spots that we have found over the years have been on riverbanks. In hot weather it is wonderfully relaxing to dangle your feet in the cool water as you relax in the sun. The highlight of our walking holiday in the Cévennes is the route from Toureves to Le Merlet, across open moorland dotted with weird and wonderful rock formations to the infant Tarn. When we walked here one sunny August day, the heather was in bloom, covering both banks of the river in a purple carpet, and we found a delightful spot under a tree right by the water's edge. In the Dordogne, the idyllic, narrow wooded valley of the River Ouysse is seemingly made for picnics: you are spoiled for choice for places along the river to stop for lunch. You might even spot a kingfisher if you are quiet.

Finally, on the penultimate walk on the Grand Cerdagne holiday, you reach a real jewel of a lake, le Petit Boutassou, the prettiest of all the lakes you pass on the holiday, about two hours after setting off from Bouillouses. Unfortunately this comes too early in the day to make it a suitable place for a picnic, but it is certainly worth stopping here for elevenses while you admire the marvellous views of the Carlit Massif.

If you have any suggestions for picnic spots that we should include in our walking notes for any holiday, email us with the details.

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