Picnic Sites

Pack up your picnic basket, gather your family and friends, and enjoy fresh air, stunning scenery, and delicious local food in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Whether you prefer riverside views, forest clearings, or hilltop panoramas, there are plenty of idyllic spots to lay down a blanket and tuck into your feast.

For those looking to enhance their picnic, local farm shops and delis offer a fantastic selection of fresh, locally sourced produce, with some even providing ready-made picnic hampers packed with everything you need for a perfect outdoor meal.

Top Picnic Spots in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

• Beechenhurst is a fantastic all-weather picnic destination. Located in the heart of the forest, it offers outdoor and indoor seating, a café, in-situ BBQ facilities, a children's play area, and a climbing tower. With access to the Sculpture Trail, it’s the ideal spot for a post-lunch stroll.
• Cannop Ponds provides a peaceful setting with grassy picnic areas close to the water, making it perfect for wildlife spotting. Watch ducks, swans, and dragonflies as you relax by the ponds.
• The Kymin offers panoramic views over Monmouth, with its 18th-century roundhouse and historic banqueting lodge providing a truly unique setting for a picnic with a view.
• Mallards Pike Lake is one of the best picnic spots in the South West, with beautiful lakes, walking trails, and adventure activities nearby. Enjoy hot and cold refreshments from Mallards Café, or simply soak up the lakeside atmosphere.
• Symonds Yat Rock is an internationally renowned viewpoint and is one of the most iconic picnic spots in the region. This Forestry England site boasts breathtaking views over the River Wye, with plenty of spaces to relax and take in the surroundings before exploring the nearby villages of Symonds Yat East and West, two separate villages on either side of the Wye.

Wherever you choose to picnic, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley offers an unforgettable outdoor dining experience, surrounded by nature, history, and incredible landscapes.