Picnicking
There are many great spots to enjoy a picnic in the North Pennines with great views you can savour while you enjoy a bite to eat. Why not make your picnic extra special and sample some of the exquisite produce from our local food producers while you’re at it?
Enjoying good food outdoors is one of those rare pleasures in life. If you are in the mood for some alfresco dining you’ll be spoiled for choice in the North Pennines. There is one accredited Country Park, with picnic facilities, at Talkin Tarn. Elsewhere in the AONB picnic sites can be found in the historic market town of Alston, overlooking Cow Green, Tunstall and the other Teesdale reservoirs, and in numerous woodland locations like at Bowlees Visitor Centre and Hamsterley Forest. All of these sites provide parking, picnic tables, interpretation, with walking trails nearby and many have additional facilities like accessible toilets, shops
Ashes Quarry Geotrail
![Ashes Quarry above Stanhope in Weardale © NPAP/Neil Diment Ashes Quarry above Stanhope in Weardale © NPAP/Neil Diment](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp019.jpg?itok=ZDaKILBI)
Baybridge Picnic Area
Blanchland
![Blanchland © NPAP/Shane Harris Blanchland © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp130.jpg?itok=7xxbbng6)
Bowlees Picnic Area
![Gibsons cave © NPAP/Beck Baker Gibsons cave © NPAP/Beck Baker](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp075_0.jpg?itok=eKcBXJ3s)
Bowlees Visitor Centre
![Bowlees Visitor Centre © NPAP Bowlees Visitor Centre © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_19.jpg?itok=Z9HzuFBE)
Derwent Reservoir - Walks, rides and wildlife
![Derwent Reservoir © NPAP/Shane Harris Derwent Reservoir © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_22.jpg?itok=ByF0vKIV)
Hamsterley Forest
![Hamsterley Forest © NPAP/Louise Taylor Hamsterley Forest © NPAP/Louise Taylor](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_23.jpg?itok=lv-4Mgf-)
High Force and Bowlees Geotrail
![High Force © High Force ©](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/test001.jpg?itok=xpFI-9VP)
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
![Washing Floor at Killhope © Killhope Museum Washing Floor at Killhope © Killhope Museum](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_24.jpg?itok=LWcNihY0)
Teesdale Reservoir Walk
![Hury Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker Hury Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp103.jpg?itok=ZdIh0Eic)
The National Trust - Allen Banks and Staward Gorge woodland walk
![Bluebells at Allen Banks © NPAP/Shane Harris Bluebells at Allen Banks © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp071_0.jpg?itok=czxoVU0w)
Tunstall Reservoir Walk
![Backstone Bank wood beside Tunstall Reservoir © NPAP/Ruth Starr-Keddle Backstone Bank wood beside Tunstall Reservoir © NPAP/Ruth Starr-Keddle](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp102.jpg?itok=KjB2b401)
Upper Teesdale (Hanging Shaw): North Pennine Birdwalks Walk 12
![Black grouse © NPAP Black grouse © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp013_0.jpg?itok=CpHK4uO-)
Waskerley Way Railway Path
![Waskerley Reservoir © NPAP/Shane Harris Waskerley Reservoir © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_48.jpg?itok=rdnekuMr)
Waterfalls and wildlife walk: Moor House-Upper Teesdale NNR
![High Force © DCC/Mike Ogden High Force © DCC/Mike Ogden](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp077.jpg?itok=KCbxAI_v)
Widdybank Fell Nature Trail: Moor House-Upper Teesdale NNR
![Cow Green Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker Cow Green Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp076.jpg?itok=8uVkjaco)