Planning a Family Picnic on the Open Moor

Why the Moor Rewards a Little Planning

A picnic on the open moor is a different creature to one on a village green. There is no handy bench, no bin, no shop within a mile, and the weather can turn from still and golden to wind-driven drizzle in the time it takes to unwrap a pasty. That is precisely the appeal. Get it right and you will have one of the most memorable family afternoons of the year, with nothing but curlew calls and the smell of heather for company.

The trick is to plan for the moor rather than against it. Treat the trip as a short expedition rather than an alfresco lunch, and everything else falls into place.

Dress for the Wind, Not the Forecast

Moorland sits high, exposed and often several degrees cooler than the valley town you set off from. Check the forecast, but look at the wind speed and the visibility as carefully as the temperature. A 20 mph breeze on open ground will make a mild afternoon feel raw, and low cloud can arrive without warning.

• Three layers each: a base layer, a fleece or midlayer, and a windproof outer shell. Windproof matters more than waterproof on most dry days.
• Hats and gloves even in June. Children feel the cold faster than adults and will complain loudly once they stop moving.
• Spare socks in the rucksack. Wet feet end picnics early.
• Sun cream and hats as well. Exposed moorland burns shoulders surprisingly quickly, and reflection off pale gritstone adds to it.
• Midges: they love still, damp, muggy conditions, particularly late on summer evenings. A repellent and, for the truly tormented, a head net weigh almost nothing.

Choosing the Right Spot

Shelter is your first consideration. Look for the leeward side of a drystone wall, a large boulder or a shallow hollow that blocks the prevailing wind. Avoid sitting directly beneath crags or loose rock faces, and steer clear of isolated trees in a thunderstorm.

Then think about the ground underfoot. Moorland is riddled with bog, and what looks like a firm green patch is often a floating mat of moss. Learn to read the signs:

• Cotton grass, with its white fluffy heads, is a reliable indicator of wet, peaty ground.
• Sphagnum moss and vivid green, spongy patches mean water. So does ground that ripples when you step on it.
• Dry heather, short springy turf near rock outcrops, and stands of bracken on slopes usually offer firm, comfortable seating.
• Sit mats or a folded tarpaulin turn a rough tussocky patch into a decent dining room and keep damp out of clothing.

Livestock deserve serious respect. Sheep and hill ponies may be curious and will investigate an open bag within seconds. Cattle, especially with calves at foot, should be given a wide berth, and you should never picnic in a field containing a bull. Do not feed any animal, however appealing, and always wash hands before eating. In spring and early summer, keep dogs on a lead around ground-nesting birds and add a tick check to the end of the day.

Food That Travels Well Uphill

Keep the menu simple, sturdy and free of anything that needs chilling. A flask of hot tea or soup is worth its weight on a windy afternoon, and a cold flask of water is just as welcome in a heatwave.

• Pork pies, pasties, sausage rolls and slices of mature cheese travel beautifully and improve with the view.
• Oatcakes, crusty bread, flapjack, nuts and dried fruit supply steady energy without spoiling.
• Fruit that survives a rucksack: apples, oranges, bananas in a hard tub.
• Skip mayonnaise-heavy fillings, shellfish, chocolate on warm days and anything you would not happily eat at room temperature.

Allow at least a litre of water per person for a half-day outing, and pack a bin bag for every scrap of rubbish, including fruit peel and crusts. Take a couple of heavy stones or a full water bottle to weigh down the picnic blanket, because moorland gusts have carried many a rug over the horizon.

Boots, Maps and a Turn-Back Time

Sturdy boots with ankle support are non-negotiable. Trainers and sandals are an invitation to a twisted ankle on tussocky ground, and wet feet within ten minutes. Gaiters are a bonus after rain.

Carry a paper map of the area, know how to read it, and take a compass even if you rely on a phone. Signal is patchy to non-existent on many moors, so download offline maps in advance, charge a power bank, and tell someone at home your route and expected return time. Set a turn-back time and stick to it, allowing for the fact that a family group with young children covers perhaps one to two miles an hour with stops.

Heading Home: Treading Lightly

Open moorland is fragile and often protected. Ground fires scar peat for decades, so leave the disposable barbecue at home and use a camping stove only where it is permitted. Take all litter away with you, keep to paths where erosion is a problem, and leave gates exactly as you found them. Close any that were shut, and leave open any that were open.

Finally, check everyone for ticks, particularly around hairlines, waistbands and ankles, and remove any you find promptly with fine tweezers. Then put the kettle on, spread the damp waterproofs across the radiators, and start planning the next one.