Scottish Picnic Customs: Compare and Contrast

[Bugbear]

Ali brought up picnics in the bats thread and got me thinking about what I think of with a picnic.
:food-smiley-002: :soda:
Wondering what a typical Scottish picnic would be like, assuming there is such a thing.
Also wondering how others might picnic.

What kind of food is normally taken on the picnic?
Is there a picnic cloth and basket involved?
Where would a picnic normally be held?

You can throw in cookouts and so on, too.

[skauwt]

day trip to Ayr seaside.... tartan shawl (yep tartan) bucket spade optional
pieces with cheese /cooked ham (salad if yer lucky )and plenty of pop.... some packets of crisps and then a few goes on the local amusements that exist and wee walk then home time everything usually in a backpack or food coolerbag (department store bags aswell ;/)
about as romantic as it gets on central scottish picnics most of the time its"quick back to the car its pissing down "

or a wee picnic at the local lochs /country park

it may be more romantic up the highlands i guess

[Bugbear]

Ya, I was going to ask about the rain issue.

[skauwt]

Ya, I was going to ask about the rain issue.

yeah doesnt matter how long folk live here its bound to get you one way or another reminds of the time we(my folks and family) went to balloch park for a picnic and it took a hour to get there .....the sun was amazing by the time we got to the castle grounds and set up it was time to get back to the car and home again as the rain just came from nowhere

[cessna152towser]

My idea of a picnic consists of filled sandwiches from the supermarket, chocolate bar or energy bar, and a fruit juice drink, usually eaten in the lee of a drystane dyke while hiking in the southern uplands.

[MacRobert's Reply]

One version only happens on those few warm, dry and midge-free days when we can use an open-top car. With a picnic basket on the boot rack; two tartan rugs (perhaps even the folding chairs); chicken drumsticks, salad, wholemeal roles, cheese and oat cakes, chilled white wine and fruit - the whole event is rather posh.

The other, more common, version is in the hills with a rucksack, sitting on the waterproofs if we're not wearing them; ham or cheese and pickle roles and fruit with a flask of tea (hot soup if the temperature on the hill is below freezing). Snacking is on 90% cocoa dark chocolate, watter and a wee dram from the hip flask.

BTW, there is no bad weather in Scotland ... just bad waterproofs.

[Jock Scot]

Well, modest or not so modest, Mr and Mrs Jock like to have a hot cup of coffee or tea with our picnic. To that end we have our constant picnic companion the "Kelly Kettle". Invented some 100 years ago, some 2 pints of water can be boiled in all weathers, swiftly,safely and with a minimum of fuel---- just a few twigs picked up on your travels, or a handful wood bits from the bottom of the wood basket at home, before venturing afield.

Getting ready.




Getting up steam.



Voila! Boiling water for a cuppa in less than five minutes and another brew on the way.

[MacMillans son]

My gawd Jock, what are those things on your legs??!!

[Jock Scot]

My trousers? What any sensible Scot wears when going for a wee stroll, or picnic, in midge time!

[Bugbear]

I am familiar with both trousers and devices like the Kelly Kettle, Jock. Both are very nice to have and use on picnics and camping.