Roll with it

Convinced there is nothing new to discover near you? Then try something a little dicey...

Exit your walking rut: randomise!

HERE’S WHERE TRIVIAL Pursuit meets outdoor pursuit – a board game/walking hybrid that you can play from your front door. A dice walk is a great way to inspire the kids into the open air – especially if you’ve exhausted all other methods during lockdown – and they’re brilliant for exploring new places close to home.

The rules are simple, and all you need is one dice (or die according to traditionalists, but that would make the game Die Walks which we feel sends out the wrong message). Each time you reach a junction, roll the little cube to tell you which way to go. If it’s a T-junction, then landing on 1-3 means left, while 4-6 means right. If it’s a crossroads, then 1-2 can mean left, 3-4 straight on, and 5-6 right. Having four options at a junction poses a mathematical headache, best fixed by a couple of rolls, but let’s not get bogged down with the detail.

You’re not allowed to return the way you just came, so every dice roll will send you somewhere new. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you reach streets, parks, lovely buildings and viewpoints that you’ve never visited before, and you’ll see where you live in a completely different way. The only downside is that unless you happen to repeatedly roll ones and twos, the game isn’t conducive to a round walk, so you’ll need to be prepared to find a shortcut back, or know someone willing and flexible who will ferry you home.

“You’ll

be amazed how quickly you reach streets, parks… and viewpoints that you’ve

before.” never visited

JUMP AT THE CHANCE Humans are creatures of habit, so adding random luck to a walk can turn up surprises, even in areas you know well.

WHICH WAY? Let the dice decide your direction...