Outdoor adventures Now is the time to try new activities!
It will be wonderful to get back on the road, heading for the great outdoors, but why not use your freedom to try new activities? Marcus Leach recommends some favourites
After spending so many months at home in the lockdowns, I dare say that I am not alone in feeling elated to be planning our first few local family trips, at long last.
For some people, simply being away on a campsite will be enough after all we’ve collectively been through, but there will be plenty of others (myself included) now looking to extend their adventures beyond the boundaries of their chosen site.
Walking and cycling – two activities that have become synonymous with lockdown life – have been a great means of escape, but there has, for us at least, been a growing desire to seek out new adventures and experiences.
Not to say that we won’t be exploring some new routes on our bikes once we head away, but we will also be looking to inject a little bit of variety into our activities as we set out to make up for lost time. So if you, too, are seeking something new to enjoy this year, here are a few suggestions…
Stand up paddleboarding
There’s a great deal to be said for the feeling of gliding along effortlessly on a tranquil lake as the sun rises – or, as is often the case with me, falling into the water as other people glide past!
I’m talking about the pleasures of stand up paddleboarding, which, some might be surprised to discover, is not a new means of travel – it has been around for about 80 years, with its roots in Hawaii. However, it’s only over the past 10 years or so that it has become more of a mainstream pastime. One of the main reasons behind its rise to prominence is the advanced design of the boards now being used.
These days, many paddleboards are inflatable, making them far easier to pack down and take away with you, especially in a motorhome.
It’s enormous fun – even before you progress to the standing up phase, this is simply a great way to get out on the water, and when you do master the skill, a serene experience.
Best for stand up paddleboarding
For ease of access to the water, a wide variety of locations and truly stunning scenery as your backdrop, it is hard to look past the Lake District. This really has to be the perfect destination for stand up paddleboarding.
Red Paddle Co has a handy tool on its website (redpaddleco.com) that allows you to search for training schools and the best locations in the UK to get out onto the water with your board (1).
Zip-lining
The idea of exploring treetop canopies while attached to zip-lines has become hugely popular in the UK, largely thanks to Go Ape (goape.co.uk), but as with most things, there is always someone taking it to the next level.
This is where Zip World (zipworld.co.uk), based in North Wales, comes in. It is home to an amazing array of outdoor adventure activities, including the world’s fastest zip-line – known as Velocity 2 – which also happens to be the longest in Europe.
From your harness on the centre’s 1.5km-long line, you can take in the breathtaking views of Snowdonia, while soaring above Penrhyn Quarry at speeds of more than 100mph.
Best for zip-lining
There are many great reasons to visit Snowdonia National Park, not least the spectacular mountains and the brilliant walking on offer, but if you are looking for an adrenaline fix, Zip World is the place to be (2).
If that’s not enough action, you can always double up on the excitement by visiting Adventure Parc Snowdonia (adventureparcsnowdonia.com).
Sea kayaking
Being an island nation, we are blessed with thousands of miles of stunningly beautiful coastline, and it’s safe to say, many of us have walked at least some stretches of it on our travels.
However, perhaps it’s now time to take a look at that coast from a rather different perspective, looking back to the land from out at sea – in a kayak.
Being on the water not only allows you to admire the coast from the other side, but also offers a unique chance to explore in and around places that are impossible to reach from the landward side, and discover little nooks that just aren’t visible from the land.
That’s not forgetting the opportunity it gives you to get up close and personal with the fabulous wildlife living along our shores – seals, seabirds, bottlenose dolphins, to name but a few.
Best for sea kayaking
It’s a toss-up between Pembrokeshire and the Scottish Highlands, because both offer brilliant ways to explore the coast and see a variety of wildlife.
For those of you looking for a bucket list challenge, there’s the Scottish Sea Kayak Trail (scottishseakayaktrail.com) to work your way up to – this 500km route takes you around the most scenic parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Orienteering
It’s hard to remember, but there really was a time when we didn’t rely on phones and sat nav to direct us, when every vehicle carried a road atlas in the glovebox, and you wouldn’t set out on a hike without your OS map.
It seems map-reading is becoming something of a dying art, which is why there’s never been a better time to reverse the trend. And what finer way to add an element of adventure than by heading out orienteering?
Best summed up as ‘competitive navigation on foot in unknown terrains using a map and compass’, there are any number of orienteering courses, events and competitions taking place throughout the UK on a regular basis.
‘Even before you get to the standing up phase, it is a great means for getting out on the water’
Best for orienteering
The High Weald, in south-east England, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is the ideal place to try your hand at orienteering. It provides a number of permanent courses, to suit all abilities, in the parklands around Bewl Water.
Grizedale Forest, in Cumbria, also has a great variety of courses, including a Gruffalo route, designed especially for the youngest members of the family.
Birdwatching
Extending the adventure while you’re on tour isn’t always about adrenaline rushes or high levels of activity. In fact, sometimes what’s going to be needed is an altogether calmer experience (3).
There’s no better way to relax than by whiling away the hours watching for birds, of which the UK has a huge array, ranging from the small and common to the large and rare.
Although there’s no need for any sort of qualification to get started, there are several places that offer introductory courses for those looking to increase their knowledge, including the Canal & River Trust, in the Yorkshire Wolds (canalrivertrust.org.uk).
Best for birdwatching
You can get started anywhere in the UK, but what you hope to see might dictate where you decide to go.
For magnificent golden eagles, head to Scotland, while red kites, once rare but thankfully now more numerous, can be seen in Wales. Rough-legged buzzards can be spotted on the islands of Shetland and Orkney.
Wild (tent!) camping
As brilliant as touring in a motorhome is when it comes to getting to remote locations, the reality is, it can only get you so far. So what happens when the road comes to an end, but your quest for adventure doesn’t? Simple – you pack a lightweight tent and a few basic essentials, and head off for the night to wild camp.
As an ultra-distance bike-packer, I am used to carrying all I need to sleep in remote locations, which is where the idea to pack the same kit in our motorhome came from. So when I, or indeed the rest of the family, fancy a bigger adventure, we can leave our motorhome on-site and set out for places that are only accessible on foot.
Best for wild camping
Undoubtedly the best place for wild camping is Scotland: bearing in mind the common-sense guidance to respect the countryside and stay safe, you can pitch your tent pretty much anywhere, including the stunning national parks.
That’s not to say you can’t wild camp elsewhere in the UK, but this does usually mean asking the landowner’s permission. It is vital that wherever you wild camp, you leave absolutely no trace of your stay.
Ice swimming
This is one for the winter, and the most adventurous (or craziest?) among us. I can say from experience that it offers excellent benefits, both physical and mental. There’s nothing like sitting in near-freezing water to clear the mind and focus on the moment (4), which in essence, is what meditation is about.
As my wife always tells me, there are more sensible ways to switch off, but there’s no escaping the fact that this is growing in popularity. However, it is imperative that you should never enter cold water alone, for reasons of safety, and it is best to build up to this with other cold-water immersions.
Best for ice swimming
There are all manner of places in the UK where you can swim, or just submerge yourself, in icy water, but for me, few are as beautiful as Keeper’s Pond, at the top of Blorenge mountain in the Brecon Beacons. There are many campsites nearby, making this a great base for a winter trip focusing on mental health. ■
‘There’s no better way to relax than by whiling away the hours watching for birds, of which the UK has a huge array’