The Great Outdoors.
The Great Outdoors Motorhome Holiday, outdoor experiences to try.
Are you looking to spice up your next holiday? Take a look at our ideas for exciting outdoor activities in the UK. There’s something that will appeal to the whole family.
See a Cloud Inversion
These are fairly rare and spectacular to look at. They occur when a cold fog is trapped in a valley by a layer of warmer air.
Valleys that have lots of water are particularly prone to cloud inversions. If you want to try to find one of these check the weather forecast the night before. Look for a combination of high pressure, light winds and cold temperatures. The most likely seasons to find cloud inversions are Autumn and Winter.
Stroll Beneath the Stars
If you are planning to go on a walk make it in to an instant adventure by going at night instead of during the day. This will avoid the crowds and also give you a chance of spotting nocturnal wildlife. You will also get the chance to enjoy the stars. Choose somewhere with minimal light pollution to make the most of the stars.
Hunt For Hidden Treasure
Scavenger hunts are the perfect way to introduce children to the great outdoors. You could try Geo-caching- a huge globalised treasure hunt where you use GPS devices to find hidden treasures. This is completely free and open to anyone.
There are around 50,000 ‘geocaches’ in the UK, and 2.5 million world wide.
Or alternatively you could design your own treasure hunt challenging the kids to find a list of things outdoors.
Sunbathe On A Secluded Beach
Find a beach somewhere off the beaten track. Choose a nice day and sit there and enjoy the sound of the waves. Read a book or simply enjoy the feeling of being outdoors. Take time to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet and the beauty of the coast.
Walk A Waterfall Trail
If you get a rainy day, and lets face it in the UK we are almost guaranteed at least one rainy day on our holidays!
Find a waterfall. Waterfalls are the at their most dramatic after some rainfall so why not set out and find one of the UK’s thrilling waterfall trails?
Try the Brecon Beacons, or the Lake District.
Catch It and Cook It
You will struggle to beat freshly cooked fish straight from the sea!
Why not go on a sea fishing trip or, if you prefer book on to a camp site near to a river.
Maybe the best idea would be to book a camp site with fishing available on site. You will then get the chance to catch bream, carp, gudgen, perch, roach and tench.
Ride The Railway
In the UK today almost 5000 miles of dis used railways have been converted in to cycle paths and footpaths. Most are wide and gentle, making them ideal for family cycling trips.
If you do some research you will find a campsite near to a cycle path, an ideal way to see some of the surrounding area, and keep fit at the same time.
Climb Your First Wainwright
Wainwright is the legendary fell walker who penned books that gave a definitive guide to the Lake District’s mountains. You won’t manage to do them all as in total there are 214, but even doing one is a lovely sense of achievement.
If you are new to hill walking you would be best to choose a smaller one to start with.
A good first one is Loughrigg Fell which rises above Ambleside, this is suitable for families who want an enjoyable stroll with lovely views. For the more able walker you could try Blencathra. There are so many to choose from and the sense of achievement, plus the views are well worth the effort required.
Come Face to Face With A Bat
Go on a ranger led night walk. Spot bats and learn more about their life.
If you are more interested in ground dwelling animals you could always look out for badgers. Guided badger watching evenings run throughout the country between March and June.
Make A Splash
Try a new water sport. If you are looking for a relaxed activity that will suit all age groups try a canoeing holiday.
Sailing is another way to get out on the water without actually getting wet.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie you may want to try surfing.
Light Up Your Life
The Camping & Caravan Club hold an annual event called the National Feast of Lanterns (www.nfol.co.uk).
Each year thousands of members of the Caravan & Camping Club gather to decorate their tents, caravans and motorhomes with spectacular illuminations.
This years NFOL will be held at Houghton Hall, near King’s Lyn, Norfolk from 27-31 August. Over the four days there will be family friendly entertainment including live music and dog shows. With the highlight of the event being the lighting up of the units.
Go Wild
For a thrilling outdoor adventure that doesn’t cost a penny take to the hills of Scotland, Wales or Northern England in search of a remote bothy. The network of basic but serviceable camping huts scattered across the Highlands is one of the best kept secrets in the walking community. Some are little more than sheep sheds with roofs while others resemble basic youth hostels. They are free to whoever cares to stay in them.
If you decide to embark upon this adventure you will need to bear in mind that they are located in some of the wildest, most hard to reach areas of the country so you would need to be an experienced hill walker with good navigation skills. You may arrive at a bothy and find it already occupied, or it could have fallen in to a state of disrepair. If you are interested in finding out more look at the Mountain Bothies Association. (www.mountainbothies.org.uk).
If bothying isn’t for you you may want to give wild camping a try. Pitching up in an isolated and scenic area is legal in most areas of Scotland and tolerated in many upland areas of England and wales,as long as you arrive late, leave early and leave no trace of your presence behind.
Camp At A Festival
Immediately you probably think of knee deep mud and Glastonbury Festival. Some hardcore festivals might still be grungy and grubby but there are more and more festivals now that cater for a more civilised crowd.
You could try world music festival Womad or the Green Man folk festival. Both have separate family areas with facilities that include fresh water taps and hot showers.
Have a Half
When you are done sailing, bothying, walking and cycling relax and raise a toast to your achievements. Soak up the sunshine in a rural beer garden and reward yourself after all that activity.
