The great outdoors – Enjoying the fresh air in Britain

When it comes to scenery, there are few places in the world as scenic as Britain. Whether you conjure up an image of Scottish lochs and the imposing Highlands, the Welsh Valleys and Snowdonia, the Lake District and Cornish coast in England, you’re always going to find beautiful scenery to cast your eyes, and camera on, and plenty of activities to enjoy as you take a lungful of that fresh, pure air.

There are outdoors centres dotted around the country, with Centre Parcs one of the most popular, and a great choice for those travelling with children, who want to enjoy the fun of the outdoors with a holiday theme. You’ll find mountain-biking, abseiling, swimming, rafting, and walking, all within the safe environment of the resort.

If you prefer to get out and about and explore on your own steam then walking and hiking is probably going to be your activity of choice, and how spoilt you will be! It all depends on which area you’re visiting, but every single part of the country has popular walking trails, and even if there is no designated trail, there’s nothing wrong with going off and exploring where your feet take you! The Peak District in Derbyshire is a particularly scenic area to walk, with rolling hills, peaks, valleys, rivers, and villages and towns that seem almost like they’re lost in time. The Lake District in northern England is another very popular spot, with Lake Windermere offering boating opportunities too. Walks around here at sunset and sunrise really do showcase the beauty of the area. Alternatively, if you’re on the Isle of Wight, a popular summer spot to visit, then walking across Chillerton Down will show you the rarely explored inner part of the island.

You can easily join walking tours, to meet likeminded individuals, or head online to find out the designated trails around the area you’re basing yourself.

Your walking adventure can basically be as tough or easy as you make it, but if you want to really test your metal, why not head to Snowdonia in Wales and hike your way up to the summit? If you’re too tired to walk back down, there is a train, so walking up is probably the way to earn your ride back down! Ben Nevis is also a hugely popular climbing tour, but be warned that this is certainly only for the experienced and very fit indeed!

Fancy trying some other outdoorsy activities? How about mountain biking? Most coastal areas offer cliff-top trails, but Coed Llandegla in North Wales is a great choice for families wishing to explore together, with beginners’ sections and more challenging areas too.

Want to get wet? How about surfing in Cornwall? Newquay is the place to go for serious surfing opportunities, with Fistral Beach one of the most popular in the world, let alone the country. You’ll find surf schools if it’s your first time, and plenty of major Atlantic waves if you’re more seasoned.

Alternatively, white water rafting is big business too, with the fast flowing waters of the River Tay a good choice.

Our final suggestion, although this is certainly not an exhaustive list, is punting. This is something unique to the country in a lot of ways, with the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge the most popular. If you’re not sure what punting is, it’s basically boating down a river, but pushing the boat along with a rod, it’s quite relaxing and very scenic.

As you can see, there are plentiful outdoors activities to keep you occupied during your time in Britain, and there are plenty more besides. If you want to do something a little more adrenaline pumping then paragliding, bungee jumping, and even skydiving are all very widely available.

Before you head off and enjoy all this outdoor fun, one thing to remember is to check out any equipment you might need. If you’re heading off on one of the many walking or hiking trails around the country then you need a decent, good quality pair of walking shoes, and clothing to go with it. Since the weather in Britain is what it is, keen walkers tend to go even in rainy or chilly conditions, provided it’s still safe. Remember that conditions can and do change very quickly in high-up areas, such as the Highlands, Snowdonia, the Peak District etc, so always keep your wits about you and listen to your instincts.

Other than that, it’s outdoorsy fun all the way!