OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES UK

When you’re looking to do outdoor activities in the UK you need to ask yourself a few questions.  These are things like ‘where can I do outdoor activities in the UK?’, ‘Is the UK good for outdoor activities and adventures?’ and ‘what outdoor activities can you do in the UK?’.  Lucky for you we’ve already asked these questions (and more) and are here to give you all the answers and make it easy to get out and have more adventures.

WHY IS THE UK GOOD FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?

The UK (United Kingdom)  is made up of Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and the north section of Ireland (Northern Ireland).  Across each of these countries there is a huge range of geographies and topography that makes the UK as a whole one of the best places to get involved with a variety of outdoor activities.  There are over 35,000 named mountains, 40,000 lakes, 11,000 miles of coast line (around Britain), and 140,000 miles of hiking routes in England alone.

We can see that you don’t need leave the UK to have fun in the outdoors and this is largely thanks to the UK’s natural environment providing the perfect play ground for many sports.  On top of that innovative people have developed places in cities where you can get your adventure sport fix if that’s where you live.  Wakeboarding in London anyone?!  Basically, wherever you are in the UK there is something that you can get involved with that will make your life that bit more adventurous.

You can find many of these in our interactive outdoor activities UK map above, but you may be wondering what is right for you and what it involves.  To an extent you have to just give it a go to find this out and that can be half the fun.  But let us give you a head start as we look at some of the outdoor activities available in more detail.  And first it might be a good idea to explain what is meant by outdoor activities with a few definitions.

What is an outdoor activity?

The definition of the two words are

• • ‘Outdoor’ – existing, happening, or done outside, rather than inside a building
  • ‘Activity’,  noun, usually plural – something that is done for enjoyment, especially an organised event.

Taking these definitions we can conclude that an outdoor activity needs to be outside and enjoyable.  Remember this when you are doing them! But also remember that enjoyment comes in different forms and it may be when you look back on some achievements, such as completing a long run, that you see you have enjoyed the experience even if it was tough.

What outdoor activities can you do in the UK?

Outdoor recreation can broadly be split into 3 categories; Land-based, Water-based, and Airbourne activities.  Further more they can be split by season, i.e. summer and winter, or whether the participation is influenced by the temperature, i.e. warm weather or cold weather.

In the UK we have pleasant but not extreme weather but there are seasonal changes.  Theses are the main outdoor activities in the UK split by category.

As we’ve shown there are many outdoor sports and activities that are done in the UK and there are some parts of the countries that are better suited to these recreations.  Whether it’s climbing, hiking, paragliding, wakeboarding, surfing or mountain biking, whatever you want to do, the UK has a location that is perfect for being active outdoors.  Let’s look at the best places for things to do outside in the UK.

Outdoor Activities In London

Whilst London is the capital of the UK and it’s largest city you’ll still find it easy to find things to do outdoors and have an adventure.  You can do wakeboarding in London’s docklands, practice rock climbing at one of the many climbing walls and cycle in Richmond park.  If you’re interested in kayaking and paddle boarding then the canals around Paddington are great places to have fun outdoors in London.  If you don’t have your own gear then you can find many local companies to rent from, but it can be a bit expensive.

For climbing walls the best places to check out are The Castle Climbing Centre, VauxWall West Climbing Centre or Mile End Climbing Wall.  All of these are great places to try climbing in London as well as for enthusiasts to hone skills.  It’s also a sport that is open to all ages and the climbing walls are a great way of bringing outdoor activities for kids to an urban environment.

You can also find paragliding within Greater London at Green Dragons, outdoor rock climbing a short train ride away at Harrison’s rocks and mountain biking at Swinley Forest.

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Outdoor Activities In Devon & Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall are the play grounds for outdoor activities and extreme sports in the South West.  Now you can’t think of these places without thinking of surfing as they are the surf capitals of the UK.  But did you know that you can wild camp on Dartmoor or hike the south west coast path that crisscrosses through both counties?  If mountain biking is your thing then you can do this in Haldon Forest or you can take to the sky and learn to fly paragliders in Cornwall.  Or if it’s outdoor activities where you can use your strength and balance you’re looking for then look no further than rock climbing on Lundy island – not easy to get to but worth the trip!

With so much physical activity you’ll in Devon and Cornwall you’ll certainly earn the right to a few Cornish pasties, Devon cream teas and a cider or two.

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Outdoor Activities In Wales

Wales is more than teacakes and inspiring choir voices, it’s also pretty much the perfect country for outdoor adventures.  It has 136 mountains, 1680 miles of coastline, forests, hills, lakes and caves.  If you’re heading to Wales on holiday then you’re not going to be bored! Some of the best outdoor activities in Wales include hiking in Snowdonia, surfing in Pembrokeshire and mountain biking near the Brecon Beacons.

Wales is great for fun things to do outdoors in both the summer and the winter but remember that in the UK the weather can be very changeable.  As they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing.  So remember to check the forecast, take the appropriate gear and to wrap up warm if you’re going to climb Snowdon in the winter or brave the Welsh seas.

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Outdoor Activities In Scotland

Scotland is a land of beautiful spaces and stunning views. It’s a outdoor lovers dream.  From the lowland areas that are closer to England to the Highlands of the north it will work it’s way into your heart.

Scotland has 282 mountains that are higher than 3000 feet.  These are collectively known as the Munros and it’s a share challenge by many people to summit as many as possible.  This is called bagging a munro and people will keep a tally, i.e. 34/282.  Why not get started today!  You could jump in the deep end and head to Ben Nevis and hike up the UKs highest mountain.  Whilst it’s climbed by thousands of people each year you’ll still need to be in good physical share and have a head for heights.

Speaking of jumping in the deep end we should really mention Scotland’s lochs (lakes).  There are over 30,000 lochs which are fresh water and range in size.  The most famous is of course Loch Ness with it’s famous by illusive monster but the largest by surface area is Loch Lomond at 71 square kilometers.   These are perfect for kayaking, wild swimming and just getting outdoors in Scotland.

There are many other outdoor activities to do in Scotland like skiing in the winter at Glen Coe, hiking the west highland way and wild camping just about anywhere.  That’s right in Scotland, unlikely almost anywhere else in the UK, you are allowed to camp on most unenclosed land.  It’s really an adventurers dream as there are things to do outdoors in Scotland around every corner.

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Outdoor Activities In The Lake District

The lake district is an area of the UK located in the North West of England in Cumbria.  It’s a national park and one of unique natural beauty in the UK.  It has the largest and deepest lakes in the United Kingdom and is home to Scafell Pike, England’s largest mountain.

The lake district is around 2000 square kilometers and it’s no wonder with such a perfect natural environment that it’s become a outdoor activity center of the UK.  Instead of holidaying abroad many people come here throughout the year to kayak, paddle board and wakeboard on the lakes, to climb the mountains, hike the hills or mountain bike at Whinlatter Forest Park.  If you do a quick search on Instagram you’ll see how popular it is for those looking for perfect hiking photos.

Not only is the lake district a home to outdoor activities in the UK but many adventures start, end or pass through the area.  One of these is the UK’s Coast to Coast hike which runs from the Irish Sea on the West coast to the North Sea on the East coast and goes straight through the Lake district.  A great way to experience much of the UK’s outdoors and enjoy this beautiful place.

Outdoor Activities In The Peak District

Found just north of the midlands and nestled between Sheffield and Manchester you’ll find the Peak District which is another of the UK’s outdoor activity hubs.  It’s no surprise then to discover that this outdoor mecca is a national park with wild areas spanning across it’s 550 square miles.

It’s a magnet for those seeking things to do outdoors in the area with the most popular activities being rock climbing, hiking and caving.  You’ll also find a number of paragliding schools in the area.  If you’re not a pilot yourself you can either learn or enjoy the view of them soaring above your hill walk.

With it’s long ridges of rock the climbers are kept busy throughout the year but especially during the summer months when it’s warmer and drier.  If you’re going then be sure to check out the Roaches and Stanage as these are the two main climbing spots in the Peaks.

The Pennine Way also starts in this home of outdoor activities (or finishes if you’re coming the other directions) which then carries on for 268 miles to the Scottish borders.

If you’re in the peak district for vacation and want to keep being adventurous outdoors at night there are lots of campsites available or you can get a bit more luxury and a cook breakfast at one of the local B&Bs.

Outdoor Activities In The New Forest National Park

Another fantastic place to find your hit of outdoor adventurous activity in the UK is the New Forest.  It’s a national park in Hampshire spanning most of the area in between Southampton and Bournemouth and is made up predominantly of woodland.  One of the best things about the New Forest is that this wild area is home to (nearly) wild ponies.  They roam around the woods and fields and are a beautiful site to wake up to when you look out of you tent in the morning.

Speaking of tents there are numerous campsites in the new forest  where you can camp in the woods and really get back in touch with nature and the outside world.  You can even hone your bush craft skills at outdoor activity centres that are dotted through out the park, such as New Forest Activities who offer adventures on the land and water.

Once you’ve set up camp, enjoyed hiking around the woods and possibly taken in a pub lunch or two then why not spend a day at the New Forest Water Park.  They run a huge amount of outdoor activities such as wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding and even have an inflatable aqua course if you’re up for the challenge.

The New Forest is an accessible adventure location with outdoor activities for kids and adults which make it a popular holiday spot.

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