Spend more time in the great outdoors this year

If there’s one thing that the UK is famous for, it’s the sheer amount and availability of stunning rural landscapes. Even when you are in our biggest cities you are never too far away from somewhere more pastoral or wild and the country is dotted with incredible national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Despite the relatively small size of the UK you might be surprised that there’s a considerable amount of undeveloped and pastorally managed land to explore. We as a nation have a long and much celebrated tradition of making the most of these landscapes and something for everyone to enjoy.

From hiking and shooting, to fell walking and mountain climbing, there are many different activities which thousands of people take part in every year, with some even coming from overseas to experience what our lands have to offer.

Whether you are looking for something thrilling and active or prefer a more relaxed pace, make 2023 the year you spend more time outdoors in the countryside.

It is important to keep in mind that, while there are very few parts of the UK that are truly remote, you need to be properly prepared for your chosen activity.

With that in mind, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you and your family have the best experience every time and ensure you make the most of your adventures.

Choose your location and activity carefully

The temptation can be to throw yourself into the most scenic and challenging activities, but as with most things it is best to start slow and work your way up to more advanced trials and trails.

For example, you probably wouldn’t want to choose a multi-day hike over challenging terrain as your first go. Instead, choose something more beginner friendly like a half day hike on mild to moderate terrain depending on your fitness level.

If you are taking up other outdoor pursuits like shooting or scentwork with dogs, you’ll need to carefully research your location options and find out about access and land use rights to ensure you stay on the right side of the law. You need to stick with the rules because much of the public access land in the UK is owned privately.

Take the right equipment

The equipment you need to have a great time outdoors depends on what you plan on getting up to. Hikers and fell walkers will need to make sure they have more than enough food, water and protective clothing for their trip, as well as safety equipment including hiking whistles, first aid kits, and navigation equipment. This also applies to other countryside pursuits but you may need more specialised equipment for activities like shooting.

We recommend our Survival Whistle 649 as it’s a fantastic lightweight hiking whistle that makes a shrill and attention grabbing sound. The Slimline Tornado 636 and classic Tornado T2000 are also favourites for this use. Both of these hiking whistle models are engineered to be hard wearing, shatter proof and pleasant to use.

Try something new

Challenging yourself to try something new is a great way to get more time outdoors. You never know what you’ll love most, so plan to have a go at a range of activities that take your interest. Some activities are more family friendly than others but it really depends on the kind of activities you enjoy.

Fishing is a relaxing activity that has a similar restorative effect to meditation, but gives beginners and professionals alike a thrill when they get a bite. Fell running is a fantastic choice for people who want to push themselves to be more active. Kayaking and canoeing give paddlers a unique perspective on the natural world, and cycling can be fast paced and exciting, or sedate and scenic.