Whether you are looking for outdoor activities to get fit, to try something new, or to enjoy being outside and meeting new people, your health will benefit from it a lot. All outdoor classes will naturally have you moving around, helping you with your physical and mental wellbeing. Plus, the more you participate in outdoor activities, the easier you’ll find it to achieve the recommended, 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week (as recommended by the NHS)
Here we have put together six of the best outdoor activities to get you moving and active. Why not convince your friends and family members to join – outdoor activities can be more enjoyable when taking part with people you know.
Kayaking
Kayaking is a great shout for anyone who loves to be outside and in the water at the same time. You can kayak with friends and enjoy the surroundings or join a local club and explore with others. The terrains vary depending on your location, as kayaking can be enjoyed on the sea, in a lake, or on a purpose-built course. It can be as low impact as you would like or high impact if you want to challenge yourself. If you have never been on a kayak before, you’ll often find taster courses at your local kayaking centre for you to try.
Mountain biking
If you consider yourself an explorer and someone who likes an adrenaline rush every now and then, then why not try out mountain biking? It’s the perfect way to explore new scenery whilst getting active at the same time. You can enjoy yourself with your friends or just kayak, join a mountain biking club where you can meet new people and take on new challenges. Most mountain biking routes have different trials so that beginners can take part as well as advanced riders getting challenged.
Golf
Golf may not be the most rigorous activity that you take part in, but you’ll definitely be getting up your step count – over 10,000 steps for sure! It’s a fun sport, where you’ll enjoy time spent in the sun, socialising with others, all whilst getting active and burning calories. Most courses have a dedicated clubhouse where you can get lessons if you have not taken part in golf before. A lot of luxury hotels have courses built around them, the perfect excuse for a break away whilst taking part in outdoor activities.
Rock Climbing
If you haven’t tried rock climbing before, why not give it a go and see what you think? It’s great for building upper body strength whilst working on your cardiovascular system. You’ll also benefit from seeing some stunning scenery as you climb the rocks. As a beginner, you’ll have to sign up for a rock climbing course to learn all about the ropes and how to climb, but once you know how, you can climb so many different destinations with other climbers. An alternative to rock climbing which may give you a taster is bouldering – although this is often done inside instead of out.
Surfing
Another water sport to add to our list is surfing. A tough sport but one that challenges you in many ways – especially when tackling big waves. There are plenty of surfing schools you can sign up for, where you enjoy a week’s intensive course, learning all there is to know before hitting the waves. The more you enjoy and learn about surfing, the different surfing spots you can take on. When you feel really confident on the water, a lot of people like to go on surfing holidays.
Swimming
When you think about swimming, most people consider it an indoor sport, when in actual fact, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy swimming outdoors. Open-water swimming involves swimming in different outdoor, natural environments such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Being outside, it has its own challenges and characteristics for you to take on and enjoy. Open-water swimming is a great way to enjoy the hot weather whilst getting active at the same time. In the winter months, you may want to wear a wetsuit, as the water can get cold. Plus swimming is a great alternative to running.
Summary
There are so many different outdoor activities that you can take part in, with each offering its own characteristics and enjoyment. If you have never tried the activity before, most will offer trial sessions to give you a taste of it. Then you can decide on whether to continue learning that sport or to try something different.
Remember, different costs are associated with different outdoor activities. It’s worth considering this before signing up, as activities like golf can get expensive when you factor in buying all the clubs and the course membership. Golf is great fun and worth it!
What outdoor activities would you recommend taking part in? Will you be trying any of the above six activities? Let us know in the comment box below.
