Emma Frampton • Adventures • Jul 29, 2019 • 5 mins
Living in Great Britain, we don’t have to go far to find green spaces and natural water, even in big cities. Here are 10 short n’ sweet adventures you can do from your front-door in an evening or weekend.
So open up your local paper map, find your nearest green space and pick one of the adventures below.
Because who doesn’t love a pub… we are Brits after all!? Whether your walking off a Sunday roast or working up an appetite, it's always nice to tie in a visit to your favourite pub on a walk. You'll be surprised at how many pubs have footpaths around them. Find a pub on an OS Map and plot a route around it or check out our 10 best pub walks across Great Britain.
How many different flora and fauna you can spot? You may want to go foraging, picking blackberries in late summer and wild garlic in spring. If you want to eat anything, make sure you know what’s safe and only take what you need.
Grab your head torch and go for a night-time hike. It’s amazing how different the same landscape looks at night, the wildlife that comes out at night and how your senses wake up. Just make sure you pick a route that you know well, or you’re equipped with the right navigation skills.
Hike to the highest point in your area, such as Parliament Hill in central London, Box Hill or Leith Hill in Surrey, Coombe Hill in the Chilterns. Use the contour lines on a map to find your nearest hill. Take a leisurely stroll up and enjoy the views below or challenge yourself to reach the top in a certain time.
Grab your favourite picnic delights and eat it outdoors! Dining al fresco is so much fun, some of our favourites places to eat include the beach, your local park, a hilltop or in the woods. Remember to leave no trace, picking up all your litter and only ever light a fire in areas where it is allowed.
Watching the sunset (or sunrise) is one of the most accessible things to do, no matter where you live. Combine this with idea number five to have a really enjoyable experience!
Climb a big tree in your local park or green space. It feels like such a simple thing but a great way to channel your inner child, as well as practice basics skills (balance, coordination).
Pick a clear night and enjoy the simple act of looking up at the sky, and star-gazing. The beauty about star-gazing is that you can do it anywhere, although there are certain parts of Great Britain which are particularly good for it. These are known as dark sky locations.
Swap your bed indoors for a night surrounded by nature, and head to your favourite wild camping or campsite spot. Here's some tips on how to choose a wild camping spot. Always leave no trace.
There’s nothing more refreshing than a wild swim and even in a city, there are loads of accessible spots. Check out the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park and the Mixed/Ladies/Mens Bathing ponds in Hampstead Heath if you're in London.
It really is easy to get outside for an adventure wherever you are in Great Britain. There's plenty to do that doesn't cost the earth and most activities can be done in an evening or weekend. Tag us in your local adventures on social media using #GetOutside.
From planning & creating your own routes, or discovering ready-made ones; to following & recording your progress and staying on track; OS Maps puts mapping & navigation tools at your fingertips to make it easy for anyone to get outside safely and discover the outdoors.
Be inspired to do more and go further by equipping yourself with the best tools for the job. Our maps are built on 220 years of experience - we keep walkers, runners, cyclists and more safe in the great outdoors all year round.
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