It looks as though our summer holidays this year will be firmly spent in the UK, not least because Boris Johnson has announced that hotels, B&Bs and campsites in this country can open from 4th July.
So, with domestic tourism restarting and the weather becoming decidedly hotter (seriously, the lockdown gods are spoiling us with this heatwave), many of us have started thinking about a staycation or two this summer.
And just because we may not be jetting off somewhere sun-drenched and exotic, doesn’t mean we can’t fill our diaries with fun activities guaranteed to put a post-lockdown smile on our faces. In fact, whether you’re hanging out in the capital or heading up to the Highlands, there is plenty to keep you busy when it comes to the great British outdoors.
There’s of course the obvious ‘head to your local park for a drunken picnic/ game of kick about/ ill-informed family badminton battle’, but let’s be real: if there’s anything lockdown has taught us, it’s that we’re kinda sick of the sight of our local park.
So, we thought we’d come up with some other ideas for fun outdoor activities you can do across the UK that you might not have considered. For example, have you ever hiked over the rolling hills of Dartmoor and spotted the iconic herds of Dartmoor ponies? Or strolled through a sea of purple at one of the UK’s lavender farms (which open in the summer when the lavender’s in bloom)? Or tried your hand at one of the many water sports available around the coastline? Yep, you don’t need to jet off to the Med to learn how to paddle board or kayak.
So, here are some ideas for outdoor activities across the country, whether you’re up for a chilled day at the beach or something a little more adventurous…