10 amazing outdoor summer activities in Britain

To celebrate all-things woodland and raise awareness of climate change, the North York Moors National Park have put together a year-long programme of events to promote the vital relationship between trees and how we live. Wood Life Festival is set to wow audiences with an immersive theatre production, The Lost Words: Told in Gold, an adaption of the award-winning book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. You can also enjoy a host of other events including bushcraft activities, wildlife safaris, woodland treasure hunts, and nature-themed exhibitions and workshops.

Want to connect with Mother Nature through Britain’s rolling hills? Vista-hungry visitors can join the Chiltern Walking Festival, a selection of over 80 guided countryside walks across the Chilterns, an Official Area of Natural Beauty north-west of London. Taking place from 16 – 31 May 2020, bookings will open from mid-March 2020.

Prefer to enjoy the great outdoors on two wheels? Why not go bikepacking, the ultimate bicycle and wild camping adventure. A minimalist’s dream, in Dartmoor National Park, you can spend your days exploring the British countryside by bike before bedding down at a local wild camping spot, for a night immersed in nature under the stars.

In addition to London’s Royal Parks, Britain’s green city-centre spaces are about to get even better. 30 July 2020 will see the opening of RHS Garden Bridgewater, an awe-inspiring 154-acre garden set in the historic grounds of Worsley New Hall in Salford, Manchester. Boasting an impressive walled paradise and kitchen gardens, alongside a peaceful Chinese Streamside Garden, this is an exciting way to enjoy Britain’s fragrant flora and fauna when staying in Manchester.

If you’re a history buff, you can combine your love of the past with the chance to discover scenic towns and the great outdoors, on the Mayflower 400 National Trail. Created to celebrate the Mayflower’s 400th anniversary, this range of free walking and driving trails are available to download in a handy app, giving you the chance to discover locations linked to the historic ship across England - from Devon to Essex and beyond.

Those with a penchant for water-based adventure will relish the chance to plunge into natural pools, enjoy a spot of wild swimming and climb up waterfalls when gorge scrambling in Wales. Don a wetsuit and helmet for this refreshing summer activity, which gives you the chance to enjoy beautifully clear waters, stunning surrounding countryside and a heart-pumping adrenaline rush, all in one.

If climbing waterfalls is not enough of a rush, why not test your mettle as you scramble across rocky coastal terrain, soak up mesmerising views, and plunge into deep water on a coasteering adventure? Cornwall is a fantastic spot for this adrenaline-fuelled activity, with areas such as Mullion Cove or Rinsey Cove offering the ideal spot for guided sessions.

For a more relaxing way to take to Britain’s waters, why not take an elegant sailing trip? You can splash out on the sailboat lifestyle and rent a modern boat to explore the waterways of The Broads. From luxurious yacht charters to modest wherries, there are a range of charming vessels to choose from. Alternatively, dip your toes into the world of sailing by hiring a sailboat in picturesque Ullswater, in the Lake District. 

Fancy riding the waves of the English coast? Discover the swell in Devon, a great place to try a surf lesson and become one with the ocean. For those after something a little slower paced, the coasts of Devon and Cornwall are also hot spots for stand-up paddleboarding. Ideal for those new to water sports, this summer activity lets paddlers calmly glide through azure waters, making it a dream-like summer day activity.

Beach lovers can go one step further by discovering the fresh taste of the British coast on a seaweed foraging course along the shores of Dorset this summer. The brand new Seaweed Foraging, Wild Cooking & Feasting Course is a great introduction to the art of seashore foraging, as the day involves a beach walk, tucking into a foraged snack, a seaweed cooking class, and the chance to enjoy the fruits of the day in a three-course meal served with wine.