With longer days, rays of sunshine and bluer skies, the warmer weather is a motivating force to tempt keen walkers back outside doing what they love.
While you might already appreciate the mental and physical health benefits of walking, keeping hiking trips as interesting, challenging and exciting as ever is one of the best parts of staying active and motivated to discover new walks in different parts of the UK. This is true whether you’re walking solo, in a group with like-minded friends or with young children.
However, although walking can’t ever be classed as boring, there’s no harm in being more creative when it comes to organising your next trip. The warmer months can be the best time of year to take up a new hobby or learn a skill that takes you outdoors.
Nothing beats trying an activity while you’re out hiking, from camping under the stars, capturing wildlife on a camera or cooking alfresco. With lots of walking traits waiting to be discovered, here are some inspiring ideas to ensure that your next walk is more exciting, memorable and interesting than ever.
Capturing Nature Close Up
The UK’s diverse landscapes provide endless opportunities for photography and film enthusiasts of all levels. Memorable walks along coastal shores provide stunning seascape opportunities and wildlife wonders. From the dramatic coastlines of Cornwall to the scenic hills of the Peak District, each and every trail presents a different visual experience waiting to be discovered through a lens.
When it comes to wildlife photography, dawn and dusk walks offer the best opportunities to spot and photograph wildlife. Consider investing in a zoom lens for capturing distant subjects, and remember to move slowly and quietly to avoid disturbing animals. Nature reserves that appear on national sites such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Wildlife Trust list excellent locations for passionate bird, insect and wildlife photographers, nature enthusiasts and artists.
For incredible landscape images, the golden hours are shortly after sunrise and before sunset—providing magical lighting conditions for landscape photography. Popular locations include the Lake District, Snowdonia, and the Scottish Highlands, but even group walks in local forests or beaches can offer beautiful compositions in the right light, and you might want to pack a lightweight tripod to capture those perfect sunset shots.
Creating Art Outside
There’s something deeply cathartic and wonderful about drawing or painting nature and beautiful landscapes. You don’t need to be an accomplished artist to observe some captivating sights on a new walking route wherever you are in the UK. Before you go, though, pack a small sketchbook, a few pencils, paints and some watercolours if you want to add a few splashes of colour.
Walking routes through historic towns like Bath, York, or Edinburgh provide fabulous opportunities to draw interesting historic backdrops, natural gardens or striking scenery. The changing seasons also offer a variety of flowers and fauna that you’ll enjoy illustrating. Taking the time to be creative is especially engaging if you’re walking with children, organising scavenger hunts, making dens and making art while you’re away.
Foraging in the Great Outdoors
Foraging adds an entertaining and fascinating purpose to your walks while connecting you to nature and boosting your knowledge of edible plants. The UK is abundant with wild foods from spring through to autumn including:
- Spring: Wild garlic carpets woods from March to June offering pungent leaves perfect for pestos and soups.
- Summer: Blackberries, wild strawberries, and elderflowers appear in hedgerows and woodland edges.
- Autumn: This is mushroom season, though beginners should join guided walks or forage with experienced friends to ensure safety.
However, if you are keen to forage, only take what you need, avoid uprooting plants and try to steer clear of protected areas.
Open-Air Cooking
For an unforgettable walking experience, not much beats the satisfaction of preparing a meal al fresco following a day spent discovering new trails. Although unpredictable weather and bad forecasts are often blamed for ruining many a beach holiday in Devon, weather permitting, you may have planned a walking break specifically as a camping adventure. Organising an incredible few days camping with friends or family can be the perfect way to enjoy somewhere rural, whether staying at a campsite for hikers, or hoping to find a hidden gem to pitch your tent.
Campfire cooking can be a great way to enjoy eating in the fresh air and elevate your entire walking experience. It is important to first check that you’re allowed to make a fire in the location you’re staying. Although campfires are the ultimate primeval way to prepare food, always be responsible, clean up rubbish and extinguish fires to protect the local environment.
For an outdoor cooking taste sensation you could pack authentic Moroccan spices or French herbs, and even challenge friends to come up with dishes from around the world. Not only can you learn more about different cultures and perspectives, you’ll enjoy switching up your al fresco meals by experimenting with different ingredients. Or, if you prefer a traditional and impressive picnic, go beyond sandwiches with frittatas, homemade dips, and delicious, fresh salads.
Enjoying Mindful and Sensory walks
Sometimes the most creative experiences come from simply being fully present in your natural surroundings whichever walk you’re on and whoever you’re with. From picturesque canal walks to coastal trails that wind around the perimeter of England or Ireland, there are some amazing places to maximise your experience of being immersed in nature.
Although it’s easy to get sidetracked by how long your walk might take or whether you’re going in the right direction, take the time to stop occasionally, to close your eyes and appreciate the incredible scenery around you. Likewise, a good walk is an invitation to listen intently to birdsongs, rustling leaves and running water around you.
Adding creative dimensions to your walks transforms them from simple exercise into rich, multisensory experiences that nourish both body and mind. The UK’s varied landscapes offer endless possibilities for these creative pursuits, regardless of your skill level or previous experience.
From artistic pursuits like photography and sketching to culinary adventures such as foraging and open-air cooking, activities you can do while you walk not only make your adventures more enjoyable and memorable, but can also be educational and inspire a deeper connection with nature.
Author: Annie Button
