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The best adventure holidays in the UK for 2021

By Fiona Kerr

While travel horizons may be clipped in 2020, it doesn’t mean our adventures have to be as many of the big-trip pros redirect their sights from the world’s toughest terrains.

Secret Compass is more used to traversing Panama ’s dangerous Darien Gap or Iran ’s super-arid Lut Desert, but in October 2020 the outfit ran its first full expedition in the UK : a nine-day descent of the River Tay, Scotland ’s longest river, hiking Ben Lui, trekking remote valleys and negotiating rapids.

For time-short thrills, the exploration experts also take weekenders to the Brecon Beacons , pack-rafting on the River Usk, summiting Pen y Fan and sleeping out in hammocks.

England and Wales

One of the original epic-travel game-changers, Black Tomato is looking to home turf too, setting up its signature Get Lost experience on the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands for a solo point-to-point survival challenge. While Pelorus – normally seen plying the waters of Papua New Guinea – has come ashore in Dorset , Somerset , Yorkshire and Pembrokeshire , filling packed itineraries with paragliding and sea kayaking, as well as catching and cooking your own food.

England and Scotland

Joining them is Wildnis, a new arrival conceived by ex-Army majors that focuses solely on big British expeditions in old-school Land Rover Defenders (first up: Scottish Highlands ; next: Norfolk and Cornwall ), abseiling, climbing and scrambling between mobile camps and open-fire feasts of venison shoulder with foraged nettle sauce. The call of the wild, for now, comes from our own backyard.

Website: secretcompass.com , blacktomato.com , pelorusx.com , wildnis.co.uk

Like this? Now read: The 10 top UK winter holiday destinations

By Emma Love and Olivia Morelli

Where to go at Christmas: 15 ideas

By Laura Chubb , Anya Meyerowitz and Emma Love

Where to go on holiday in December

By Sarah James

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to the UK

Quick navigation, about the uk, best places to visit in the uk, best things to do in the uk, great adventure trips in the uk, the uk’s outdoors.

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The United Kingdom is a magnet for bloody, intense, fascinating ancient and historical tales that go further back than the words printed in history books. You’ll find stories sketched into crumbling ruins, medieval churches, and hung up in museums—expect to hear faint murmurs of the past wherever you go, whether you’re exploring Hadrian’s Wall in England’s countryside, admiring the Scottish Highlands, or walking through charming villages and bustling cities. Spend your time reminiscing on stories old and new over a pint, along scenic countryside walks, or while walking the cobblestone streets lined under dim lights.

This UK adventure travel guide will let you in on the highlight reel of adventures in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, where epic outdoor wanderings, cultural sights, and city explorations await! Read on for a list of travel tips indicating where to go, what to do, and how to best experience this phenomenal part of the world.

Disclosure: This post contains references to products or services from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you buy one of these products or services. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page .

Let's start with the basics: the United Kingdom isn't another name for England. The island, which stretches across 242,495 km², amounting to slightly smaller than Oregon in the United States, boasts four countries—England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. And here's some terminology we should all know:

• Great Britain refers to England, Wales, and Scotland
• Britain refers to England and Wales

If you thought Britain was another name for England, you're not alone!

So how did these four countries come to make up the United Kingdom? In 1707, the Act of Union brought together Wales, England, and Scotland, but it wasn't until 1801 that these four countries became known as the United Kingdom when Ireland joined the union. In the 19th century, the UK experienced a power boom, thanks to their dominance at sea. During this time, there was peace among the Great Powers globally, but this "peace" came to a halt in 1914.

In World War I, Britain fought against Germany alongside France and Russia. By the end of the war, Britain was in a lot of debt. But that didn't stop them from battling against Germany again in World War II.

But you won't just see remnants of the world wars when you travel to the United Kingdom; you'll witness ancient outlines of bloody battles and fascinating stories harking back to medieval and prehistoric times peppered across its 242,495 km².

The dominant language in the United Kingdom is English. Around 95% of people speak solely English, but there are also hints of Celtic languages: Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic. Get ready for some thick English accents when you go here!

Popular cities for tourists are London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Glasgow (Scotland), and Belfast (Northern Ireland). While Wales isn't as frequented as these countries and cities, it's still definitely worthwhile to visit, especially when you consider Snowdonia National Park , a great adventure playground.

Arrochar West Highlands Loch Lomond Scotland

With four countries replete with unbelievably scenic natural wonders, crumbling ancient architecture, rolling, charming countrysides, and bustling cities adorned with an explosion of history, museums, cobblestone streets, and lively pubs and nightlife, it makes it hard to choose where to go. When it comes down to it, there's a ton of best places to visit in the UK, so hopefully, this list helps to narrow down your choice (or you can always see all of them!).

London in England

Let's start with the most obvious choice on this list: London, England. This bustling city is a conglomeration of history, fun, beauty, and culture. The most popular tourist attractions: Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the British Museum, Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park are all examples of the architectural wonders and the unique beauty sprawled across London. And Soho is where you want to be when the night sky takes over! Just outside of London, you'll find the Chilterns —an excellent area for scenic countryside walks.

Speaking of walks, one great way to bask in London's vibes is to meander around the city on foot! We have a list of the best walks around London , which give the choice of exploring culture, city parks, architecture, and more!

Snowdonia in Wales

It's rare for people to think of visiting Wales before exploring Scotland, England, or Northern Ireland, but trust us: Wales is worth it. One area you need to explore is Snowdonia. Stepping foot in this sweeping park will make you feel like you've stepped inside a storybook, where you're a side character on a journey brimming with dragons and knights. The setting adds to the mysterious fairytale wonder: towering mountains, stunning valleys, and charming Welsh villages.

Snowdonia is an adventure playground that offers hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and road biking.

The Lake District in England

Let the theme of mystery and fairytales continue with a splash of romance! For years, the stunning scenery has been inspiring writers, most notably the poets from the Romantic era (Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge). The glistening lakes, sprawling mountains, and small bodies of water nestled in glacially carved amphitheatres will not only provide creative inspiration but will present natural entertainment while inducing a relaxing escape from your everyday life.

Go kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, biking in the Lake District !

Head hiking along cliffs South Downs UK

Peak District in England

Introducing the first national park in the UK: Peak District ! While you won't find a ton of peaks here—deceiving, we know—you'll win the scenery lottery in terms of valleys, gorges, plateaus, and hills. Who needs peaks, anyways? Most people participate in activities like cycling or walking to immerse themselves in the incredible natural surroundings.

South Downs in England

South Downs : where the countryside bleeds into the seascape. The best part (or one of) about South Downs is that it’s only two hours from London, making it an accessible outdoor destination for everyone. There’s nothing like planning a weekend away in South Downs National Park, where outdoor explorations, canopies of yew trees, seaside vistas backed by dramatic cliffs, and remnants of history will be a nice change of scenery from bustling city streets.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs in Scotland

Bordering the Scottish Highlands, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs boasts of small mountains nestled with lochs and narrow valleys. The region is rich with walking trails and glistening lakes. However, most people flock to this area for Loch Lomond, the biggest freshwater lake in all of Britain. Meanwhile, The Trossachs add a mythical layer to the already-dramatic scenery, where Gaelic culture continues to thrive.

Edinburgh in Scotland

Want fun? Go to Edinburgh! Fall in love with the pub-centric atmosphere, where drinking fuels laughter. There's no sign of pretension here—Edinburgh is a bubble of laid-back, amusing times. You'll fall in love with the medieval architecture and turrets outside of the pints and pubs, which add a mysterious, gothic look to the city.

Cardiff Castle Wales Uk

Belfast in Northern Ireland

Expect to learn a lot about the iconic Titanic when visiting Belfast! We'll preface with one fact before this city unloads more on you: The Titanic was built here. But that's not all Belfast brings! Like Edinburgh, you can always expect to have intoxicating, crazy fun nights here. The live music helps to add to the entertaining atmosphere. To top it off, the restaurants here are tailor-made for foodies seeking creative, memorable dishes.

Cardiff in Wales

Lonely Planet says it best: "Spread between an ancient fort and an ultramodern waterfront, compact Cardiff seems to have surprised even itself with how interesting it has become." Cardiff gives visitors a chance to bask in Britain's culture in a more chilled-out way.

Inverness in Scotland

Inverness is the biggest city in the Scottish Highlands and is the closest city to Loch Ness, where you can escape the real world to a land where mythical scenery sweeps! The captivating imagery painted across Loch Ness will remain at the forefront of your memory for a long time. When you’re in Inverness, take some time to walk around the Old Town!

County Down in Northern Ireland

County Down, situated not-too-far south from Belfast, stretches across varied scenery and architecture, ranging from castles, forests, beaches, a Royal Palace, and into the intimidating Mourne Mountains. There's also the massive Strangford Lough, an eerie sea inlet. This is an excellent place for family adventures!

Chilterns old stone cottages just outside of London UK

The things to do in the UK are endless! Outside of basking in the pub atmosphere and exploring bustling city streets, there's a backyard of mountains, rolling hills, natural bodies of water, and seaside bliss brimming with outdoorsy activities. Hopefully, the following UK travel tips benefit your trip planning experience!

Day walks, and long distance walks in the UK

When it comes to walks carved into the undulating countryside and mystical mountains, the UK is wealthy. You’ll find a vast collection of half-day, full-day, short and easy walks sprawled all across the UK.

In England, you can escape the bustle of London and head to the nearby Chiltern Hills or South Downs for some easy-going countryside strolls. Some walks will get your heart rate up, but most don't require too much exertion, making these places great for families. A more challenging longer walk in South Downs is the 15.0 km East Dean , Beachy Head and Birling Gap Hike !

You can also find great walks in the Lake District and Peak District ! The Lake District walks are definitely more complex than Chiltern Hills or South Downs, but the views are phenomenal. A great hike to consider doing is the 13.6 km Helvellyn Walk . In Peak District, you'll find an ideal combination of easy and challenging, with one of the toughest being the 9.8 km Stanage Edge Walk .

Let’s move onto Wales!

Judging from the previous section of this article, you can probably guess which area we’re going to talk about: Snowdonia . The land of mystical scenery provides a perfect distraction from whatever is going on in the “real” world. We also believe that Snowdonia is home to one of the most stunning walks in the UK! The Snowdon Via Watkin Path is a 14.2 km hike that sees a gain of 1,013 m , but the views on this walk are unbeatable. The bundle of lakes nestled into mountains cloaked in greenery make for jaw-dropping photos.

And onto Scotland! Loch Lomond and The Trossachs will keep you entertained with their mini-mountains, glens, and mysterious-looking lochs. One of the best ways to experience this area's wonder is to attempt the Ben Lomond Walk . Seeking more intimidating Scottish Highlands? Stay in Inverness and seek out hikes surrounding the area!

Next stop? Northern Ireland. Experience a fusion of history and remarkable scenery here. And the perfect example of this is Hare's Gap carved into the Mourne Mountains in County Downs. You'll see the crumbling Mourne Wall while also admiring the scenery from a dramatic mountain pass. If you aren't in the mood to travel super far from Belfast but want some outdoorsy views, take on the Cave Hill Walk, which leads you to a vista of Belfast nestled into the lush, jagged landscape below.

You also can't miss visiting Kilbroney Forest Park in County Downs. Some say that this magical place may have been the inspiration for C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia!

Since we've spent a lot of time on this section, we'll shoot out a list of some of the best long-distance walks in the UK (and we will get more into some in the following section):

City Hall building in Belfast Northern Ireland

The Cotswold Way

Country: England Distance: 164.2 km How long? 6-11 days

The West Highland Way

Country: Scotland Distance: 154.5 km How long? 5-8 days

The Causeway Coast Way

Country: Northern Ireland Distance: 51.5 km How long? 2-3 days

The Cambrian Way

Country: Wales Distance: 479.0 km How long? 11-18 days

Country road winding through moss covered rocks Winnats Pass Peak District Derbyshire Valley

Canoeing and kayaking

Take your paddles to the sea, canals, lakes, roaring rivers for a journey replete with thrills and bliss. The beauty about taking up canoeing or kayaking in the UK is that you can cater your adventure to meet whatever you're feeling that day. Want a lazy, chilled-out paddle? You've got lakes and canals to help you out here. Want to scream at the top of your lungs? There are whitewater rapids for you. Want to breathe in sea-scented air? Done.

Do note that before you go paddling on canals, you'll need a license! Where you get your license depends on where you want to go:

• Go to British Waterways to get a license for paddling on canals and rivers such as Severn, Yorkshire Ouse, and Trent.
• Get your license at The Environment Agency if you have hopes and dreams of paddling along the River Medway, the River Thames, and all the rivers spanning East Anglia.
• For canoeing or kayaking, all broads laced throughout Norfolk or Suffolk, go to The Broad Authority to get your license.

Let’s take a look at some of the best places to go kayaking and canoeing in each country in the UK.

• Whitewater kayaking: Cornwall
• Calm, flat fresh water: Lake District
• Sea kayaking or canoeing: Studland Bay
• Human-made canoe and kayak waterway: River Wey Navigations in Surrey
• Freshwater experience: Loch Morlich
• Open water kayaking and canoeing: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
• Roaring rapids (more for advanced paddlers): River Orchy
• Best river for canoeing in Scotland: River Etive

Northern Ireland

• Great for sea kayaking: Strangford Lough
• One of the longest trails in Northern Ireland: River Foyle
• White water fun: River Mourne

Edinburgh Scotland city skyline

• Boasts of a mixture of lazy and thrilling options: Brecon Beacons National Park
• Awesome kid-friendly option: Llangollen and Montgomery Canals
• Offers surreal scenery: Snowdonia

The UK will introduce you to several incredible cycling paths! Some of the most epic trails spanning Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales are the incredibly scenic, can't-be-missed Lakeland Loop in the Lake District. It's a challenging 65.0 km circuit but so worth it.

In Wales, the best mountain biking routes—in our opinion—are in Elan Valley . Expect to find a range of paths that range from easy to hard and short to long.

One of the most epic road biking journeys can be found in Scotland! The Applecross via Bealach na Bà wheels to incredible highland views. This route isn't for the faint of heart, but the rewards will force you to forget all about how tired your legs and lungs are.

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, County Down is where some of the best cycling routes are at, such as White Rock and Mahee Island Cycle Route, Country Down Tour, and Knockcree Cycle Route - Kilkeel.

Let's get to the highlight of planning a vacation: choosing your adventure trip in the UK. The following pre-planned tours can act as a guide for your personal trip planning, or one may stick out to you, prompting you to book your future holiday without any planning necessary! Take a look at the following adventures in the UK and choose your favourite.

Complete Cotswold Way in 9 Days in England: Have you always wanted to explore England's storied countryside on foot? Now's your chance! The self-guided Complete Cotswold Way in 9 Days tour will have you traversing 160.9 km , passing through and by quaint villages and a collection of notable parks and landmarks. Rest your body in cosy farmhouses that hark back to centuries ago in the evenings!

The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal Tour in Northern Ireland: Misty, mysterious, and magical—these three words sum up the haunting (okay, four words) scenery cloaking The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal Tour. Discover Glenveagh National Park, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Slieve League Cliffs on this unreal guided adventure tour in Northern Ireland.

Glencoe and the Highlands Walking Tour in Scotland: This guided tour weaves rugged adventure with luxury! Spend the day exploring the fascinating, mythical scenery blanketing the Highlands by day and revel in luxury in your hotels by night. Expect to visit the ever-so stunning Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and to enjoy time in two historic Scottish villages.

Inverness traditional stone houses on the river in Scotland

Mountain Biking Across Scotland Tour : Dive deep into adventure on this epic guided mountain biking tour! You’ll spend 5-6 hours biking each day, winding to and through incredible scenery, including a stop at the Loch Ness area, where you spot Nessie, the lake monster. You’ll also spend time exploring some storied villages, such as Drumnadrochit, Spean Bridge, and Fort Augustus.

Hadrian’s Wall & the Lake District Tour in England: Spend some days walking along the ancient Hadrian’s Wall, encountering Roman ruins en route, before spending a couple of days exploring and basking in the dramatic, inspiring beauty sweeping the Lake District on the self-guided Hadrian’s Wall & the Lake District Tour.

Find Even More Amazing Adventures in the UK

• England adventure tours
• Northern Ireland adventure tours
• Scotland adventure tours

Behind Big Ben and other notable city landmarks sprawled across the UK, you'll find a charming, eerie blend of an adventure-scape. Just look at the mythical Sottish Highlands or England's undulating countryside, or the dramatic coastline sweeping all four countries spanning the UK. The UK's outdoors are a diverse wonder worth exploring!

If you're planning on going to the UK for wildlife viewing, you're in the wrong place! You won't find many big mammals here. The red deer is the largest mammal you'll discover! Another deer to look out for is the roe deer.

One source from 2015 says that cows are the most dangerous animal in the UK! (The article discussing cows in the UK writes: "Australia has the box jellyfish, the US has bears, and we have Daisy.") However, when it comes to smaller critters and fish, you'll have to look out for the lesser weever along the shoreline and the false widow spider.

That got dark fast.

Let's end on a better note: the rarest animal in the UK are Scottish wildcats!

Nestled between the North Sea, Irish Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, the UK is flanked by roaring seaside scenery. The English Channel also acts as a connector between the UK and mainland Europe. When it comes to the general landscape, the UK comprises primarily rolling hills, but you can change up the views by heading to Scotland and Wales, which boasts more mountainous areas than the rest of the UK. However, you'll find the Pennine Hills in England, which take on the role as the country's backbone.

Looking to take a dip? Outside of seafront spots, you'll find a couple of lakes sprinkled across the UK, with the largest situated in Northern Ireland: Lough Neagh. Other notable bodies of water include Windermere in England's Lake District and Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland.

Lake District hiking Little Langdale Cumbria Slater Bridge stone walking bridge over small river

UK Travel Costs

The following information on UK travel costs are based on averages calculated by number, experiences from our 10Adventures' team, and various online sources. Just a heads up that adventures in the UK can be expensive, so you'll definitely want to save up before going. You don't want to eat at Wetherspoons the entire time, do you? (Okay, the pub environment is fun, and the food is good, and the drinks are great, and it's cheaper than most spots, so why not spend a lot of time here? One of our team members did!)

Food and drink

In general, it costs 12.00 £ for an average meal and a three-course meal for two people costs around 50.00 £. But at the supermarket, you can buy super cheap (and amazing) cheddar cheese for 2.00 £, and cheap beer and ciders! It’s beneficial to mix eating out with eating in or at a park when it’s not raining.

Transportation

Try to avoid paying for a taxi in the UK. It can get expensive. One of our team members couldn't get on the train during rush hour to make her bus to Belgium, so she had to pay for a taxi to travel about 10km in London, and it was double the price of her bus ride. Try to stick to public transport!

A one-way ticket for local transport costs around 2.50 £, a standard tariff for the start of a taxi ride is 3.00 £, and gas averages around 1.26 £ per litre.

Accommodation

The average cost of a hotel room per night across the UK's biggest cities ranges from 79.00 £ to 172 £. However, websites like Airbnb, booking.com, vrbo.com, and hostelworld may offer prices that cater more to your budget.

It's common to tip around 10% of the total bill price during table service. It's not common to tip the bartenders just for pouring drinks. Many bartenders in classic pubs might not accept a tip after serving you a drink. If the bar service was good, it's more custom to buy a drink for the bartender, who would usually pick a drink for himself and have it after his shift.

UK Travel Safety

When it comes to UK travel safety, most people tend to leave the area unscathed. However, travel advisories warn you to exercise a high degree of caution due to the potential of terrorism. Stay tuned to the local news and media for updates on this. But we do want to reiterate that the UK is generally a super safe place to travel!

Loch Lomond Arrochar West Highlands Scotland

Best Time to Visit the UK

The best time to visit the UK depends on whether you prefer hot weather and busy streets or a warm climate and not-as-busy streets. For the latter, head to the UK between April and June or September to November. In spring, an array of wildflowers blanket the land, including the fairy-tale-like bluebelles. It’s stunning!

However, the sweet spot to visit the UK is in September when the weather is still warm and the crowds have filtered out!

Best Ways To Get Around the UK

Taxi, Uber, the tube and double-decker buses (best for getting around London), the train, and cycling are some of the best ways to get around the UK. Riding in a taxi or an Uber will have you dishing out more pounds than the buses, tube, or train.

If your main go-to ride is Uber , you'll find this taxi service in the UK's biggest cities, such as Cardiff in Wales, Belfast in Northern Ireland, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, and London and Manchester in England, to name a few.

For longer distances, bus services like Blabla Bus or Flixbus offer comfy seats, WiFi (usually) and are super inexpensive. Like we mentioned above, it was cheaper for one of our team members to travel from London to Brussels via Flixbus than it was to take a taxi 10.0 km across London (not recommended unless you're loaded with cash and find the tube repulsive).

Another option for travelling long distances is to rent a car. For this, we recommend using rentalcars.com or europcar.co.uk . Or, if you're bent on taking the train, head to Omio for decent train travel deals. Surprisingly, one of the cheapest options for travelling hundreds of kilometres may be via RyanAir . However, it almost costs more to store baggage under the plane than it does to fly, and the carry-on size rules are strict. You may have to wear layers of clothes to keep your carry-on light. Think of that scene with Joey on Friends, where he donned all of Chandler's clothes.

Best Places to Stay in the UK

Let's kickstart some of the best places to stay in the UK with cheaper, budget-friendly accommodations before moving onto the swanky places steeped in culture, luxury, and history.

One of the best websites to find unreal deals for cheaper places to stay in the UK is hostelworld.com . Plus, hostels usually bring the party, making them ideal for people seeking non-stop fun while meeting new people. Dorms in London may range from 18 CAD to 40 CAD. Not bad, right?

Not into hostels? Travelodge UK or Comfort Inn may fit your budget needs while giving you a little more luxury than hostels.

Okay. Moving onto the more average places to stay for those seeking mid-range to more upper scale prices. Some notable chains in the UK are Best Western GB and Apex Hotels .

Now onto the fun stuff! The majority of us probably won't stay in the following places, but it never hurts to dream, right? Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry, England, twists upscale modern day amenities with 12th-century royalty. It's an unbeatable combination! More into darker vibes? The Witchery by the Castle in Scotland is ancient gothic adorned with luxury all in one.

London England palace parliment Big Ben River Thames

While we've shared some fantastic useful travel tools already, we figure it's good to put them all in one place, making it easy to come back to this article to find the list of incredible travel tools for your adventures in the UK.

To Book Accommodation

Find the best accommodation for your trip in the UK via the following websites:

• Booking.com
• Expedia.com

To find a bed and breakfast that caters to your travel style, check out vrbo.com .

To Book Flights

The websites below perform online scans to grab you the best current deals:

• CheapOair.com
• Skyscanner.com

To Rent a Car

So you want to avoid long distance public travel and drive around the UK? We totally get it. Our team members like using rentalcars.com or europcar.co.uk for this!

To Get Gear

To take your adventures in the UK to the next level, you need the right gear! We love to advocate for the following brands for outdoor equipment, shoes, clothes etc.:

• Blacks.co.uk
• Cotswoldoutdoor.com
• Goutdoors.co.uk
• Trail Outdoor Leisure
• Ultimate Outdoors
• Running Room

Other Useful Travel Services

Americans and Canadians travelling to the UK may find Airportparkingreservations.com useful! This service gives you a chance to snag deals for leaving your car in an ideal spot while you're away. Other helpful travel services already mentioned in this article are Flixbus, BlaBla Bus, Omio.

Looking down across the Miners Trail Snowdonia National Park

Visa Requirements When Travelling to the UK

Despite Brexit, the UK is still relatively easy to get into, even for EU citizens. People from the EU and EEA countries can get into the UK using their passport or national identity card. Despite not being an EU country, Switzerland also has the same travel rights as EU and EEA citizens. People travelling outside of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland will have to provide a passport upon arrival at the airport. However, some nationalities, such as Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, can get into the UK upon arrival and stay up to six months with a tourist visa. You can always check if you need a visa to enter the UK by following this link .

Interesting Facts About the UK

The UK is a fascinating place! Here are some interesting facts about the UK:

• The very first King of England declared that everyone had to follow an 8 pm bedtime. Talk about strict!
• Everywhere in Britain is within 120.7 km from the coast.
• The United Kingdom created several sports we love today: soccer, golf, rugby, and cricket.
• Windsor Palace is the oldest occupied palace worldwide.
• Brits have declared Chicken Tikka Masala as their national dish.
• The UK administered the world's first speeding ticket! In 1896, someone was driving eight mph in a two mph zone. Living on the edge!
• Brits consume around 165 million cups of tea a day.
• One town in Wales is called Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwyrndrobwlllllandysiliogogogoch.

Frequently Asked Questions About the UK

Discover some UK travel tips in the answers to the following frequently asked questions:

1. Is the UK one country?

The United Kingdom is a political union shared between Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. However, these four nations are also classified as countries.

2. Is the UK a part of Europe?

In January 2020, the UK left the European Union. This involves a lot of complex discussions on trading, goods, and taxes, but in terms of travelling, this means that people from the UK now need a visa to stay longer than 90 days (during a 180-day period) in the EU.

3. How is England connected to Europe?

You can get to mainland Europe from England via the Channel Tunnel (or the Chunnel).

4. How long has Queen Elizabeth II reigned?

She has reigned since 1952, making Her Majesty the longest-reigning living monarch.

We hope this UK adventure travel guide improves your trip planning process!

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22 Bucket List Adventures in the UK for 2022

Want to make 2022 your year of adventure then great britain is the destination for you we’ve put together the best bucket list adventures in the uk to help you make the most of this spectacular nation’s varied landscapes and epic natural playgrounds….

• Climb the UK’s Highest Peaks
• Tackle a Long Distance Trail Run
• Walk the South West Coast Path
• Give Coasteering a Go!
• Mountain Biking in the Scottish Highlands
• Take on the World’s Fastest Zip Line…
• …and the UK’s Highest Freefall Abseil
• Try a Via Ferrata in the Lake District
• Learn Orienteering
• Learn to Surf
• Walk the Offa’s Dyke Path
• Spend a Night Wild Camping
• Take the Whole Family on an Adventure
• Road Trip the Causeway Coast
• Enjoy the Simple Life with a Wild Wellness Weekend
• Learn Some Bushcraft Skills
• Scottish Islands Road Trip
• Try Your Hand at Canyoning
• Hike the Pennine Way
• Take on the 14 Peaks Challenge in Wales
• Yorkshire Three Peaks
• Travel from Lands’ End to John O’Groats

1. Climb the UK’s Highest Peaks

One of the top British bucket list adventures is to climb the highest peaks in every country of the UK. The tallest overall is Ben Nevis in Scotland, 1345m high. In Wales, the highest peak is Snowdon at 1085m – our personal favourite and one that features on many of our adventure tours!

Over in England, you have the Lake District’s Scafell Pike at 978m, while in Northern Ireland the tallest mountain is Sliabh Dónairt (Slieve Donard) at 850m.

2. Tackle a Long-Distance Trail Run

Trail running is becoming increasingly popular in the UK – it’s the perfect adventure for anyone who loves running outdoors amidst nature.

Looking for a bigger challenge this year? Come and take on the Trans Wales Trail Run with us! This is one of our brand-new tours for 2022: an epic guided trail running holiday across the heart of mid Wales. Starting from the English border at Knighton, this 55-mile journey takes you across the Cambrian mountains to Aberystwyth on the stunning west coast.

3. Walk the South West Coast Path

Britain’s long distance walking paths are perfect additions for your UK adventure bucket list. And one of the most popular (and most impressive) is the South West Coast Path in England.

This enormous trail stretches for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Tackle the rugged northern coasts of Cornwall and Devon, dotted with ancient castles and historic tin mines, explore picturesque fishing villages and gorgeous white-sand beaches on the south coast, and marvel at iconic geological sights of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

4. Give Coasteering a Go!

If you haven’t tried it already, coasteering is a MUST for your UK bucket list! Turn the British coast into your very own playground as you climb cliffs, scramble over rocks and through hidden caves, and leap into the sea from heart-thumping heights.

There are great places to try coasteering all over Britain, from the Jurassic Coast in southern England to the north-western coast of Scotland. But our favourite spot is the Isle of Anglesey – one of the most popular activities on our epic Adventure North Wales tour.

5. Mountain Biking in the Scottish Highlands

If you’re into mountain biking, you can find incredible destinations all over the UK. But the Nevis Range in the heart of the Scottish Highlands is the home of the UCI Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, so it’s a pretty bucket list destination for bikers.

6. Take on the World’s Fastest Zip Line…

Did you know that the world’s fastest zip line is right here in the UK? Penrhyn Slate Quarry in North Wales is home to Zip World Velocity 2, the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe. Now a vast blue lagoon, this historic quarry is a spectacular setting for adventure. There’s nothing quite like shooting across it at speeds of over 160kph!

7. …and the UK’s Highest Freefall Abseil

Another bucket list thrill in the UK is the country’s highest freefall abseil. Surprisingly enough, you’ll find this adventure in London – it’s the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Abseil down the UK’s tallest sculpture, from a height of 262ft, for some incredible London views – and a pretty massive rush of adrenalin.

8. Try a Via Ferrata in the Lake District

No UK adventure bucket list would be complete without a visit to the Lake District. Known for its stunning landscapes and scenic hiking trails, the Lake District is England’s adventure capital. It’s also one of the only places in the UK where you can try a Via Ferrata.

A Via Ferrata or ‘Iron Road’ is a protected climbing route where you’re attached by a harness to a permanently fixed cable, so you don’t need any climbing experience to try it.

The Via Ferrata Xtreme at Honnister follows an ancient miner’s route to the top of Fleetwith Pike (648m) for one of the finest views in the Lake District.

9. Learn Orienteering

Make 2022 the year you learn a few new skills! Orienteering is a fun outdoor adventure sport that exercises both the mind and the body. All you have to do is navigate between checkpoints or controls marked on a special orienteering map. If you want to learn more, contact your local club, or read this Newcomers Guide from British Orienteering . They also have route maps for courses all over the UK, so download a few and see how quickly you can complete the course.

10. Learn to surf

Another fun new adventure skill to learn this year is surfing. There are loads of great places in the UK for surfing, so if that’s on your bucket list for 2022 you should be able to find some classes.

Spots nearer the south of the country tend to be better for beginners, like Cornwall, Devon, and South Wales. For an immersive introduction to the sport, you can’t beat a surfing holiday like our 4-Day Surf and Yoga Retreat , brand new this year.

11. Walk the Offa’s Dyke Path

This year, Adventure Tours UK Founders Claire and Jim walked the Offa’s Dyke Path as research for a tour we were putting together. Having seen first-hand how amazing it is, we think this incredible trail deserves a spot on any UK bucket list!

The Path is a 177-mile (285km) walking trail which follows Britain’s longest ancient monument – an 8th century dyke constructed by King Offa of Mercia. The route passes through eight counties and two of Wales’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the Wye Valley and Clwydian Range), often taking you through parts of the country that are seldom seen by tourists.

12. Spend a Night Wild Camping

Fancy immersing yourself in nature? Add wild camping to your bucket list adventures!

Wild camping simply means setting up camp outside of a campsite or caravan park. That means you’ll be sleeping in the wilderness, without facilities like running water and toilets. It requires a bit more prep and planning than camping on a campsite, but offers a much greater sense of adventure.

Remember that wild camping isn’t legal everywhere in the UK, and you may need to get the landowner’s permission. Do your research carefully, and be sure to leave no trace behind when you move on.

13. Take the Whole Family on an Adventure

Multigenerational adventure travel is growing in popularity, with more and more families seeking out experiences and challenges together in place of the more traditional package holidays.

Our brand-new Family Adventure North Wales is an action-packed 8-day tour aimed at families with children over 14 years. Spend quality time together and bond over shared experiences like kayaking, mountain hiking, and coasteering. Perfect if you want a family holiday with a difference in 2022.

14. Road Trip the Causeway Coast

The iconic Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland makes its way onto almost every UK bucket list. If you’re searching for bucket list adventure in 2022, a road trip along the whole Causeway Coast is ideal!

From the dizzying heights of the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, to water sports along the striking coastline, the Causeway Coast is the perfect setting for adventure.

15. Enjoy the Simple Life with a Wild Wellness Weekend

Our Wild Wellness Retreats in the picturesque Dee Valley area of North Wales are the ultimate escape for anyone needing to reconnect with nature. Spend a few nights glamping on a tranquil site in the rolling hills, with campfires, storytelling, and wholesome local food. It’s a gentler kind of adventure, but an adventure nonetheless; with outdoor yoga classes, foraging, and paddleboarding.

16. Learn Some Bushcraft Skills

Another fun new skill to learn in 2022 could be the art of bushcraft.

Bushcraft is a term relating to outdoor skills that would help you survive in a natural environment. Things like finding and using wild food (foraging), making fires and building shelters. As well as being fairly useful skills if you ever find yourself in a survival situation, it’s also a fun way to connect with nature and spend some time outdoors – which is why we include bushcraft on our Discovery North Wales tours.

17. Scottish Islands Road Trip

Island hopping on Scotland’s West Coast is on many a UK bucket list. And just like the Causeway Coast we mentioned earlier, it’s the perfect setting for adventure – as Claire and Sarah discovered last summer on their “reccie” trip to scout locations for our brand new Self-Drive Highlands and Islands adventure.

18. Try Your Hand at Canyoning

Have you ever heard of canyoning? Similar to coasteering, canyoning uses a variety of techniques – like hiking, climbing, swimming, abseiling, and waterfall jumping – to traverse a canyon or gorge via a river. It’s one of our favourite activities, featured on our Adventure North Wales trip and many of our tailor-made adventure tours, it’s such a fun way to get out of your comfort zone!

19. Hike the Pennine Way

Walk the “backbone of England”, following The Pennine Way from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. This was Britain’s first National Trail and is one of the most famous long-distance walks in the UK. The trail runs for 268 miles from Edale in the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park, to end at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border.

20. Take on the 14 Peaks Challenge in Wales

One of our favourite challenges in Britain is the 14 Peaks Challenge, aka the Welsh 3000s. Often taken on in under 24 hours, the challenge is to reach the summit of the 14 highest peaks in Snowdonia National Park, including the tallest and most famous mountain in Wales – Snowdon itself. Find out more in our guide to the Welsh 3000s, or take a look at our 14 Peaks Experience for a guided version of the challenge taken over three days instead of one!

21. Yorkshire Three Peaks

If you’re not quite ready to take on 14 mountains, head up north for the Yorkshire Three Peaks ! This involves taking on the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, usually in that order, and usually in less than 12 hours.

22. Travel from Lands’ End to John O’Groats

Hike, bike, road trip, hitch-hike, rollerblade… however you do it, the journey across England and Scotland from Lands’ End to John O’Groats is a serious achievement. This vast overland journey deserves a place on any UK bucket list as it’ll take you right across the nation. There’s no official route, so you can plan a trip that suits you – calling at some of the most spectacular sights in the country as you go.

We’re looking forward to making 2022 really count and can’t wait to try a few more of these exciting challenges around the country! Will you be adding any of these to your UK bucket list?

• Multi-activity
• Self Guided

Adventure North Wales

With its unique mix of mountains and forests, rivers and coastline, North Wales is an adventurer’s playground just waiting to be explored. And this activity holiday Wales is packed with the most challenging and exhilarating experiences on offer. It’s the perfect multi activity adventure holiday for adventurers like you.

• North Wales
• Physical Rating

£1,395 View Trip

Trans Wales Trail Run

This epic trail running holiday takes you through the wilds of mid Wales, from the English border at Newtown, through the Cambrian mountains, to Aberystwyth on the stunning west coast. Under the expert guidance of Tim Higginbottom, enjoy 3 full days of trail running as you navigate a variety of off-road terrain and enjoy the challenge of this incredible trans Wales route.

£765 View Trip

Surf and Yoga Retreat

Surf’s up! This epic surf experience on Wales’ south west coast will immerse you into the world of surfing. Surf lessons each morning, yoga to perfect your balance and the chance to play your part in the conservation of south west Wales’ stunning beaches.

• South Wales

£665 View Trip

At Adventure Tours UK, we set out to create the kind of breaks people like us go wild for. People who get their thrills in the outdoors and want to care for it too. Who want to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with nature. If you’re in search of adventure, you’ll find it with us.

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The 10 best adventure and activity holidays in the UK for all ages

The hills around Britain give off the sense of muddy boots, wide grins and memories of scrabbling over rocks, biking down switchbacks and drops, or simply being and feeling. This is activity holiday nirvana. 

Then there are lochs, lakes and beaches for all sorts of activities with oars, paddles and boards, plus coastal trails to follow and wetlands to perch on with binoculars and a hot flask of tea. How very British.

Adventures and outdoor activities are practically a human right in our isles these days and, despite a raw wind in my face or a rainy forecast, I’m always looking for new and invigorating activity breaks in the UK. 

Because, put simply, Britain is at its best when you’re outdoors. 

The best adventure and activity holidays in the UK

1. gravel biking on the ridgeway.

• Difficulty: challenging
• Suitable for: over 16+
• Season: Summer

The Ridgeway is Britain’s oldest road, an ancient trackway that freewheels across southern England from Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire. It was opened as a protected route by National Trails in 1973 and, as it turns 50 this year, there’s never been a better time to bikepack the 87-mile path. The ancient chalky tops between Avebury and Ivinghoe Beacon represent the Elysian Fields of gravel biking.

As it was populated by traders, toothless shepherds and tunic-wearing Roman soldiers 5,000 years ago, these days it’s the domain of lycra- and merino wool-clad bikers. Go in summer, when the trail is at its driest. Trust me this is one serious activity break for adults.  

2. Snorkelling in Wester Ross

• Difficulty: easy
• Suitable for: +8s
• Season: year-round

No tropical fish and very little credible coral reef. No board shorts, bikinis, or beach shacks. Why then would you go snorkelling under a whisky-coloured sky in a thick neoprene wetsuit? 

The Scottish Wildlife Trust created a succession of snorkel trails running from East Lothian to Lochaber to North Harris a few years ago and, my favourite, is the one in the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area in the northwest Highlands.

The snorkel trail here hides velvet crabs, urchins and bug-eyed wrasse that play peek-a-boo in the shallows, as well as almost unheard-of sunburst flame shells and ocean flowers. 

Besides that, the nine sites, including those at Clachtoll and Achmelvich beaches, are worthy of a Caribbean James Bond stunt. Here the company of dolphins and whales is also a regular occurrence. 

3. Surfing for beginners in Cornwall

• Suitable for: all ages
• Season: autumn and winter

Cornwall’s Atlantic coast once pulled in pirates and all sorts of smugglers, now it’s the turn of surfers, who park up in camper vans with boards bungee corded to the roofs. The reason? Turquoise barrels and seasonal southwesterly swells. 

Surfing camps, academies and family-friendly retreats in England’s southwest are ten a penny these days, with many clustering on the sandy beaches of weekend party spot Newquay , St Ives bay, Upton Towans strand in Gwithian and as far north as Bude. 

I marvelled at the nascent surf scene when I first visited in the late 1980s and, while it might not rank high with pro-level barrel riders or make it onto many surf forecasts, my favourite spot still remains Porthcurno Beach. 

You’ll find it on the south coast, near to Land’s End , and where cliffs tumble from top to bottom in moshing waves.

4. Coastal and forest foraging in Wales

• Season: autumn

In the moist and maritime climate of Wales, fungi, wild garlic, hedgerow plants and edibles like nettles, seaweeds and chickweed often swarm over every inch of ground and coastal crook. 

Food foraging is big business and plant-lore identification and bush explorer courses now regularly populate places such as Brecon Beacons National Park and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park , with Wales on a plate the sustainably-minded mantra. 

The Abergavenny Food Festival every September is a great place to start, with fungi-picking lessons and outdoor dining classes, or do as I did a few years ago and join a delightfully slow-paced foraging safari in the Cambrian Mountains . Some operators to consider are Dryad Bushcraft , Coastal Foraging and Fishing and Foraging Wales .

5. Wilderness walking in the Highlands

• Suitable for: +12s

Whenever hikers make plans to tackle the land’s finest peaks, they often head to the Isle of Skye to conquer the Cuillin, among the most dramatic summits anywhere on Earth. Far less crowded, yet with a full-frontal view of these same dragon-back peaks from across the Sea of the Hebrides, is the Isle of Rùm in the Small Isles. 

A National Nature Reserve since 1957, Rùm is as wild as it is winsome and the Rum Cuillin traverse is for wild campers and bothy baggers who’d rather have the mountains to themselves. Come prepared with all wild camping kit and expect an outdoor adventure of a lifetime.

6. Sea kayaking the Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland

• Difficulty: moderate to challenging
• Season: spring to autumn

The lie of the land around the Giant’s Causeway gives little inkling of the adventures that can be had in the surrounding sea. Yes, there are cliff-top viewpoints and paths, but besides that, there are sea caves, golden beaches , tight channels and maritime stacks to explore.

With a sea kayak as your passport to adventure, the Causeway Coast then takes on an entirely different proposition, with tours leaving from various locations along the coast, including Dunseverick and Ballycastle. 

If you’re a beginner, the tours that depart from Ballintoy Harbour, gliding under the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge are absolutely thrilling. 

7. Bird watching in the Malverns in Worcestershire

• Season: year-round 

Not all activity holidays need to be fast-paced. The upland granite ridges of the Malvern Hills are renowned nesting sites for all sorts of birds, from skylark, curlew and redshank to sparrowhawk, pied flycatcher, brambling, Eurasian nuthatch and migrant osprey, one of Britain’s most famed high fliers.

Besides that, the varied landscapes, which ping-pong between grassland and mountain to scrub and moorland create a sort of sanctuary and there’s plenty of chance to run into other sorts of wildlife. 

Apart from hard-to-see harvest mice, you might encounter foxes, badgers, and polecats. The Malvern Hills Trust is a terrific resource for first-timers. 

8. Fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and Devon

Activity weekends in the UK don’t come more imagination-stirring than looking for long-forgotten dinosaur prints and fossils along England’s southwest coast from Exmouth to Lyme Regis. 

Of course, it’s hardly Jurassic Park, but there are still activities for families galore. Consider Weymouth’s silver sand beach or fossil-rich Chesil Beach , which has miles of pebble and shingle hiding relics from the Cretaceous and Jurassic eras. 

Branscombe is also worth a travel brag, as are the National Trust dinosaur prints stamped below the T-Rex-sized cliffs at Spyway .

9. Skiing in Glencoe in the Highlands

• Difficulty: moderate
• Season: winter

I love the sense of being so close to the mountains where I live that I can work in the morning and run off to the pistes in the afternoon. There are five main ski areas in Scotland , including Cairngorm Mountain, Glenshee, The Lecht and Nevis Range, but, if you’ve been to the Highlands before, you’ll know the teeth-bearing summits and airy freedom of Glencoe Mountain cannot be surpassed. 

So it’s on Meall a’Bhuiridh, with clear day views of Ben Nevis, Rannoch Moor and Glen Etive, where you’ll find me carving powder in off-piste bowls, holding onto my bobble hat in high winds, or bunny-hopping grass when the cover is thin. 

True, there is little chance of the terrain competing with the Alps, but this is also good news because along with a greater sense of affordability, the other thing is much easier access for many Brits. 

10. Hiking the England Coastal Path

• Suitable for: +6s

The first time I hiked around St Bees Head , the RSPB reserve that curves south of Whitehaven , I continued on for two days until I reached Ravenglass and Silecroft along the Cumbrian coast. Utter bliss.

It gave only a hint of the soul-stirring King Charles III England Coast Path , a route stitching together existing clifftop footpaths and byways around the country’s 2,700 mile shore. But it was more than enough to figure in my dreams for months later. 

You could argue over the highlights of the route, which is still in development, but there is no shortage of adventures to be had. Tackling one chunk at a time makes the most sense to me, so consider the 62-mile Northumberland Coast Path , the 130-mile Norfolk Coast Path , or the 109-mile Cleveland Way , which zig-zags through Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby along the Yorkshire coast. 

Arguably though, the pinnacle is the fact the route guarantees access, for everyone, to the salt coast, chalk cliffs and white lands of Albion. 

All these journeys will stay with you, now and later, and what you end up with afterwards is only one question: what will you do next? For more activity holidays in the UK check out the best places to go wild swimming and the 12 best walks in the UK.

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20 of the best outdoor activity breaks in the UK

These isles are alive with natural wonders – and experts who can get you close to the edge. From river-swims and packrafting to trail running and via ferrata, here are 20 great wilderness adventures

Sea kayaking, Highlands of Scotland

Difficulty: easy/moderate Suitable for 16-plus (with accompanying adult) Wilderness Scotland has an introductory kayaking trip in the Torridon region, which blends kayaking with gentle hiking, making it ideal for beginners and those looking to hone their paddling skills. As well as four days on the water, paddling past remote bays and the uninhabited islands of Scotland’s west coast, potentially spotting sea eagles and porpoises, the trip includes a guided walk from the village of Gairloch, a good place to spot whales. Five nights from £1,325pp including transfers and most meals. Trips depart 12 May, 9 June, 14 July, 18 Aug, 22 Sept, wildernessscotland.com

River swimming, Oxfordshire

Difficulty: challenging Suitable for 16-plus Clean, calm water flanked by countryside makes an open-water swimming trip on the Thames a tempting prospect for anyone looking to dip their toe in the sport. Unlike with sea swimming, this itinerary from SwimTrek takes place in sheltered water. It traces the riverbank from Buscot Lock, near Lechlade, to Buckland Marsh, near Faringdon, along England’s most famous waterway. You should have a basic understanding of open-water swimming and be capable of completing the daily distance of 6km, which is broken down into smaller sections. Guides and a safety team are on hand throughout. One-day from £120pp, various dates in August, swimtrek.com

Wild camping, Glenfeshie, Cairngorms

Difficulty: e asy Suitable for all ages For a true sense of freedom, it’s hard to beat wild camping. Pitching up away from designated sites is illegal almost everywhere in England and Wales but it’s legal in much of Scotland. A night under canvas in Glenfeshie, with its tumbling waterfalls and mountain vistas, offers an uplifting sense of remoteness. Home to one of the country’s most successful “rewilding” projects, it’s also the starting point for many walking routes, so you can hike straight from your tent. Scope out your potential pitch on an OS map, keep away from paths and bogs (green slashes), and check guidelines in the Open Access Code. Outdooraccess-scotland.scot 10 of the best wild camping sites in Scotland

Kite-buggying, East Sussex

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for 7-plus Combining the skills of kite-flying and go-karting, kite-buggying is a thrilling way to spend a day at the beach, zipping across the sand at up to 50mph in a low three-wheeler. With miles of flat, open beach, Camber Sands is the ideal place to try this extreme sport. The Kitesurf Centre runs lessons with qualified instructors, teaching you everything from how to fly the kite to using it to power you along in the buggy, with options of 2½- and 4-hour courses. £59 for 2½ hours, thekitesurfcentre.com

Via Ferrata, Cumbria

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for 10-plus See the Lake District from a thrillingly different vantage point – clipped to a mountain by cable, 2,000 feet above the valleys of Buttermere and Borrowdale. Honister Slate Mine is home to England’s first via ferrata, a series of steel ladders and bridges drilled into the rockface that follow a Victorian miners’ route to the summit of Fleetwith Pike. Choose from Classic and Xtreme options, which each last around three hours and require a reasonable level of fitness, and a head for heights – the Xtreme promises to scale heights seven times those reached by Big Ben and twice as high as the London Shard. Whichever option you pick, this award-winning company offers an adrenaline-packed day out in the fells. honister.com , £40pp

Coasteering, Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim

Difficulty: moderate/challenging Suitable for 7-plus (with accompanying adult) Coasteering involves exploring the shoreline by leaping, scrambling and swimming – with optional cliff jumping. Causeway Coasteering offers guided sessions along the rugged Causeway coast, with its basalt columns and turquoise water. Clad in wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets, you’ll plunge and splash your way through hidden coves and islands, with a local guide pointing out interesting objects and giving tips. As well as testing your limits, it offers a refreshingly different, up-close angle on the coastline and its wildlife. Three hours from £40pp, causewaycoasteering.com

Learn navigation, Foolow, Peak District

Difficulty: easy Suitable for 18-plus From getting stranded in fog to losing your way in the fells … whatever your worries regarding hill walking, a navigation course that covers the essentials should give walkers added confidence. Run by expert mountain leaders and rock climbing instructors, this one-day course takes place in the pretty Peak District village of Foolow, close to Cressbrook Dale, with its limestone landscape and spring orchids. It teaches map reading, compass navigation, route planning and walking on a bearing. Once you’ve got the basics, there is the option of moving onto a more advanced course. £45 for a one-day introductory course, peaknavigationcourses.co.uk . Introductory courses run 2 & 9 June, 7 & 28 July, 15 Sept, 6 & 13 Oct

Rock climbing taster day, Snowdonia

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for 10-plus Ever wondered whether you could master your fears and learn to ascend vertical rock walls? Gaia Adventures offers bespoke climbing taster days for those who are new to the sport, covering everything from rope skills to belaying (holding the rope for others) and abseiling safely down the rock face. Guided by an experienced instructor (maximum group size of six to each guide), it will challenge your brain and body, as you climb smaller mountains and cliffs, such as Tryfan, and slate quarries on the flanks of Elidir Fawr, overlooking Snowdon. Technical kit is provided – and hopefully you’ll feel confident enough to climb without supervision at an indoor climbing wall after the course. £50 (B&B can be included in booking for an extra £55), gaiaadventures.co.uk

Trail running, Devon

Difficulty: challenging Suitable for +17s Scampering across a desolate landscape, rarely using footpaths, beats the monotonous pounding of city pavements – it is an exhilarating form of escapism. Wild Running offers bespoke, guided trail runs for all abilities around Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks and on the South West Coast Path. Founded by former international athlete Ceri Rees, the company also offers group holidays, including a weekend Dartmouth Running Holiday that sees you run between six and 12 miles daily, staying in a riverside apartment overlooking the Dart estuary. Trail runs from £75pp; two-night running weekend from £270pp half-board (add a third night for £20pp); 18-20 May, wildrunning.co.uk

Hiking, Yorkshire Dales

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for all ages The rugged Yorkshire Dales offers some of the UK’s best walking, though knowing how, when and where to go can be daunting for first-timers. Ease yourself in with a trip led by experienced guides from walking specialist HF Holidays, which offers a range of holidays, such as three-, four- and seven-night guided walking breaks at Malhamdale. Guests choose from three different walks each day, ranging from easy six-mile stretches to more challenging 13-milers. Highlights include Malham Tarn, with its ancient limestone pastures, and the panoramic views from Simon’s Seat. Three nights’ full-board from £329pp, April-December, hfholidays.co.uk

Surfing, North Yorkshire

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for +8s Few things leave you feeling as connected to nature as surfing – whether you’re floundering about in the breakers or riding the waves. One of the original centres of the north-east surf scene, Saltburn-on-Sea may be a few degrees chillier than Cornwall but in the right conditions it can be world class. Decent beginner waves are usually found on either side of the pier and the vibe is friendly on the water, even when it’s busy. Saltburn Surf School has been operating since 1983 and its staff are the go-to people for advice on boards and conditions. Two-hour group lessons from £30pp, saltburn-surf.co.uk

Orienteering, nationwide

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for all ages Arm yourself with a map, compass and electronic dibber and navigate through the wilderness as fast as you can. Orienteering (racing over a course between a number of “controls”) is increasingly popular and clubs across the UK hold recreational and competitive events. Remote spots include Primrose Woods near Sledmere, east Yorkshire, and Great Mell Fell in the Lake District. britishorienteering.org.uk , worldorienteeringday.com ; prices typically from £5-£10pp, with discounts for under-21s

Paragliding, Surrey

Difficulty: easy/moderate Suitable for all ages (under-18s need parental consent) If soaring 500ft above the Surrey countryside while hanging from a material canopy sounds like your idea of fun, paragliding is the sport for you. Thankfully, no experience or skills are required if you book a tandem flight with an outfit such as Green Dragons, in Woldingham (eight miles south of Croydon), which has been operating for 44 years. Strapped to a qualified instructor, the hardest part as a passenger is quelling your nerves as you swoop through the air, riding thermals in almost total silence, watching the landscape of the North Downs unfold beneath your shaking feet. One flight £89 (duration determined by weather conditions), greendragons.co.uk

Bouldering, Swanage and Portland, Dorset

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for 6-plus Fossil hunting may be the Jurassic Coast’s main claim to fame but its ancient crags are also home to some fantastic climbing routes. Bouldering is a good place for newbies to start, as you scale smaller rocks without needing to learn how to use ropes. Jurassic Climbing runs introductory days for groups of up to 10 people, with guides choosing the best crags around Swanage and Portland to suit your ability, teaching you how to land safely and climb properly. These sessions are available for all abilities, with coaching offered on a one-to-one basis, or with one coach for groups of up to four climbers. Introduction to Bouldering course from £50pp, jurassicclimbing.co.uk

Guided walk, Morecambe Bay

Difficulty: easy Suitable for all ages The Morecambe Bay sands are notorious for quicksand and fast-flowing tides. Guide Over Sands Trust provides guides offering safe passage of both the Kent and Leven estuaries on sponsored charity walks, setting off from Arnside and Canal Foot respectively. They last around three to four hours, depending on the weather, and lead you into the Lake District. Around £10 adult, £5 child, walks May-September, guideoversands.co.uk

Foraging courses, various locations

Difficulty: easy Suitable for all ages Snapping stems, nibbling leaves and discovering where things grow … wild food gives you a taste of a place that you won’t find in restaurants. Wild Food UK holds foraging courses in locations including Suffolk, Wiltshire, Kent, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The courses help identify edible shoots, plants and flowers in your surroundings before they are cooked up and transformed into dishes such as wild garlic pesto, elderflower champagne and mushroom pasta. 3½-hour trips from £45 adults, £22.50 under-16s (under-12s go free), wildfooduk.com

Windsurfing, Norfolk

Difficulty: moderate Suitable for +11s Fringed by gold sand beaches, the north coast of Norfolk boasts stellar windsurfing spots stretching from Hunstanton to Great Yarmouth. Beginners can learn in safe, shallow waters with Hunstanton Watersports, where initial lessons take place on a sheltered lake before you transfer your skills to the sea. Half-day, group taster sessions cover kit basics, as well as launching, landing, sailing across the wind and turning around. Equipment, wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided. Three-hour taster session £40pp, hunstantonwatersports .com

Packrafting, Snowdonia

Difficulty: easy to challenging Suitable for +8s and +12s Packrafting – which involves trekking into the wilderness with a small, stowable boat in your rucksack – allows you to reach places that are normally too remote. Husband-and-wife team Jason and Marianne Taylor set up Tirio in 2017, offering options from half-day tours (ideal for families and those looking for a basic intro), to 25-mile multi-day trips with wild camping in secluded woodland in the Conwy valley – requiring a decent level of fitness to hike, paddle and carry around 12kg of equipment. £200pp for the two-night Mountains to Sea trip, tirio.co.uk

Snorkelling and wildlife, Hebrides

Difficulty: easy Suitable for 8-plus (under-16s must be accompanied by an adult) The Oban and Lorn coastline has an abundance of wildlife to discover, which you can do on a snorkel and wildlife tour with Basking Shark Scotland. Departing from Oban, the two-day tour (one-day tours for 2018 are sold out) is based on the 13 mile-long Isle of Coll, just off Mull, where there are 23 beaches and plenty of wildlife, including basking sharks, otters, grey seals, porpoises and bottlenose dolphins. The most memorable encounters happen underwater, as you snorkel past starfish, sea-urchins, kelp forests and rays, with a guide and marine biologist on hand throughout. £395 including B&B, spaces still free on 29 August and 1 Sept trips. Three- and four-day trips also available, baskingsharkscotland.co.uk

Birdwatching for beginners, Yorkshire Wolds

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24 Unique UK Adventure Weekends for 2024

Looking for a great UK adventure weekend to spice up your month? Here are the best adventures in the UK money can buy…

All of these UK adventure weekend ideas will take 2-4 days, depending on where you live. I’ve tried to find a good range all over the UK, so from Southsea to Inverness, there’s something for us all.

Wales adventure weekends

For adventure holidays UK style, how about a weekend in Wales? The Welsh coast is stunning, there are interesting towns and villages, and with all those wondrous hills – why not?!

1. Climb Snowdonia & explore North Wales

Snowdonia is one of the most popular spots in all of Wales, but once you’ve climbed that (really doesn’t take that long) then where else can you go?

Check out this little map I’ve made of the highlights of Northern Wales for your UK adventures. You could definitely see Snowdonia, Ogwen Valley, the Pen y Pass, Holy Island and Dinorwic Quarry Llamberis on an adventure weekend in Wales.

2. Adventure on the Gower Peninsula

The Gower Peninsula is absolutely beautiful – it was the UK’s first Area of Natural Beauty in fact (AONB). The Gower Peninsula makes for the perfect adventure weekend if you like swimming, surfing, sup-ing and trail running.

Rhossili is one of the locals’ favourite places to walk. Wander over to Worms Head at low tide, and explore the shipwrecks and the coves. There’s some good climbing there too.

If you want to surf, then head to Llangennith Beach. Three Cliffs Bay is also beautiful, and pretty much any beach along that stretch to be honest. On your way into the Gower Peninsula stop in Mumbles for some of the best ice cream as well too at Verdi’s!

Handy map of the best spots on the Gower Peninsula for you here.

3. Mountain biking in South Wales

If you’re looking for adventures Wales has a lot to offer. Mountain bikers will love the mountains of South Wales – there are 3 awesome trail centres: Cwmcarn, Afan, and Bike Park Wales.

It’s easy to hire at bike on each centre if you don’t have one.

Pick up some headbands and face masks from Hoorag to protect your face from the elements, and other people.

4. Adventure in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is beautiful for a UK adventure weekend. The Bosherston Lily Ponds, Broad Haven, the Freshwater West Beaches and Tenby are the perfect spots to explore. And you can wander the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for stunning views too.

Pembrokeshire is honestly stunning, with lots of climbing, coasteering and kayaking opportunities for your UK weekend adventure.

Here’s a Pembrokeshire map with the top spots for you.

5. Soft adventure in Cardiff

You don’t have to be in the water, in the sky or walking the coast for a UK adventure weekend – how about exploring Wales’ capital Cardiff?

Of course the city has all the delights and bright lights that draw anyone in to any city, anywhere, but it’s also full of character and the friendly Welsh vibes.

Highlights?

Castell Coch is a lovely spot for a look around here, and the Roman ruins at Caerleon are cool to walk, as well as Big Pit a little further north. Here you can learn more about Wales’ mining past.

6. Adventure in the Brecon Beacons

Pen y Fan is the highest peak in south Wales, situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park. There are four ways to climb up Pen y Fan , depending on how much you want to exert yourself.

Located in the famous Brecon Beacons National Park, there’s a lot to do around here on one of your UK adventure weekends.

Llyn y Fan Fach and Llyn y Fan Fawr are two lakes in the Beacons well worth a walk around. Some say Fach is the most beautiful in the country but I’ll leave that up to you to decide. Go and you can learn more about the Legend of the Lady of the Lake and the Physicians of Myddfai.

There are also a few characterful market towns, an active canal and some impressive castles too. Beautiful walks are filled with lots of stunning waterfalls and cool old mines. There’s also plenty of opportunity for swimming and climbing, including walking behind waterfalls!

A great spot for adventures in the UK this summer.

• READ MORE: The Best Family Days Out in the UK
• Budget Travel Tips for the UK

Scotland adventure weekends

Scotland is a great place for some weekend adventure in the UK. I’m planning on spending a lot of time here this year – so much to do!

7. Explore the Isle of Mull

The Isle of Mull in Scotland is well known as being one of the best spots for adventure holidays the UK has to offer. Book in a weekend on this Inner Hebridean island and you can expect to see great wildlife including whales, puffins, dolphins and sea eagles.

Just so you know, Entrapment, Highlander, End Game and parts of Harry Potter were all filmed on the Isle of Mull.

Make the most of your UK adventure weekend and go on a voyage to Staffa, take a canoe or paddleboard out at Calgary Bay and climb up Ben More Munro at over 3,000ft (914m). Duart Castle and the distilleries are also well worth a visit.

8. Road trip the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is one of the most popular UK adventures – tourists love to rent a campervan for a week or two to explore northern Scotland’s coast.

The route is actually 516 miles and starts and ends at Inverness Castle. You’ll weave along the west coast to Applecross and then northwards towards the towns of Torridon and Ullapool. From there, you’ll venture to some of the most northerly coastal points in Scotland, passing by Caithness and John o’ Groats before heading south again through Dingwall and finally back to Inverness.

You might not be able to do it all in a weekend, but you can see some glorious views in just three days.

“Never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland’s finest coastal scenery are just a few things you can expect along the  North Coast 500 . Strap yourself in for the road trip of a lifetime.” – VISIT SCOTLAND

9. Climb the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh

If you want your UK weekend adventure a little closer to a city then check out the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh.

Just an hour away from Scotland’s capital city, there are beaches, reservoirs and waterfalls waiting for you in this Regional Park. You can climb up in less than two hours, especially for the incredible views of the wider Edinburgh area.

A great countryside adventure to combine with an Edinburgh weekend .

10. Hiking in the Outer Hebrides

Last year I went on an Outer Hebrides road trip with my friend. We got the ferry over to Barra from Oban and drove all the way up to the top of Harris. It was a brilliant week.

Granted this might be a bit much for a UK weekend adventure, depending on where you live, but I didn’t want to miss it off the list.

If you did want to spend a weekend on the Outer Hebrides then it is possible to fly into Barra (landing on the beach!) and then hire a car from there to look around.

We were wild camping in the Outer Hebrides which added to the adventure.

11. Aviemore and Fort William

If you’re looking for adventures Scotland has a lot to offer. Aviemore and Fort William are form favourites for adventurous places to go in the country.

The biggest attraction in this area is Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. You can even ski here in the winter. Glencoe is a super popular hiking and biking destination, although when we went in September it was totally clouded over in mist.

“The  Lochaber Geopark  [in Fort William] is home to some of the most breath-taking and awe-inspiring scenery in the world. The Geopark is recognised for its outstanding and unique geological heritage. Explore mountains, lochs, rivers, coasts, cliffs and sandy beaches, look out for some wonderful wildlife, and learn how our landscape has been shaped over many millions of years.” – VIST SCOTLAND

If you’re in the area then the village of Arisaig in Lochaber makes for a beautiful day out. The beach is stunning in the right light!

England adventure weekends

Adventure travel doesn’t have to be in some far off land, there are lots of great adventures to be had in England! Here are some of my faves…

12. Lake District

Everyone knows the Lake District provides one of the best adventure holidays in the UK. It’s popular for a reason!

UK adventure weekends here are based around the water, of course. If you’re looking for adventure in the Lake District , click that link. And if you’re after a Lake District lodge with a hot tub , I’ve got a post on that too.

13. Cycling in the Forest of Dean

Mountain bike rides in the beautiful Forest of Dean make for a great UK weekend adventure. It’s easy to hire bikes here and there are some nice spots to park up overnight if you have a camper.

The Forest of Dean is in Gloucestershire. One of the most popular points for an adventure is to head up to the top of Symonds Yat Rock to soak up the panoramic views of the valley and River Wye below. Keep an eye out for the Peregrine falcons in the area too.

There’s a butterfly zoo, a smokery, the Dean Heritage Centre and a Go Ape too. Make time for the caves and Puzzlewood too.

14. Do some activities in the New Forest

There are loads of fun things to do in the New Forest . In fact, living in Portsmouth , this is my local UK adventure weekend spot.

You could do some archery, go canoeing on the River Itchen, hike between the pretty villages and pubs and top it all off by staying at one of these New Forest glamping spots .

The New Forest is super flat so if you like your UK adventures on a bike, it’s a smooth ride!

READ MORE: The Best Places to Go Glamping in the UK

15. Kinder Scout in Derbyshire

Hiking up Kinder Scout in Derbyshire is one of the most popular routes in the Peak District. This historic walk offers stunning views from the top.

You could also try Edale to New Mills. Simply start by going up the Pennine Way and then up Kinder and over the cross down to Hayfield and along the river back to New Mills.

Along with exploring the pretty towns and villages of the Peak District – don’t miss Bakewell to get a tart and a pudding – that should fill your weekend adventure.

How about hiring a motorhome in the Peak District to get a good look around?

16. Just everywhere in Cornwall!

Can’t mention UK adventure weekends without mentioning Cornwall now, can we? Us Brits love a bit of Cornwall, and with the BBC incessantly advertising it lately – sending all their presenters down there for their views – I didn’t want to be left out and not mention them here.

Cornwall is super popular for family adventure holidays.

Port Issac , Padstow and Porthcurno Beach are all really popular spots. If you want to get away from the people traffic a bit then head to the harder to reach beaches instead.

Polruan is a lovely beach reached by going down the cliff, through cow fields and then you get to the access point with the ferry over to Fowey.

Other Cornwall hotspots include St Agnes, St Just, Penwith, the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the surfy vibes at Polzeath too. Definitely go to Hayle Beach – the views are stunning. And the seals on the beach below at Gwithian are pretty cool too.

The best way to experience Cornwall, is with my awesome Cornwall road trip . This way you can go from place to place experiencing the best of the surfing, the paddleboarding, the coasteering and snorkelling anyone could want on a UK adventure weekend.

FANCY POPPING OVER TO THE SCILLY ISLES in CORNWALL? Here are all the best things to do on St Mary’s for you.

17. So many adventures in Devon

Get yourself on a high speed rib around Dartmouth!

Monty Halls Great Escapes are one of the most popular companies offering trips out on the ribs. Make a beeline for Becky Falls – a beautiful place to explore near Dartmouth.

If you’re in north Devon then surfing, paddle boarding and kayaking are all really popular in Ilfracombe and Woolacombe Beach. There are lots of hidden beaches to explore.

If you want to supercharge your UK adventure holidays then check out the wakeboard park near Bideford.

Dartmoor National Park in Devon is one of the very few places you can go wild camping in England, legally . There are lots of different walks you can do, but the Two Moors Way path is one of the most popular to stick to – great for anyone doing the full 102 mile route, or day trippers.

You could also do an awesome Devon road trip , using my guide.

18. Walk the North Norfolk Coast

I went on a North Norfolk coast road trip last year and really enjoyed seeing the cute towns and villages along the coastline.

If you’re looking for adventures in the UK, it’s one of the coolest places to go. With so much coastline Norfolk makes for a great weekend adventure for anyone into paddle sports, surfing and swimming. Coasteering is also pretty popular here. You could also walk the North Norfolk Coast Path to really see the best of the county.

Thrill seekers might enjoy the Air Jump in Sheringham, where you launch yourself off a 52-foot platform onto a huge bean bag at the bottom. Sounds pretty horrendous to me, but you might like it!

Go south a little to the Norfolk Broads National Park and you could join a kayaking tour around the broads, or hire your own boat to power your trip with an engine instead.

19. Enjoy the Lincolnshire Coast beaches

Go to the Lincolnshire Coast for the weekend and again, more coast for you to enjoy and all the UK adventures that brings.

Highlights of a weekend adventure on the Lincolnshire coast include swimming in the sea off the white sand beaches, cycling in the parks and relaxing on the boating lakes so popular here.

20. Road trip along the Jurassic Coast

An adventure weekend in Dorset is a weekend well spent IMHO.

There are so many amazing beaches in Dorset to explore. I recommend getting the chain ferry as a foot passenger to Studland and then walk to the impressive Old Harry’s Rock.

One of the most popular things to do in Dorset is to walk up Golden Cap and Colmers Hill and see the cliffs of West Bay.

A Jurassic Coast road trip is a great way to explore the best of Dorset on a long weekend.

21. Island fun on the Isle of Wight

I love the Isle of Wight – in fact, my mum says I write about it too much on here.

The Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a UK adventure weekend. There are lots of cool things to do on the Isle of Wight including SUP yoga, canoeing and kayaking, hiking all the way around the island, and cycling the many cycle trails. You could do some Isle of Wight wild swimming , climb a huge tree professionally, or go go karting too.

Check out the unusual places to stay on the Isle of Wight and the many places to go glamping on the Isle of Wight too. It’s easy to get there from Portsmouth and the New Forest too, so have fun!

22. Somerset and Bristol

I once had a great adventure weekend in the Mendip Hills in Somerset . We rented a campervan and explored Cheddar Gorge and the camping sites and reservoirs around there. Unfortunately it chucked it down with rain, so we ended up trying to try out in Bristol, but it was fun anyway.

The top things to do on an adventure weekend in Somerset include the Wookey Hole Caves, the Quantock Hills, Dunkery Beacon and Wimbleball Lake too.

One of the best things to do for families in Somerset, is to visit the Butlin’s at Minehead. It’s one of the best cheap alternatives to Center Parcs in England there is.

23. Walking in the Cotswolds

I did a mini 3-day road trip in the Cotswolds last year. I wouldn’t say it was particularly ‘adventurous’, apart from that accidental bit of off roading we ended up doing, but it was fun anyway. We had a lovely time eating, enjoying the zoo, and exploring the pretty villages of the Cotswolds.

If you want to make a weekend in the Cotswolds adventurous then check out the Wild Carrot Mountain Biking Experiences, the Cotswold Water Park, or the Head 4 Heights Activity Centre.

24. Do the Yorkshire Three Peaks

Yorkshire is a great area for some UK adventures, and the best thing to do there is the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, which I fully plan on doing this year…

“The Yorkshire Three Peaks route is 24 miles (38.6km), and includes 1585m (5200ft) of ascent. The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge takes on the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, usually in this order, and in under 12 hours. These peaks form part of the Pennine range, and encircle the head of the valley of the River Ribble, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.” – THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE UK

24. Go to 1066 Country

Explore Hastings and have an adventure in Rye. This is a great idea for a weekend in the UK – check out my Rye itinerary here to help you plan your trip.

Group adventure weekends in the UK

If you want to join a group of others on an adventure weekend in the UK, here are some great companies to try.

• Women and Waves
• Explorers Connect
• Fluid Adventures in Chichester
• Ride On Retreats
• Gutsy Girls
• Evoke Adventure

Apps to help your adventure weekends

Use Search For Sites and Park4Night apps to find small/free/wild camping spots on your weekend adventures.

Unique UK Adventure Weekends

There are lots of UK adventures to enjoy this year, no need to stress about going abroad and the airport experience.

As soon as we’re allowed just get your family and friends together, choose your favourite UK weekend adventure, and go have fun!

MORE CLOSE TO HOME ADVENTURE WEEKENDS:

• The Best Beaches in Guernsey and What Guernsey is Really Like
• Best Things to Do on the Scilly Isles

PIN THESE UK ADVENTURE WEEKENDS FOR LATER

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Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

Hi, thanks for the lovingly well written and informative article.

I would really appreciate if you can give more info on how to do:

voyage to Staffa, take a canoe or paddleboard out at Calgary Bay and climb up Ben More Munro at over 3,000ft (914m).

Excellent advice

What a great piece of writing!

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Sarah Riches | 22 December 2021

15 bucket list adventures in britain.

New year, new experiences? How does swimming with seals sound? Here are some top ways to enjoy Britain at its very best

1. Hike England from coast to coast

North York Moors National Park in summer (Shutterstock)

If you’re up for a challenge, tackle the 305km Coast to Coast trail, which stretches from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. The British fell walker and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright devised this walk in the early 1970s, and it has attracted keen hikers ever since. Over 19 days, you’ll cross from the coastal village of St Bees on England’s west coast though three English National Parks – the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors – before finishing with a paddle in Robin Hood’s Bay, just south of Whitby. Along the way you may spot osprey soaring over Lake Ennerdale, see why the poet William Wordsworth was so taken by Grasmere village and meet locals in a tearoom in Danby Wiske. Book a Self-Guided Walking: Coast to Coast trip with KE Adventure Travel , which includes luggage transfers and B&B accommodation.

2. Trek with pack ponies in Cumbria

Ponies in Cumbria (Shutterstock)

Already hiked Scafell Pike, cruised across Lake Ullswater and explored Grasmere village? Then add fell pony walking to your to-do list on your next trip to the Lake District. Originally, pack ponies carried slate and charcoal before the railways and canals were built, so they don’t think twice about lugging a couple of 20kg backpacks. In return, you’ll guide them by rope, walking side by side as you bond with them down tranquil country lanes, over meadows and past waterfalls. Along the way you may spot buzzards, ospreys and otters before enjoying dinner around a firepit. Book a three-day wild camping trip with Fell Pony Adventures .

3. Hire a narrowboat

A narrowboat on a tranquil canal (Shutterstock)

Swap your campervan or tent for a new challenge: navigating the UK’s canal network by narrowboat. Even novice skippers will (eventually) get the hang of steering under cast iron bridges, fathoming the lock system and manoeuvring through marinas, and once you do, you’ll have plenty of time to appreciate the willow trees, buzzards and swans around you. Canal folk are a friendly bunch so along the way you can expect to meet plenty of dog walkers, cyclists, kayakers and paddleboarders, before being rocked to sleep like a baby in a cradle. Book a short trip with Drifters Waterway Holidays .

4. Spot orcas in the Hebrides

An orca (Shutterstock)

A pod of eight endangered orcas inhabit the waters around Scotland, so if you’ve always wanted to see them in the wild book a boat trip with Hebridean Whale Cruises . From early June, the firm runs four-hour tours from Gairloch on the west coast of Scotland, looping around the Isle of Skye and Shiant Islands near the Outer Hebrides. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, if you miss them you’ll still go home with photos of dolphins, puffins, razorbills and guillemots, as well as grey and common seals and golden and white-tailed eagles.

5. Hike the Lake District

Views across the Lake District (Shutterstock)

Formed by Ice Age glaciers, the Lake District’s valleys have been admired by painters and writers for centuries, inspiring JMW Turner, Samuel Coleridge and Beatrix Potter. The lakes, mountains and farmland that sprawl across the UNESCO World Heritage Site are beautiful in paintings but even more scenic from the top of a peak. If you’re keen to see England’s largest National Park without getting lost, join a small group guided by a qualified mountain leader on Exodus ’ five-day High Fells and Summits of the Lake District trip. Staying at The George in Keswick on the northern shore of Derwentwater, you’ll tackle Striding Edge and end on a high – literally – by climbing England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike.

6. Surf in Cornwall

Watergate Bay (Shutterstock)

Fistral Beach in Newquay has an international reputation for its waves, but if you want to get to grips with a surfboard without the crowds then escape to Watergate Bay up the road instead. Family Surf Co specialises in surfing for families and mums, with sea safety sessions on rip currents, wildlife and ocean skills. The new travel company has a special Blue Health Surf Break in 2022 with accommodation at Watergate Bay, with beachside yoga classes to make you feel extra zen.

7. Explore from source to sea

Kayaking on the River Wye (Shutterstock)

For a satisfying travel experience, take a trip with a purpose. Active England runs guided and self-guided tours along the UK’s waterways by paddleboard, canoe, kayak and bike. You can also opt to explore on foot. Whichever mode of transportation you choose, you go at your own pace and have the benefit of a support vehicle on hand. Active England's new Source to Sea Adventures – The Wye is a guided seven-day experience that begins at the source of the River Wye and ends in Chepstow in the Bristol Channel. Along the way you will have chance to explore the literary town of Hay on Wye, see Hereford Cathedral and peregrine falcons, picnic along the riverbank and have pitstops in pubs and around a firepit.

8. Camp in the wilderness

Cape Wrath (Shutterstock)

If you’ve ever dreamt of jumping in a car and escaping to the end of the world, then hop in a Celtic Routes ’ Land Rover Discovery 4x4 and take off on an epic seven-night, 805km trail around Scotland, which is inspired by the North Coast 500 . Starting in Inverness, you will explore Cairngorms National Park before winding up the west coast to the peninsula of Applecross and ending at Cape Wrath – Britain’s most north westerly point. The vehicle comes with a tablet pre-programmed with directions, the weather and accommodation recommendations. How does a night in a lighthouse, castle or yurt sound? Camping equipment, along with mountain bikes and paddleboards, are pre-bookable optional extras.

9. Photograph puffins on Skomer Island

Puffins on Skomer Island (Shutterstock)

With a population of 25,000 puffins, Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the best places in the UK to spot the chubby-cheeked seabird. While the island is an easy jaunt on a ferry from south Wales, you’ll be rewarded if you linger after the day trippers have gone. Wildlife Worldwide takes small groups to the isle on three-day photography trips between May and July. During the day you will snap Atlantic puffins with their mouths stuffed with sandeel, while at sunset around 70,000 Manx shearwaters arrive to find their breeding burrows. Visit in July to see pufflings making their first flight, taken at night to escape predators.

10. Sketch on safari

Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, New Forest (Shutterstock)

You may have visited the New Forest before, but the British artist Trevor Waugh will help you see it in another light on Wildlife Worldwide ’s New Forest Sketchbook Safari with Trevor Waugh trip. Joining just a handful of other amateur artists among the yellow gorse and fern of the New Forest, you will spend three days improving your sketching and painting skills and learning new techniques, such as how to choose the right colours and how to capture a moving animal on paper. Your subjects will be red, fallow and sika deer in Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary and the native ponies that roam freely around the New Forest.

11. Go dog sledding

Dog sledding in autumn (Shutterstock)

Lapland isn’t the only place you can go dog sledding, so if drawing ponies is too tame for you, ramp up the adrenaline by hopping on a sledge pulled by husky dogs. Natural Britain has teamed up with a duo that train the dogs for international races, so you can be sure you’re in safe hands. A pack of six husky dogs with eyes the colour of Arctic ice tear through South Alwen forest in north Wales while you cling on behind them. The adventure lasts between one and three hours.

12. Punt on the River Cam

Punting on the River Cam (Shutterstock)

This classic British experience is popular with visitors from around the world, and rightly so. Punt staff dressed in stripy T-shirts and straw hats do all the work while you sit back in a flat-bottomed boat and float along the River Cam in Cambridge, past willow trees and under the 1831 stone bridge, the Bridge of Sighs. The Cambridge Punt Company host 45-minute private and shared tours which pass by the Cambridge University campus, including the Wren Library and Trinity, Kings’ and Queens’ College. In summer, pack a picnic or pre-order strawberries and cream.

13. Snorkel with seals

Snorkelling with seals (Shutterstock)

Did you know that seals have a unique fur pattern that identifies them like humans’ fingerprints do? You’ll learn facts like these on a three-hour trip with Scilly Seal Snorkelling , which takes small groups snorkelling from spring to September. Britain is home to more than 120,000 grey seals – which is  40 per cent of the world’s population – and o ne of the best places to see them is around the Isles of Scilly. Scilly Seal Snorkelling runs the tours from St Martin’s Island, as a colony lives near there all year round. If you’re lucky, a seal may be curious enough to nibble your fins.

14. Photograph British wildlife

Bottlenose dolphins (Shutterstock)

Discover the Scottish Highlands with a team of expert photographers, naturalists and conservationists on Wildlife Worldwide ’s first Festival of British Wildlife trip. While you’ll join a group of up to 25, unlike most group trips this one has a flexible itinerary – so activities can be adjusted according to your interests, as well as the weather, tide and likely wildlife sightings. You’ll stay at Aigas Field Centre, which is sandwiched between Aigas Loch and the River Beauly in the middle of the 243-hectare Aigas Estate.

You’ll explore ancient Caledonian pine forest, observing and photographing wildlife from hides along the banks of Aigas Loch and Glen Affric National Nature Reserve. During the day, keep an eye out for European crested tit and Scottish crossbill, and red deer, beavers and otters; come evening, you may see pine marten and badgers. After dinner, you can listen to talks about British wildlife and conservation projects and take classes in photography. Another highlight is a two-hour boat ride off the coast of Inverness, where you may spot bottlenose dolphins, golden eagles and white-tailed sea eagles. This trip includes all meals and transfers and is scheduled for May 2022 – so book now before it sells out.

15. Kayak in the sea

Kayaking in a loch (Shutterstock)

If you’ve always wanted to try sea kayaking but the thought of choppy waves, container ships and chance encounters with the aforementioned orcas puts you off, then sign up to a six-day tour of the north west Highlands with KE Adventure Travel . The travel firm guides small groups between July and September around lochs that are sheltered by land, which makes them calm enough for beginners. Loch Shieldaig and Loch Kishorn are wild and remote, so while you may be the only people in sight you might get lucky and spot dolphins. The trip includes an undemanding hike across the Applecross peninsula and accommodation in an inn on the coast of Loch Torridon.

Read more about British adventures:

7 great british roads you must explore, 9 great british adventures you’ll be desperate to try, go with the flow: 7 great british canals to discover this summer, related articles, looking for inspiration.

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UK Adventure Bucket List: 11 Adventures to Try in 2024!

• Last Updated 4 March 2024

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Looking for adventure? Want to explore more of the UK this year? My UK adventure bucket list is packed with ideas for you!

Discover some of the top adventures in Britain. There are big overland journeys like epic road trips and long-distance cycle routes. If you’re looking for a challenge, why not try learning a new skill or taking a tour with an adventurous theme.

Or, you could get the adrenaline-pumping with some extreme activities such as ziplining, abseiling, coasteering, and more!

I’ve teamed up with Addnature , a fab shop that specialises in outdoor gear, to bring you this round-up of adventures to try in the UK. Check out their site to find great prices on all the clothing and equipment you could need while you’re adventuring around Britain!

Now, time to get ready for adventure…

1. Land’s End to John O’Groats

2. climb the uk’s highest peaks, 3. cycle from sea-to-sea, 4. fly on the world’s fastest zip line, 5. try coasteering on the jurassic coast, 6. road trip the cambrian way in wales, 7. north coast 500 in scotland, 8. abseil the avon gorge, 9. surfing in cornwall, 10. snorkel with seals, 11. road trip the causeway coast, uk adventure bucket list.

Perhaps the ultimate UK adventure is to travel overland from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats at the tip of mainland Scotland. Whether you do it as a road trip, a long-distance bike ride, or an epic multi-day hike, this is a brilliant way to discover the UK.

As the crow flies, the distance between these two ends of the county is 603 miles (970km). The traditional route by road is 874 miles (1406.57), which takes most cyclists 10 to 14 days, while off-road walkers typically take two or three months and walk about 1,200 miles (1,900 km)!

But there’s no official route, so you can plan a trip to suit your preferences – calling at some of the best destinations in England and Scotland along the way, or even detouring into Wales if you fancy it.

Those seeking adventure might want to try climbing the highest peaks in every country of the UK. We may not be known for our mountains, but we do have a few brilliant peaks which make for an awesome challenge!

Get yourself a decent pair of hiking boots or shoes and get ready to take on these four peaks…

• Scotland – Ben Nevis. At 1345m it’s the tallest mountain overall in the UK.
• Wales – Snowdon, 1085m.
• England – Scafell Pike in the Lake District, 978m.
• Northern Ireland – Sliabh Dónairt (Slieve Donard), 850m.

There’s also the National Three Peaks Challenge for anyone who fancies pushing themselves! The aim is to climb the highest mountains of England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours. So it’s definitely not an easy feat, but one that comes with a lot of bragging rights!

Pack all your gear into a decent cycling backpack and hit the road on an epic bike ride across the country!

The Sea-to-Sea – also known as C2C – is one of Britain’s most popular long-distance cycle routes . It’s a 136-mile trail across the middle of England, starting at the Irish Sea on the Cumbrian Coast and ending at Tyneham and the North Sea.

Along the way, the route takes in the hills and lakes of the much-loved Lake District, as well as the challenging mountains of the North Pennines. Finally, descend down into the railway paths of  County Durham  and past Newcastle to reach the northeast coast.

Wales is like the UK’s adventure playground… so it makes sense that it’s home to the world’s fastest zip line!

You’ll find it in Penrhyn Slate Quarry in North Wales, which is now an enormous blue lake surrounded by rugged cliff walls. Shooting across the lake at speeds of over 160kph is the Zip World Velocity 2, the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe.

Coasteering is one of my favourite adventure activities in the UK. You can try it all over, but I love the Jurassic Coast in Dorset – an area that combines stunning geology with 180 million years of history!

Zip up your wetsuit and discover the Dorset coast from a whole new angle! Climb cliffs, scramble up rocks, slip and splash through hidden caves, and leap into the sea from adrenaline-pumping heights.

One of my favourite road trips in the UK is the Cambrian Way in Wales . Start in Cardiff and make your way north following the A470:  the longest A-road in Wales and one of the most scenic drives in the UK!

You could stay on the same road the entire way! But it’s worth detouring at times in search of scenic stops and winding mountain roads.

Along the way, you’ll pass through the stunning mountain scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the valleys and lake-lands of mid-Wales, and the dramatic scenery of Snowdonia National Park. There are adventures to be found all along the route, like hiking Snowdon , watersports in the Wye Valley, or bouldering and climbing in the Cambrian Mountains.

The North Coast 500 is one of the most epic routes in the UK – ideal for a road trip or a long-distance bike ride.

Starting and ending in  Inverness , this 516 mile (830km) route will take you to the remote corners of northern Scotland. Be ready for white sandy beaches, dramatic mountain scenery, historic castles, and unique landscapes… the perfect setting for adventure.

Driving Bealach na Bà,  the steepest ascent of any road in the UK, is an adventure in itself. But you can also try a number of adventure activities in this part of the country. Things like white water rafting, surfing, kayaking, and “ Munro bagging ” – climbing any of the 282 hills in Scotland which are more than 3,000 feet (914m) tall.

A few years ago, I abseiled Avon Gorge near Bristol and I can tell you it’s a pretty incredible experience!

Abseiling is a seriously fun adventure challenge that you can try all over the UK. Dartmoor, The Peak District, Snowdonia, and the Cairngorms are some of the best locations to give this adrenaline-pumping sport a try!

In southwest England, the 200-foot-high rock face of Avon Gorge provides a HUGE challenge – and one hell of a rush when you’ve conquered it!

For another challenge, you can also take on the UK’s highest freefall abseil at ArcelorMittal Orbit in London.

Cornwall is a world-famous destination for surfing. With miles of rugged coastline featuring beautiful bays, long sweeping bays, and some exceptional breaks, the region is popular with surfers of all levels.

If you’re trying to learn new things this year, why not take an ‘introduction to surfing’ class in Newquay (from £50). You could even try a surf camp for a few days to really immerse yourself in the experience. Check out this Surf, Yoga and Woodland Wild Camp near Newquay for more details.

Prefer a quieter scene? St Ives is also a great spot for beginners – but has less of a party scene than Newquay.

Did you know that the UK is home to roughly 38% of the world’s population of grey seals? Take a guided seal snorkelling tour for an up-close experience of these gorgeous animals in the wild.

Try it at Lundy Island in Devon, in the Scilly Isles off the coast of Cornwall, the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland, or around the Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland.

There are dozens of incredible road trips around the UK , many of them an excellent opportunity for adventure. One of the best is the Causeway Coast route in Northern Ireland!

The route begins in Belfast and ends in Derry (aka Londonderry) and covers around 200 miles of dramatic coastline along the way.

Get ready for stunning coastal scenery, dotted with ruined castles, cute fishing villages, and plenty of Irish history. Highlights of the route include the iconic Giant’s Causeway, whisky tasting at Bushmills distillery, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – a rope bridge 30m above the sea connecting the tiny island of Carrickarede with the mainland!

Best Road Trips in England

Best Long Distance Cycle Routes in the UK

How to Spend 4 Days in St Agnes Cornwall

What’s on your UK adventure bucket list? Scroll down to leave me a comment!

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2 thoughts on “UK Adventure Bucket List: 11 Adventures to Try in 2024!”

Thanks for sharing, these experiences look amazing to do, I really would like to try the zip lining :)

Do it!! There are some fantastic adventures to have in the UK :)

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12 of the best family adventures in the UK

It’s adventure all the way with these active, creative and educational UK experiences for children and teenagers, from a week-long outdoor expedition to an evening in a planetarium. 

If we adopted a child’s-eye view of the world, how would we choose to have fun? It’s likely to be about more than the usual incentives, such as an ice cream, suggests research from Nature Communications . According to the journal, children as young as four seek experiences that deliver positive results, guide action, answer questions about the world — and are just plain fun. Whether it’s getting up-close with crustaceans on a rockpooling adventure, diving into a good book at a literature festival, learning to surf, taking to the stage or gazing at the stars, these 12 UK-based experiences deliver hands-on learning and creativity.  

1. Safaris with the Rock Pool Project Plymouth, Devon and Falmouth, Cornwall

Few activities for kids get as close to exploring alien worlds as rockpooling, in which bizarre-looking marine invertebrates reveal themselves with every rock or shell inspection. From shape-shifting sea hare slugs to spiky urchins, there’s plenty of marine wildlife to discover on the South West coast — but it’s after dark that this unique ecosystem gets really interesting. Fluorescent snakelocks anemones glow green under UV light while pink starfish flex their knobbly arms as they move between pools. A marine biologist leads the activity, teaching how to identify the creatures and demonstrating ethical and responsible ways to explore the rockpool habitat — a habitat that is highly sensitive to wandering hands and feet.

How to do it: The Rock Pool Project runs day and night safaris all year round in Plymouth and Falmouth. Specialist equipment is supplied. Wear suitable shoes with good grip to protect against sharp rocks and warm, waterproof clothing. Group tickets (maximum four people) cost £59.

2. Belfast Children’s Festival 8-16 March 2024, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Hosted by Young at Art , an educational organisation catering for the needs of babies, children and young adults, this festival promises “events to entertain, surprise and delight.” Things get a little crazy at the Baby Rave, the festival’s most popular event. Held in Belfast Cathedral, the dance party is suitable for toddlers up to four years old who don’t mind getting lost amid colourful parachutes and inflatables. Elsewhere, expect interactive painting, dancing and theatre workshops, with performances by local students.

How to do it:   Events are ticketed separately and cost a maximum of £10 each (2+ years). Initiatives are in place to assist children with special educational needs or disabilities.  

3. The Children’s Garden at Kew Richmond, London

One of the most extensive botanical gardens in the world, The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew features multiple unique attractions, including a dedicated area designed specially for young minds. The Children’s Garden at Kew is an enchanting space that is home to interactive play areas, hands-on planting beds and treetop walkways that celebrate the world’s flora. The garden hosts educational workshops too, aimed at shining a light on the ecological significance of plants. All of this is set over four distinct zones: earth, air, water and sun — everything a plant needs to survive. Quiet Garden Sessions are aimed at children with special educational needs and disabilities, and take place once a month from March to October. Visitor numbers are reduced for those sessions, and there are specialists onhand to host the sensory play.

How to do it: The Children’s Garden is fully accessible, with a supervising member of staff onhand every day during busier months. Tickets are required for the Quiet Garden Sessions (free, maximum four children). Children’s entry tickets for Kew cost £5 (ages 4-15).  

4. Lilidorei Play Village at Alnwick Garden Alnwick, Northumberland

Having masqueraded as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films, the diminutive market town of Alnwick and its centuries-old castle have hit the headlines again. Lilidorei, touted as the world’s largest adventure play structure, opened in June 2023. The £15.5 million project, brainchild of the Duchess of Northumberland, is in the Alnwick Garden, next to the castle. The plastic-free play village has plucked scenes from fairytales and brought them to life — think Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house, hidden among conifers, and a gigantic elves’ castle that conceals a 24m slide.

How to do it: Tickets £16.50 ( Lilidorei only, not the castle) and under 2s are free. Wheelchair-accessible.  

5. West End Stage Summer School 5-11, 12-18 or 19-25 August 2024, Covent Garden, London

Drama, dancing and singing masterclassesfrom the pros, and tickets to thrilling West End theatre shows — as well as a chance to perform at the 1,200-seat His Majesty’s Theatre in Haymarket — are the highlights of these week-long summer schools. West End actors and choreographers are the tutors, and the kids will come away with a certificate and a T-shirt, as well as skills and memories to last a lifetime.

How to do it: The course plus seven nights’ accommodation costs £1,345 per person (£695 without accommodation).  

6. Bath Children’s Literature Festival September/October 2024, Bath, Somerset

Kids can jump into their favourite tales and meet best-selling authors and illustrators at this book bonanza. Alongside storytelling sessions and film screenings, children can practise their wordsmithery at writing workshops and illustrate their own comic heroes, villains and monsters. In 2023, Lenny Henry, Cressida Cowell, Dermot O’Leary and Katherine Rundell met fans and gave readings, and there were events focusing on themes such as nature and mystery.

How to do it: Tickets are sold for specific events and vary in price.  

7.   Outer Reef Adventure Activity Weekend Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales

Amid the UK’s only national park designated for its coastline, Pembrokeshire’s reef breaks draw surfers from all over the country. This corner of Wales is excellent for beginners too, as gentler waves make training more accessible. On Outer Reef ’s adventure weekends, kids can learn to surf and paddleboard like pros. Training is fully supervised — and, for the adventurous, there are thrilling trips out to sea.

How to do it:   From £160. All specialist equipment is included; accommodation and meals are not.

8. Night Sky Live Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, Hampshire

Kids can indulge their interest in space at Winchester’s stellar planetarium. At the Night Sky Live event, they hear about the stars and learn to identify planets and constellations. Afterwards, they head outside to explore the sky above South Downs National Park (an International Dark Sky Place) with a stargazing guide.

How to do it: Tickets cost £15 and include a planetarium show , visits to science exhibitions, an expert-led outdoor session and a stargazing guide to take home.  

9. Teen Research Expedition Hebrides, Scotland, 27 July to 2 August 2024

Budding environmentalists aged 16-17 can join the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust on this seven-day expedition in the Southern Hebrides. Garnering industry-recognised marine biology and conservation skills, they’ll learn from leaders in the field. Wild and remote Scottish isles are visited en route, including Mull, Islay, Jura and Tiree. There’s plenty of time to catch sight of rare marine wildlife and to make lifelong friendships.

How to do it:   A spot on the expedition costs £1,450 per person and includes transfers, meals, accommodation and specialist kit.  

10. Adventure Summer Camp Conwy, North Wales, from July 2024

Orienteering, coasteering, kayaking, hiking and rock climbing are on offer for 12 to 17-year-olds at this five-day camp. Hosted by the National Outdoor Centre and guided by experienced instructors, the camp’s adventures make the most of the craggy terrain in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park.

How to do it:   £749 (or £469 non-residential). No previous experience is required, with easier and more challenging routes available to cater to mixed abilities. Bunkhouse accommodation with wi-fi, and specialist equipment are included.  

11. Co-op Live Arena Etihad Campus, Manchester, from April 2024

Concerts from Olivia Rodrigo (3-4 May), the Jonas Brothers (17 June) and former One Directioner Niall Horan (27 August) are among the first attractions at Manchester’s new, music-focused indoor arena. Set to open in April 2024, it prioritises sound quality and innovative audiovisual experiences, with capacity for 23,500 people.  

How to do it:   Concert tickets can be booked online. Co-op members receive first dibs and discounts. The venue is wheelchair-accessible and has assisted hearing technology. Under-14s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  

12. Forest Live Cannock Chase, Staffordshire; Delamere Forest, Cheshire; Thetford Forest, Suffolk; The National Arboretum, Gloucestershire, June 2024

A small but perfectly formed area of outstanding natural beauty, Cannock Chase is among the venues for these woodland-based music festivals. The 2023 lineup included Jack Savoretti, and 2024’s stars will be announced in the spring. Ecologists ensure wildlife disturbance is minimised, while profits support the forests’ sustainability.

How to do it: Day tickets from £44.50. No overnight camping allowed. Under-16s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.  

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The Best Adventure Tours in the UK

Get ready to embark on an unparalleled journey with one these exceptional adventure tours in the UK. We've invested our time and effort to scrutinize a wide selection of trips from top-rated companies, ensuring that we bring you the very best travel experiences. Our analysis covers crucial factors such as pricing, guest ratings, service excellence, sought-after destinations, and thrilling activities. Whether you're an intrepid wanderer or a novice traveler, these handpicked adventure tours will provide an unforgettable adventure in the UK.

• 2-Day Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh 2 Days, $360.77
• Orkney & The Far North 3 Day Tour 3 Days, $758.15
• Scotland's Highlands Islands and Cities (13 Days) 13 Days, $4475.00

What are adventure tours like in the UK?

Here are the important factors:

• 39 trip options analyzed
• $276 average price per day (USD)
• 2 to 13 days in length
• 4.71 of 5 average rating
• 23 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of adventure tours? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.71 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 23 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 2 days, while the longest is 13 days. When it comes to physical activity , tour options are organized as easy, moderate, relaxing, and serious, with a majority being easy tours. For transportation , you'll find tours classified as coach / bus and train & rail, with most of them being coach / bus. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 39 adventure tours, you can rest assured that the UK has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best Adventure Tours in the UK

2-day loch ness, inverness & the highlands small-group tour from edinburgh.

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for adventure tours.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Check out this incredible trip that has received a 5 out of 5 rating from previous guests. Rest assured, this trip is all about local culture and family-friendly activities, guaranteeing an unforgettable adventure. With a duration of 2 days, this journey ensures an intimate group size of 16 people, and is good for travelers aged 5 or older. This itinerary covers 9 captivating destinations, with stops in Pitlochry, Cairngorms National Park, Aviemore, and Inverness, among others. Edinburgh will be the beginning and end of your trip. This fantastic option, organized by Rabbie's Tours , presents an unbeatable value at just $180 per day.

• In-depth Cultural

Orkney & The Far North 3 Day Tour

Spanning over 3 days, this journey has a maximum size of 16 individuals. Welcoming travelers aged 3 or older, it is organized by Highland Experience Tours , a very popular company with plenty of great reviews. Immerse yourself in a travel experience that includes 8 destinations, featuring Helmsdale, Dunrobin, Kirkwall, and Skara Brae. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Inverness. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around local culture and family-friendly activities. Available at an unbeatable price of only $253 per day, this option also has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from previous guests.

Scotland's Highlands Islands and Cities (13 Days)

• On Sale: 10% Off See Prices

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional trip that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 13 days, this jouney will have 48 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers aged 5 or older. This terrific trip also highights local culture and family-friendly activities. Expertly organized by Trafalgar , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $310 per day. Hurry and secure your spot while this incredible sale lasts!

• Sightseeing

Pedalling the Peak District

This memorable journey is offered by Eurocycle Adventures which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $142 per day. Traverse through 4 enchanting destinations, with Peak District National Park and Buxton among the must-see stops along the route. Bakewell kicks off your expedition, serving as both the starting and finishing point. The maximum group size is 12 people, welcoming travelers aged 18 to 75 years old.

Highlights of Scotland

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. With a duration of 9 days, this trip offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 16 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers aged 18 or older. This trip visits 7 destinations, including Inverness, Fort William, Isle of Skye, and Isle of Lewis along the way. Beginning in beautiful Glasgow, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Edinburgh. Brought to you by Spirit Journeys Worldwide , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $436 per day.

Cotswolds Walking Tour

With this option you can experience an unparalleled voyage for 8 unforgettable days. It ensures an intimate group setting with 10 participants at most. Experience a trip that takes you to 16 remarkable destinations, including Cheltenham, Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Broadway. Long Hanborough will mark the start of your journey, while Warwick will serve as its final destination. Caspin Journeys , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests travelers aged 25 to 85 years old. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $591 per day.

• Hiking & Trekking
• Attraction-Based Hikes

Lake District & Yorkshire Dales Walking & Hiking Tour.

This fantastic trip has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Explore 16 incredible locations on this trip, including Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick, and Grange. Your adventure starts and ends in Manchester. Lasting 8 days, the maximum group size is 10 people, and it's good for travelers aged 25 to 85 years old. Organized by Caspin Journeys , this is a great deal because it's only $617 per day.

Channel Islands: Jersey, Guernsey & Sark cycling tour

With a stellar 4.7 out of 5 rating, this extraordinary voyage is the perfect choice. Beginning in beautiful Jersey, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Guernsey. Spanning across 8 days, the voyage accommodates 20 individuals, and is suitable for travelers aged 18 to 90 years old. Offered by Terranova Touristik , this remarkable voyage is priced at just $209 per day. Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

• Self-Guided Cycling

Cycle Devon - Coast to Coast

This exceptional trip offering by Explore! has received a 4.7 out of 5 rating. On this 4-day journey you can unwind while also making new memories. This trip takes you on an adventure to 5 destinations, including Bideford, Tavistock, and Dartmoor National Park. Ilfracombe will mark the start of your journey, while Plymouth will serve as its final destination. With a group size of 16 people, it's suitable for travelers aged 16 to 85 years old. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $335 per day.

Cornwall on E-bikes guided cycling tour

Check out this trip that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 4.7 out of 5 rating. With 6 destinations to explore, you'll get the chance to see St Austell, Padstow, Mevagissey, and Porthleven, and more. Bristol marks the starting point, while Truro stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. Spanning across 8 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 20 participants, and it's great for travelers aged 18 to 90 years old. Brought to you by the renowned Terranova Touristik , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $419 per day - an unbeatable value.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to the UK , The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in the UK , The Best Historical Tours in the UK , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in the UK , The Best 3-Day Tours in the UK , The Best 2-Week Tours in the UK , The Best Bicycle Tours in the UK , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in the UK , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in the UK , The Best Coach Bus Tours in the UK , The Best Eco Tours in the UK , The Best Sightseeing Tours in the UK , The Best Cultural Tours in the UK , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in the UK , The Best Tours Under $1000 in the UK , The Best Luxury Tours to the UK , The Best Budget Tours to the UK , or The Best Tours for Seniors to the UK for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Edinburgh , The Best 3-Day Tours from London , The Best 3-Day Tours from Inverness , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Glasgow , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Inverness , The Best 10-Day Tours from London , The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh , The Best 10-Day Tours from Glasgow , The Best 2-Week Tours from London , The Best 2-Week Tours from Edinburgh , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Glasgow for more package tour options.

How much do Adventure Tours in the UK cost?

Visitors will find a large range of terrific options for adventure tours when planning a visit to the UK. The price of these specific trips can vary according to length, destinations, and travel style. The average price of adventure tours in the UK based on data from 39 options is an affordable $276 per day. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in the UK .

And for more information on United Kingdom, see United Kingdom Travel Costs and United Kingdom Hotel Costs .

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UK and Great Britain Tours & Trips

Our 980 Great Britain and UK tours will take you to amazing places with unforgettable views, remarkable history, and unique experiences. Travel along the astounding coast of Cornwall or see for yourself what makes the Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Highlands so special.

250+ UK and Great Britain tour packages with 23,730 reviews

• In-depth Cultural
• Coach / Bus

Essential Britain & Ireland

great support driver and guide, excellent stops, especially edinbriugh... BUT... too much time on the bus. This needs to be better balanced.. either shorter distance or more timer

England, Scotland and Ireland end Dublin

As the one year anniversary approaches, I wish I could do this trip again!

Britain and Ireland Delight (Summer, 8 Days)

Motels not too good...no air conditioning, no fridges Bus had problems with air con too..changed buses , but not as comfortable

Britain and Ireland Experience (12 Days)

Fast paced tour, covered a lot. Stuart was an excellent driver and Hamish a very knowledgeable guide, both got us from A-B safely & on time. Breakfast were all good, three set dinners okay. Hotels clean, comfortable but locations mostly remote.

Best of UK & Ireland

The bus seats were miserably uncomfortable & the bathroom had not been properly maintained for 4 weeks. Most of the hotel rooms/beds/lifts/electrical outlets were inadequate. Tony, our driver, was absolutely top notch. Aaron was very knowledgeable, but oftentimes gave directions/talks before we were all assembled.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Wonders of Britain and Ireland (12 Days)

Emma was amazing. Most of the accommodation was excellent especially Apex. Most places were great dealing with my dietary requirements.

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Britain & Ireland Explorer (Classic, 13 Days)

We had a great holiday and highly recommend insight tours . We had lovely hotels and a fantastic tour guide who was very knowledgeable with places and the history.

Britain and Ireland Panorama (16 Days)

Everything about the trip was good, including the weather, and Greg even influenced that, playing the Beatles "Here comes the sun" to start every morning. Full breakfast was good fuel for the day. Greg was enthusiastic, knowledgable, amusing, and patient with tardy guests. The coach drivers (Liam and Tommy) were superb. The porterage was a very nice touch.

Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

We were impressed. Our guide (Kaeleigh) was extremely well informed and provided information and history. The whole process was well organised from booking until the last breakfast. We highly recommend.

• Sightseeing
• Christmas & New Year

United Kingdom and Ireland ( 10 days )

The Best of Britain & Ireland

I realized that booking through TourRadar for a Cosmos tour was probably a bad decision. There were a number of things Tour Radar left off or did not offer to those who booked straight through Cosmos. My questions is this...why did we not get the same advantages that other Cosmos direct tour members did? Why did I pay a premium when I did not get the concierge-level service? In theory, I should have gotten a level above-and-beyond those who just booked with Cosmos but I did not even get the basics. I am thoroughly disappointed with the Tour Radar aspect of the tour arrangements and that was so fairly obvious to others who booked through Cosmos. No luggage tags, no travel book, no extra information. You had the tour guide wrong, the rooms were not as requested. The Cosmos tour guide was your saving grace. She was fantastic but she works for Cosmos. If I had to do it all again, I would book direct through Cosmos. Also, the Tour Bus was substandard compared to other Cosmos tour buses we saw on our trip. No tray tables, no usb chargers, and the wifi was non-existent. That is more Cosmos than you but I am still disappointed. Driver was great...bus was too full and lacked basic functionality.

Best of Ireland & Scotland (Classic, 14 Days)

This tour was informative and enjoyable. We saw so many places and extras off the beaten path.

Highland Fling

Tom is a great guide. Would recommend the tour.

• €75 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

5 Day Skye & Highland Fling

Recently completed this tour and I cannot recommend this enough! Had a fantastic time and the tour guide, Nick, was hands down the best I have had in tours. It would we great if the company started doing a longer tour (7 - 10 Days) as 5 days in highlands was not nearly enough. Though overall, highly highly recommend!

Celtic Highlights

The was the first tour that we had gone on with Globus, had done a River Cruise with Avalon and was very pleased with that section of Globus. Ireland had been on our bucket list and we are so glad that we had included Scotland, England, Wales. We will be looking into other tours with Globus and will be recommending to our friends. Peter our tour guide, Ian our Bus Driver certainly paid a big part in making this dream trip a success.

What people love about UK And Great Britain Tours

Very nice itinerary ... jam packed days and evenings. I chose not to do any of the extra evening excursions that were offered so I was able to use the time to explore every overnight stop on my own. The tour guide was amazing... so full of knowledge about all the countries/areas we visited.

I really enjoyed the trip

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• Active (71)
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• Festival & Events (18)
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Destinations

• England and Scotland (245)
• England, Ireland and Scotland (110)
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• Ireland tours (308)
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• Tailor Made

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Where will you go?

Explore popular tours.

The Inca Trail & Machu

Everest Base Camp

Kilimanjaro

The Galapagos

Mount Toubkal

Walking the Amalfi Coast

Popular destinations.

Meet our People

Call or email our expert team to find out more and help with ideas and planning.

Build your Adventures

Our Tailor Made tours and holidays are crafted by you and for you, with the invaluable assistance of our expert team

Frequently asked questions

Why book with the adventure people.

Looking for an adventure-filled holiday? Look no further than The Adventure People! We specialise in crafting the ultimate adventure holiday experiences that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

Our team of experienced adventure guides will take you off the beaten path and into the heart of the action. Whether you're into hiking, cycling, rock climbing, kayaking, or any other adventure activity, we've got you covered. Our multiday tours and experiences will immerse you in nature, challenge you physically, and awaken your sense of adventure.

Embark on a trek through the Himalayas, summit a volcano in Indonesia, kayak along the stunning coastline of Croatia, or cycle through the picturesque countryside of Tuscany. Our adventure holidays will take you to some of the most breathtaking destinations on the planet, each with its own unique flavor and challenges.

At The Adventure People, we're committed to sustainable and responsible travel. We believe in leaving a positive impact on the communities and environments we visit, and our tours reflect that commitment. We work with local guides and small businesses, use eco-friendly modes of transportation, and leave no trace behind.

So what are you waiting for? It's time to step out of your comfort zone and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Contact us today to learn more about our adventure holiday options and to start planning your next big adventure!

Benefits of booking with The Adventure People!

Top 10 reasons to book with us:

1. You'll receive the best service available.

2. You'll have access to your own personal travel expert.

3. You're financially protected through various means:

a) ABTA membership

b) ATOL certification

c) Strong English consumer protection and trading law 

4. You can book your flights with us.

5. You can book your accommodation and transfers with us.

6. We can build a bespoke tailor made holiday for you.

7. We're one of the leading travel companies in the UK ( see our reviews!)

8. We have amazing choice

9. We won't be beaten on price or value.

10. With your help we're supporting local communities.

What is an adventure holiday?

What is an Adventure Holiday?

An adventure holiday is more than just a getaway; it's an adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding escape from the ordinary. It's about pushing your limits, discovering hidden gems, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Imagine hiking through pristine wilderness, cycling along breath-taking coastal routes, or embarking on thrilling water-based escapades. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a first-time explorer, we've got the perfect adventure waiting for you.

Why Choose an Adventure Holiday?

Adventure holidays offer an unparalleled opportunity to:

Reconnect with Nature: Get up close and personal with the world's most stunning landscapes, from majestic mountains to lush rainforests.

Challenge Yourself: Push your boundaries and conquer new feats, fostering personal growth and self-discovery.

Escape the Ordinary: Say goodbye to routine and hello to excitement as you embark on unique experiences and cultural encounters.

Create Lasting Memories: Forge unforgettable memories with like-minded travellers who share your passion for adventure.

Our Adventure Holiday Offerings

At The Adventure People, we have carefully curated a range of adventure holiday packages to cater to all preferences and levels of experience. Choose from a variety of thrilling activities, including hiking, cycling, water sports, wildlife safaris, and much more.

We partner with expert guides and adventure specialists to ensure your safety and satisfaction throughout your journey. From picturesque hikes in the Alps to thrilling water rafting in the Amazon, we've got you covered.

Book Your Adventure Today

Don't miss out on the adventure of a lifetime. Let us help you plan your next adrenaline-packed vacation. Contact us now to start your adventure holiday journey. Your extraordinary adventure awaits!

Ready to take the plunge? Contact us today to begin your adventure of a lifetime!

What are the most popular adventures?

There are many types of adventure holiday but here we list the top 10 over the past 12 months:

1.  Everest Base Camp

2.  Inca Trail & Machu Picchu

3.  Kilimanjaro Trek

4.  Exploring the Galapagos

5.  Northern Lights

6.  Mount Toubkal (Morocco) Trek

7.  Walk The Amalfi Coast

8. Visit The Amazon

9.  Safari Camping and Trekking

10.  Trekking Mont Blanc

How does an adventure tour work?

Most of the adventure holidays are small group tours. They are great ways to explore, meet people (maybe even friends for life) and enjoy experiences you may never have otherwise had. They're travels best kept secret!

The small groups are typically  around 10 people and are made up of solo travellers, couples and friends from all over the world. If you ever want to find out who's booked just ask our team or you can submit a 'Who's Going?' query on any available date.

Each group has a guide who'll meet you on day one and be with you all the through your adventure until the end.

Details about what's included and not included can be found on any adventure page or from the brochures which are free to download.

Who goes on adventures?

All sorts of people! We have customers age 18 to well over 80 years old.

We have solo travellers couples, friends and families.

Ad adventure holiday is an experience. 

Some of our adventures are challenging and some are not. Some are guided trips of exploration whilst some will take you to a high peak.

There is something for everyone.

Can I be a solo traveller?

YES! Up to 50% of our customers are solo travellers and so loads of adventures are geared up for those travelling alone.

If you're a solo traveller you'll be with a group which means you'll make loads of new friends, you're safe and you're going to have a lot of fun.

Typically solo travellers can opt to have their own room (usually with a small surcharge) or you can be paired with someone of the same gender and age if possible.

Can I speak to someone?

Yes. We have a team of experts available to help. You can contact via phone, email or chat. We'll always get back to you quickly if not immediately.

Our team have multiple years experience each in the adventure holiday sector with some even being ex-expedition leaders. We really pride ourselves on our team as we think they're the best in the business. 

Are you ATOL registered?

Yes. In the UK we're members of ABTA which is a trade body and we have an ATOL, a license which allows us to sell flights and this is ran by the civil aviation authority.

Both bodies monitor our business monthly.

For anyone outside of the UK, if a company in the UK sells flights it must have an ATOL, it's a legal requirement. Along with this are certain financial protection measures to be in place. The conclusion is that we protect customers monies until they actually go on holiday.

No matter where you are in the world, your money is safe when you make a booking. It stays in a bank account until you depart.

Lots (probably most here in the UK) of travel companies tell customers their money is safe but really they use it and insure it rather than actually protecting it. We actually protect it.

About The Adventure People

We are a travel agency who specialise in adventure holidays. 

Most of the adventure holidays we feature are small group guided trips starting at point A and ending at point B with lots of experiences in-between.

We are part of the company World Adventures. We established in 2017. We have an ATOL license and are members of ABTA. 

Our office is in south London but our team are based all over the United Kingdom.

List of Adventure Holiday Destinations

Adventure Holidays In Peru

Adventure Holidays In Costa Rica

Adventure Holidays In Mexico

Adventure Holidays In Cuba

Adventure Holidays In Croatia

Adventure Holidays In Italy

Adventure Holidays In Spain

Adventure Holidays In France

Adventure Holidays In Iceland

Adventure Holidays In Greece

Adventure Holidays In Thailand

Adventure Holidays In Vietnam

Adventure Holidays In India

Adventure Holidays In Bali

Adventure Holidays In Sri Lanka

Adventure Holidays In Cambodia

Adventure Holidays In China

Adventure Holidays In Borneo

Adventure Holidays In Malaysia

Adventure Holidays In Jordan

Adventure Holidays In Japan

Adventure Holidays In South Korea

Adventure Holidays In Mongolia

Adventure Holidays In Nepal

Adventure Holidays In The Philippines

Adventure Holidays In Australia

Adventure Holidays In New Zealand

Adventure Holidays In South Africa

Adventure Holidays In Tanzania

Adventure Holidays In Morocco

Adventure Holidays In Egypt

Adventure Holidays In The United States

Adventure Holidays In Canada

Our Most Popular Adventures

Everest Base Camp Treks

Machu Picchu & The Inca Trail

Kilimanjaro Treks

Galapagos Islands

Mont Blanc Trekking

Mount Toubkal Treks

Masai Mara Holidays

Gap Year Adventure Holidays

Foreign Travel Advice

For UK customers the latest travel updates can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Still have questions?

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.

Amazing adventure stories

First Time Travelling Alone

walk the wicklow way

Why is Thailand a great place for a GAP year?

What our customers say, trust the adventure people.

Communication was excellent both by email and over the phone, everyone I had contacted followed and actioned my request or answered my question politely and efficiently.

Would definitely recommend this company.

The staff are super helpful and friendly and always answer e-mails as soon as they can.

Trip achieved all my expectations!

The tour that I booked with The Adventure People met all my expectations. The local agent in Vietnam kept in regular contact with me during my trip. All of the connections worked perfectly. The hotels were all of a good standard and comfortable as well as being in a good location. Would definitely use them again

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‘I drove from London to Lagos … in a Peugeot 107’

Camping in her tiny car, obstructive border staff and even a terrifying crash didn’t stop pelumi nubi completing a daring 7,500-mile solo trip from the uk to nigeria.

P elumi Nubi’s purple Peugeot 107 — known affectionately as Lumi — isn’t for sale. But if she were to list the car on Auto Trader the ad might read something like this: “Eleven-year-old, five-door micro vehicle with a one-litre engine; survived a recent 7,500-mile drive; current careful lady owner.”

Since Nubi documented her 74-day solo drive from London to Lagos (via Spain, Morocco and Senegal) on Instagram and TikTok, her dinky motor has become a social media star in its own right. “There were moments when people got in touch to check if Lumi was OK and I was like, ‘Erm, hang on, forget the car — what about me?’” Nubi says.

Although other travellers have cycled and motorbiked from Britain to Nigeria, Nubi, 29, believes she is the first woman to complete the challenge — not only alone, but in a car that’s designed more for supermarket runs than off-roading in west Africa. Nubi was born in Lagos and grew up in London, and her journey was intended to connect the two places she calls home. “I’ve travelled a lot in Europe and Asia but my footprint in Africa was so small and I wanted to change that,” she explains.

Nubi shared every step of her journey on social media — even asking her followers to suggest names for her car — eventually settling on Oluwa-Lumi — meaning “it’s God that lights my path” in Yoruba.

“I could have waited and saved up for a newer and more powerful car, but I wanted to see if I could achieve the almost impossible,” Nubi says. “I also wanted to show that travel can be about now and not saving a big adventure for one day in a ‘perfect’ future. I was determined to work with the resources I had to hand in the here and now. And also because Lumi’s one-litre engine meant fuel costs would be lower than for something more flashy.”

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Before leaving London on January 24, 2024, Nubi spent a year meticulously planning her route. She also modified her car, adding a bed, a small kitchen in the boot and curtains that could be drawn for the nights when she’d need to camp in it.

To further prepare Nubi also completed a test drive from London to Lake Como to attend a friend’s wedding in the summer of 2023, and she had previously travelled overland from Lagos to Ghana.

“My Como trip meant I had experience of driving in Europe, so the first section from London to southern Spain was a breeze, with hassle-free moves from country to country and the only hard bit paying for the fuel,” Nubi says.

Taking the ferry from Spain to Morocco was the first challenging point in the journey. “I got to the port and there was a lot of confusion about the paperwork required and whether I needed to show proof of ownership of Lumi,” she says.

Once there, Morocco became one of Nubi’s favourite countries on the trip. “I was driving through the Atlas Mountains and thinking, wow, wow, wow, how lucky am I to be seeing this,” she says. “The only difficulty came at the city of Chefchaouen, where I’d booked a walking tour, which I missed because I was trying to find somewhere to park.”

Nubi was typically driving five to six hours per day. “Driving through Western Sahara, a no man’s land between Morocco and Mauritania, was terrifying,” she says. “For hour after hour I could see nothing but camels and desert and I was frightened I was going to be robbed, because there were no police.” In Guinea the roads were so poor Lumi’s suspension needed fixing. “It was impossible to find a stretch of road that was actually functioning as a road, and I had to get a local mechanic to fix her. Even then I never wondered whether a 4×4 would have been a better idea.”

But the biggest drama during the journey came in Ivory Coast, when, shortly after crossing the border from Liberia, Nubi crashed into a truck that was illegally parked in the dark with no hazard warning lights on.

“I had been held at the border for nine hours, where officials were asking for more money that I knew I didn’t need to pay,” Nubi explains. “So while I had arrived at 10am, I didn’t get through until 7pm.”

“I should have stopped once I was across the border but I wanted to press on to my accommodation. I had never planned to be driving in the dark and the accident was a knock-on effect of being held up for such a long time.” Miraculously Nubi wasn’t seriously hurt — although she spent two days in hospital — and while Lumi suffered damage to the front wing of the driver’s side, the car was fixable. However, the incident meant delaying her arrival in Lagos by a fortnight.

Nubi estimates the journey cost more than £20,000, with £2,000 or so spent on fuel alone. To her it feels a small price to pay for the adventure and the fact that her raw video diaries have opened honest discussions about the practical considerations of being a woman on the road, including dealing with periods, needing the loo and doing laundry.

“I took a big supply of super tampons and ibuprofen,” Nubi says. “And I would try to time hotel stays with my cycle to avoid camping during my period. Doing the washing was easy as I had a Scrubba wash bag, which you fill with water and soap and it acts like a portable washing machine.

“When it came to needing to pee at the roadside I developed a technique that involved opening both Lumi’s front and rear doors to act as a screen.”

• 12 of the best US road trips • 8 of the best road trips in Australia

An experienced traveller, Nubi had visited over 80 countries both independently and for her work as a social media content creator, and this trip allowed her to add a further six to that tally. The one that surprised her most? Guinea-Bissau. “Hardly anyone goes there, and yet it was in Bissau, the capital, that I exhaled,” she says. “There is a stunning cathedral that was built in the 1930s in the Portuguese quarter and it seemed nobody was in a rush, everyone was relaxed and the place had the feel of a chilled-out Italian town.”

Arriving in Lagos on April 7, Nubi was met by family and friends — and also an army of fans who had been following her adventure online. She has subsequently been named an ambassador for tourism for the city. While Nubi flew back to the UK, Lumi won’t be making a return journey — the Peugeot 107 will stay as a museum piece at Lagos’s John Randle Centre to mark the pair’s achievements. Letting go of her car feels like a fitting end to this journey. “One of the many lessons from this trip is discovering all the stuff I can live without,” Nubi says. “I packed a cooker with a gas cylinder in the boot. Did I use it? Not once. Which isn’t surprising, really. I don’t cook like that at home — so why would I while on the road?” Follow Pelumi Nubi on Instagram and TikTok @pelumi.nubi

Make sure you take your vehicle log book – your V5C document. I was asked at borders for proof that I owned my car and that it wasn’t rented, including when travelling from Spain to Morocco.

Most UK insurers provide third-party insurance in the EU. To drive in Morocco you will need to get a “green card” from your insurer — sometimes you can download this but sometimes it needs to be posted.

Take plenty of currencies as ATMs aren’t always available. Not only did I need it for visas but I often had to buy additional car insurance at the border, for example when entering Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Where would your dream road trip be? Let us know in the comments below

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Race Across the World review: Return of BBC smash proves travel is best without a smartphone

The hit bbc travel-adventure show returns for its fourth series, and is best understood as being like tourism but in a more intense, concentrated and indeed exhausting form, article bookmarked.

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I have to admit that I find travel so exhausting that I’m at a loss as to why anyone would willingly watch an episode of Race Across the World , let alone have the stamina to keep up with the whole nine hours of viewing that lies before us.

Having tagged along vicariously for the first leg of their journey, north to south across most of Japan, Race is best understood as being like tourism but in a more intense, condensed, concentrated and indeed exhausting form. The five pairs of contestants, ranging from annoying siblings barely in their twenties to a reassuringly mellow couple in their sixties, are tasked with travelling from snowy Sapporo in northern Japan down to the paradise island of Lombok in Indonesia, via various waypoints in Korea, Cambodia and Malaysia – some 15,000 kilometres in total.

Just like any backpacking holiday, the idea is that you move as fast as possible for the least cost (the budget is fixed at £1,390, the price of two air tickets from Japan to Indonesia), and in order to make the best of the adventure try and squeeze in some sightseeing, local culture and pick up a bit of casual work along the way to pay the bills. So it is a race, in the sense that you want to get to the checkpoints and to Lombok first, and win the £20,000 prize money, but to do it within budget and with some actual pleasure along the way. It’s all about balancing these priorities, and that essential nuance gives the show its charm. The only forms of transport that are banned are planes and the ultra-fast Japanese bullet trains, which would spoil the vibe. They should probably call it “The Sort-of Race Across the World”, if accuracy is the thing.

This, therefore, isn’t a full-on scramble, like some version of Challenge Anneka or a leisurely, carefree Portillo-esque travelogue , but one where the contestants have to find a more optimal vacation balance. It was interesting that the winners on this first Japanese leg are Eugenie and Isabel, a mother and daughter who took a pretty long detour to see the isolated, tranquil and lovely offshore island of Sado, on the “wrong” coast from the point of view of sheer speed. It’s so off the beaten track, even for the Japanese, that it was once used as a place of exile for out of favour politicians and the like.

Yet they still arrived, after five days on the road and having missed a connection, two minutes before twins Alfie and Owen, who just about managed to squeeze in a glimpse of Mount Fuji along their supposedly efficient but actually overly panicky and rushed route. It seems that Isabel’s impressive attempt to get a random Japanese boy to teach her the language on a long bus ride paid off; public signage makes little concession to the foreigner, and the universally friendly citizenry speak surprisingly little English. Our contestants don’t remark on it, but Japanese society is an evidently self-sufficient affair, something visitors always find a novelty.

Stephen and Ivy, the retired couple, aren’t that bothered about coming first, and took their opportunity to tarry at a wasabi farm, pulling up roots, burning their mouths off and cadging a useful lift. Maybe it was something about the famous sauce, but Ivy unloaded how “unintentionally offensive” her husband of many years is, just as he’s asking his hosts how old they all are: “Some have learned to tolerate him, but I love him”. Touching.

What’s also striking about Race Across the World , and something sadly impractical in the “real” world away from reality TV, is how much richer the travel experience of all those involved is because they are deprived, under the rules of the show, of their smartphones. They end up exploring their relationships with their journey partners as much as the picturesque countryside and bustling cities.

The young siblings from Yorkshire, Betty and James, for example, seem to be getting to know each other for the first time on Japanese trains and in random cafes, despite having grown up together. Something similar is also true of the two sets of mum and daughter: Eugenie and Isabel, and Sharon and Brydie. Thrown together and almost forced to talk to one another rather than scrolling through social media, their personal odyssey acquires an emotional and, around the Buddhist shrines, a spiritual dimension. As noted by young James, an unimaginative traveller by his own admission, you don’t get that with a week “having it off in Ayia Napa”. A different kind of pursuit, that.

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5 amazing holidays to Japan for an unforgettable adventure

Considering a once-in-a-lifetime Japan holiday? Look no further with these magnificent options

While the country's big-hitting cities such as spiritual Kyoto, cosmopolitan Osaka and vibrant Tokyo, Japan's capital and a popular springboard for Mount Fuji, are all must-sees, there are the sunny southern islands of Japan to discover too. With breath-taking beaches and a slower pace of life, they're the ideal spot for a more leisurely trip. And then there are the Japanese Alps, vast and verdant, and a hugely popular choice for a Japan skiing holiday.

While you need to consider where you'd like to visit on your epic Japan adventure, there's also the case of how . Flights go direct from London to Tokyo, but when it comes to choosing how to traverse this incredible country there are numerous options – from guided coach tours to luxury cruises.

For a helping hand with where to start, we've rounded up some of our favourite ways to discover Japan, including a group tour across the Japanese Alps , a 17-day cruise during beautiful cherry blossom season, and an indulgent inclusive break in sun-drenched Okinawa.

A tour of Japan's essential highlights

Embark on this thrilling 13-day roundtrip from Tokyo, which showcases the magical, ancient heritage of Japan as well as its futuristic, neon-lit metropolises. This guided tour, which includes coach travel and hotel accommodation, will give you plenty of time to soak up the colour and culture of Japan's capital, which boasts the bustling shopping district of Ginza, vivid Harajuku, iridescent Akihabara electric town, and world-famous Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, the commercial district.

Beyond Tokyo, you'll visit majestic Mount Fiji, Japan's tallest peak; ride the Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train; see the resident deer in the city of Nara; spend the day in Hiroshima, which has been rebuilt into an attractive, modern city; and have the chance to stay in a ryokan , a typical Japanese inn, in Kyoto. This accessible and fully-organised tour covers all the essentials and more.

Join us on the Good Housekeeping 13-day Japan tour in August 2024.

A cruise in beautiful cherry blossom season

One of the biggest draws to Japan is undeniably its picturesque cherry blossom season and the custom of hanami , admiring the beauty of it. Every spring, millions of locals and visitors alike patiently wait for the first sakura (the Japanese term for cherry blossom) buds to bloom, showing off their delicate, baby pink-hued petals. The abundance of blossom flowering is celebrated with festivals, picnics and the eating of seasonal, sakura-themed delicacies.

If experiencing this springtime phenomenon is on your bucket list, then this 17-day cruise in Japan is for you. While giving you the opportunity to catch the cherry blossom in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, the leisurely sailing with Holland America enables you to see plenty more of Japan, too. Other port stops include Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Aomori and the lively, karaoke-loving city of Busan in South Korea. And all of this is without mentioning the incredible entertainment, food and bars onboard your ship, of course.

Embark on a 17-day cherry blossom cruise around Japan with Good Housekeeping in 2025.

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A jaunt through the Japanese Alps with plenty of tradition

While this group tour ticks off the unmissable cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, it takes its guests on a journey through the beautiful Japanese Alps, a series of mountain ranges on the island of Honshu. This mountainous region is home to an abundance of picturesque cities and towns, all offering a glimpse into Japan's rural life. On this 13-day tour you'll visit the pretty city of Takayama, which brims with Edo Period houses, food and craft markets and traditional restaurants.

You'll also get the chance to wander the village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its thatched roof farmhouses that are said to resemble the praying hands of Buddhist monks. Along with admiring gorgeous scenery, you'll have the chance to get on hands-on with activities such as miso-making, washi paper-making, gold leaf crafting and origami. If you're craving a taste of traditional Japan, you'll find bags of it on this brilliantly-curated trip.

Explore the Japanese Alps with Good Housekeeping in 2024 or 2025.

A city break in Tokyo, Japan's energetic capital

If you've got limited time or would prefer to dedicate your trip to just one destination in Japan, then Tokyo is the answer. Known as Edo until 1868, the Japanese capital is the world's most populous city and thus it's a melting pot of activity, culture and cuisines. As city breaks go, you'll be spoilt for choice here: see the Imperial Palace and many landscaped gardens (we like Koishikawa Korakuen and Hama Rikyu) in central Tokyo, the museums and towering Skytree viewing platform for city-wide views in northern Tokyo, and the busy shopping and entertainment districts of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku in the west.

For easy access to all of this (and so much more) it's best to base yourself centrally, and a hotel would give you the benefit of a helpful concierge to offer recommendations, book transfers and advise on transport throughout your trip. In a city with so much to offer, a bit of local knowledge goes a long way.

Plan a Tokyo city break British Airways, where you can book flights and hotels as a package.

A relaxing all-inclusive holiday in Okinawa

The idyllic island of Ishigaki is part of the Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan, where the climate is tropical and the weather is warm and humid all year round. It's here that you'll find Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort , perched on the edge of the Kabira peninsula with endless views of the turquoise ocean ahead. A family-friendly resort, Kabira Ishigaki is the ideal way to see Japan with a hearty side of rest and relaxation. You can lounge around the freshwater pool and unwind with a treatment in the spa, or, on days where you can muster the energy, try your hand at windsurfing or kayaking in the crystal-clear sea.

The ocean is sacred here, as it's home to manta rays and other marine life, and guests wanting to learn more about life under the water's surface can book eco-friendly snorkelling tours or day trips to nearby islands. There's the chance to experience local culture on dry land too, as guests can take part in sanshin lessons (an Okinawan musical instrument that's similar to a banjo) and sample Okinawan flavours with a selection of traditional dishes, all served in a restaurant that offers 180-degree sea views. Sounds like paradise to us...

Soak up the sun, sand and sea of southern Japan at Club Med's Kabira Ishigaki resort.

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