If you’re looking for inspiration, or just need some ideas to add to your bucket list, here’s our list of 10 adventurous things to do in the UK this summer.
Summer is here and with many flights still grounded it is looking like this year will be all about the staycations. But with so many incredible activities available in the UK, there are plenty of options for a summer full of road trips and adventures. From urban climbing adventures in London to wild and remote bikepacking adventures in Scotland, there are options for everyone to live a little more adventurously this summer.
Ride King Alfred’s Way
If you paid attention in history classes, or if you’ve binge-watched The Last Kingdom on Netflix, you’ll know all about King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom that centred around the powerful county of Wessex. However, you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy the newly completed cycling route known as King Alfred’s Way. The 350km circular route takes in all of the rich histories of the area as it crosses stunning open countryside, iron age hill forts and neolithic monuments.
The route is perfect for gravel biking, and if bikepacking is something that you’ve always wanted to try, then King Alfred’s Way is your perfect option for this summer.
Ride the World’s Fastest Zipline
Fancy flying 1.5km over a disused quarry at speeds of up to 100mph? Of course you do; and that’s exactly what you can do on Velocity 2, the world’s fastest zipline at Zipworld in North Wales.
Those brave enough to take part will be transported to the top of the quarry where they’ll be strapped in and prepared for the flight of a lifetime. This is not for the faint-hearted, but it might be one for your summer adventure bucket list.
Try Coasteering in Cornwall
Coasteering is a unique blend of climbing, jumping, scrambling and exploring your way along a stretch of rugged coastline. It’s a lot of fun and offers a perspective of the coast that you just can’t get in any other way.
The stunning coastline of Cornwall is a great place to give it a go and makes a perfect addition to a week of aquatic adventures like surfing and paddleboarding.
Kayak Along the Jurassic Coast
Sticking with the coastal theme, you could try kayaking along the Jurassic Coast as one of your adventures this summer.
This area is famous for the unique archway that juts out into the sea, and what better way to see it than by paddling through it. You can join onto a guided kayak trip at the nearby Lulworth Cove, and explore hidden caves, only accessible by kayak, as you make your way down to Durdle Door.
Summit the Welsh 3000s
The Welsh 3000s are a series of 15 summits above 3000 feet in North Wales. The 15 summits are spread across three ranges and can be tackled in one go for those who are really fit and love a good mountain challenge.
From start to finish you can expect to walk around 50km to take in all 15 summits, with an elevation gain of over 4000 metres. It’s an epic challenge, but one that you’ll feel a huge sense of achievement for completing.
Walk and Wild Camp Across Devon
The Two Moors Way is a long-distance walk that runs from the south coast of Devon to the north coast. Along the way is passes through Dartmoor and Exmoor, crossing vast expanses of wild moorland. For those who want to spend a week away from it all, walking and wild camping, this is a great option.
You can expect to see some of the very best scenery that Devon has to offer as you walk the 117-mile routes, passing through picturesque rural villages, over rolling hills and across the moors.
Bag Your First Wainwright
Peak Bagging is the process of summiting every mountain in a particular range or grouping over the course of a few (or many) different trips. The Wainwrights are a set of 214 mountains and fells in the Lake District, made famous by the walker and writer Alfred Wainwright.
If you’ve always wanted to spend more time up in the hills, peak bagging could be just your thing. There are 214 to choose from, varying in height and accessibility. This summer could the one in which you start a new hobby and tick the first one off the list.
Go Packrafting in Scotland
A bike, an inflatable raft, some basic camping equipment and a few days worth of supplies. That’s all you need to head out for a Packrafting adventure in Scotland.
Explore lochs, mountain valleys and remote islands and you head out for a trip in some of Scotland’s most incredible landscapes.
Put simply, a packraft is just small enough to carry on your bike but just big enough to carry you and your bike across the water and open up a whole new world of possibilities for exploration.
Climb Up the O2 Arena in London
For those looking for a more urban adventure, you can climb up onto the roof of London’s O2 Arena for incredible views across the cityscape.
For something really special, you can even head up at twilight and watch the sunset over the city, before descending while the twinkling lights of the city guide the way.
Go Caving in Snowdonia
If heights aren’t your thing, then maybe depths are. There’s a whole subterranean network of caves below the mountains of Snowdonia, and those brave enough to head down and explore can be treated to a thrilling adventure. This isn’t just a case of walking through caves; on this adventure, you’ll abseil into caverns, zipline through the darkness, and travel by boat across underground lakes.
It’s a perfect adventure whatever the weather, and definitely one for the bucket list.