Fun Outdoor Activities for Adults
Great Britain has a wide range of open spaces to enjoy, from vast natural countryside to enormous cityscapes. Whether you’re a lover of fast-paced competitive sports or you prefer a slower, more relaxed adventure, there’s no shortage of outdoor hobbies for everyone to enjoy.
In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the best outdoor activities to enjoy with friends and family, as well as on your own. From photography to farming, here are our top picks to help you get out and about in the great outdoors.
Make sure you’re ready for any occasion with our premium range of men’s country clothing and women’s country clothing at Philip Morris.
1. Walking or Hiking
Walking is one of the most accessible outdoor hobbies and can be taken up by almost everyone of all ages and abilities. This hobby is refreshingly simple, with no special skills needed, membership fees, and absolutely no pressure. When walking, you can enjoy anything from leisurely strolls through the city or park to a more intense hiking expedition in the peaks.
Walking has a range of amazing benefits for your physical and mental health, and even a brisk 30-minute stroll each day can do wonders for your body. If you want to challenge yourself and enjoy more spectacular sites, you can hike for longer periods over greater distances or at a faster pace.
Whatever your route, a pair of comfortable walking boots is essential. These boots will support your feet and help battle fatigue while protecting you against rocky ground and uneven terrain.
Philip Morris is located in Herefordshire, where there are many beautiful walks and trails.
2. Camping
If you’re craving a connection to nature or want to disconnect from busy urban life, camping is your ticket to adventure. Camping is one of the best outdoor hobbies for families and solo travellers alike, with options to go off-grid or camp in comfort.
Choose a full rural retreat to the British countryside or experience a more luxurious glamping experience. With the latter option, you’ll still get to enjoy the outdoors and classic camping activities, but without the hassle of pitching your own tent and carrying heavy supplies.
However you choose to camp, preparation is key. Heavy-duty rucksacks and backpacks are a must-have for storing spare clothes, electronics, and any luxuries you just can’t live without.
Top Trending Spot: Top of the Woods Pembrokeshire, Wales
Location near Herefordshire: Cwmdu Campsite Crickhowell, Wales
3. Farming
You might see farming as a profession, but it’s also an amazing hobby that allows you to care for animals and grow your own produce. You can volunteer at local farms as often as you’d like and get stuck into a range of activities like growing and tending crops and caring for sheep, chickens and cattle. Farming is not only an incredibly rewarding outdoor hobby, but it can also teach you important lessons about sustainable living.
If you’re wondering how to get into farming, you can find out more in our dedicated blog.
4. Archery
Archery is a unique and fantastic outdoor hobby that is a rewarding alternative to more intense sports. Archery doesn’t require a high level of fitness compared to many other sports and allows you to develop your accuracy, coordination and stability. Hitting your target amongst a backdrop of greenery can prove a cathartic experience, and for competitive individuals, this activity provides the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself.
You can participate in modern archery or relive days past with traditional archery using a wooden bow and arrows.
5. Climbing
This activity isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it’s a great way to build up your strength, endurance, and critical thinking. There is a wide range of climbing styles to choose from, whether that’s rock climbing, bouldering or even ice climbing. On your climbs, you’ll have access to a variety of natural locations and views unseen by many others. A truly rewarding experience, climbing can be difficult, but the huge payoff when you hit each milestone is well worth the effort.
6. Gardening
Outdoor hobbies don’t have to be strenuous, and gardening provides a valuable, more relaxed activity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air. You can spend summer evenings tending to flowers and herbs or tend to a private allotment, rewarding yourself with a dinner made from your homegrown fruits or vegetables.
When you’re planting, weeding or pruning, it’s important to keep yourself protected with the right gardening clothing. Protective gloves will keep thorns and debris away from your skin, while gardening wellies will keep your feet dry in wet weather and shield you from wild shrubbery or pesky weeds.
7. Cycling
Cycling is a brilliant activity that lets you explore sites all across the UK whilst getting in some valuable exercise. It’s also a great hobby that has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years. With many people looking for more sustainable travel methods, owning a bike offers both a way of getting from A to B as well as the opportunity to venture to more remote areas quickly.
You can choose to head out on your bike alone or join a cycling club to make friends and become part of a community. Teaching your children how to ride a bike is also a great way to bond and spend quality time together outdoors.
Safety is paramount when cycling, especially if your routes are on busy roads or pedestrian areas. All riders must have well-fitted, sturdy helmets, and you should always wear high-quality protective clothing to prevent scrapes and scratches.
Whether you are looking for a relaxed cycle or a challenging longer distance, there are a plethora of different cycle routes in Herefordshire
8. Horse Riding
If you want to connect with animals whilst enjoying the outdoors, then horse riding is the perfect activity that blends both factors. Riding a horse allows you to explore nature from new heights and also learn valuable skills in training and caring for an animal. Horseback riding isn’t just an outdoor hobby, it’s a way for people to form a special bond of trust with an animal. This is an especially popular activity for young children and can be for leisure or competition.
When out with your companion, you can enjoy serene walks along country paths, sandy beaches and wild woodlands.
9. Surfing
When you think of surfing, you might imagine tropical beaches and suntans, but this water sport is surprisingly popular in the UK. With a wide variety of coastal locations to enjoy, Britain has a vibrant surfing community. Although this is one of the more challenging outdoor hobbies, many people find riding the waves and experiencing the British seas to be an incredible and revitalising experience.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, surfing can become a valuable full-body workout, involving swimming, core strength training, and mental persistence.
Top Trending Spots: Cornwall, England
10. Shooting
Shooting is a classic countryside activity that merges both sports and socialising. Whether you opt for clay pigeon shooting or hunting, this is an excellent pastime for improving your patience, hand-eye coordination and tracking skills.
You can find yourself out in the open for hours when on a hunt, and it’s important to invest in the right shooting clothing to help support you. You’ll need a warm, insulated jacket for early morning expeditions as well as sturdy footwear, like shooting boots, to protect your feet across a range of terrains.
11. Yoga
One of the best outdoor hobbies to do alone, yoga is the perfect way to help you relax and focus on yourself. You can take yourself off to enjoy a wide range of scenic sites from beachfront horizons to natural woodland escapes.
Yoga helps to increase your flexibility and physical strength, but also has a huge benefit on mental health through practicing mindfulness. Even if you have limited mobility, you can still take part in basic yoga anywhere, whether that’s in your garden or at a dedicated wellness retreat.
12. Trainspotting
Who says the outdoors has to be about enjoying nature? You can still experience a wide range of outdoor hobbies in suburban areas, with one unique pastime being trainspotting. Whilst this may seem like a niche interest, there are many people across the country who enjoy watching different trains, trams and vehicles.
This can be a solitary or a social venture, and often avid trainspotters will meet in different locations to get a glimpse of new or beloved models.
13. Bird Watching
If you’d prefer to observe animals rather than locomotives, birdwatching is nature’s alternative to trainspotting. A great outdoor hobby that requires minimal effort, anyone with a keen eye for birds and patience can enjoy this pastime. You can bird watch anywhere, from dedicated nature reserves and wildlife parks. With well over 600 types of birds in the UK, you can travel all across the country to spot new species.
You don’t need to go far to enjoy this hobby, though. Even watching birds in your garden and ticking species off your list counts as bird watching.
14. Fishing
A relaxing pastime, fishing is a brilliant outdoor hobby to do alone. Unwind on your own or with friends along the many lakes and rivers across the UK. Challenge yourself with fly fishing or set off on a boat ride to enjoy some deep-sea fishing on the British coast.
People of all ages can learn to fish, and this can be a great way to bond with friends and family. Fishing is a great outdoor activity that doesn’t involve any strenuous movement, so people with mobility issues can still get out and enjoy the fresh ocean breeze.
Top Trending Spots: Check out the top 5 best rivers to fish in the UK.
Herefordshire location: The River Wye winds through Herefordshire and is renowned for its rich biodiversity, supporting a variety of fish species.
15. Photography
If you’re creative or artistic, photography is the perfect way to capture lasting memories of the beautiful landscapes and places you visit. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take some fabulous photos of your loved ones or stunning sunsets on your walks.
You can snap some shots of the city skylines or head off on a rural hike to take some panoramic photos of the mountains. This hobby doesn’t have to be an expensive one either! You can use your usual smartphone to take some photos or create some retro shots with a digital, Polaroid or disposable camera.
16. Painting
Another hobby to help unleash your creativity is drawing. All you need is a pencil and a piece of paper, but you can experiment with a range of mediums from watercolour to charcoal sketching. With so much inspiration for wonderful wildlife to stunning flora, each piece will be totally original and a treasured keepsake from all your adventures.
Dog Walking
Walking your dog is an essential daily task, but it can also be a fun outdoor activity for adults that lets you get out and enjoy the great outdoors. You can take more laid-back strolls around the block or park, or challenge yourself to a hike along coastal paths or woodland roads. Wherever you choose to walk, getting outdoors and exercising not only benefits your health but also your dogs.
Dog walking also offers the important opportunity for both you and your pup to socialise, get to know fellow dog owners and become a part of your local community. Ensure you have the right dog walking clothing like waterproofs and sturdy shoes, as your dog needs their valuable outdoor time, no matter the weather.
Herefordshire location: Marilyn's Meadow
Enjoy Outdoor Hobbies for All the Family
With so many different outdoor hobbies to enjoy, you’re guaranteed to find something you’ll love no matter your age and ability. Discovering your new passion is all about experimenting with a range of different activities.
Whatever hobbies you land on, ensure you’re prepared for whatever the outdoors brings with our range of premium country clothing at Philip Morris.
Pop down to our store in Hereford or contact us online for more information on our outstanding range of outdoor attire!
Posted by Isobel
Isobel is a social media specialist and content writer at Philip Morris & Son, where she creates visual media to generate sales. With a strong passion for language and marketing, she aims to craft content that connects with our customers and enhances brand presence. Starting her career in the dynamic world of social media, Isobel has recently joined the company and is keen to expand her copywriting skills and deepen her understanding of social media marketing.
Outside of work, Isobel enjoys making the most of the Herefordshire countryside walking. She’s also a keen cook, although will never turn down the opportunity to go out for dinner instead.