Our super-simple guide to fast, light and laidback adventures
Make the most of the weekend with OAG’s ultimate guide to quick, light and spontaneous adventuring
We’re on a mission. A mission to prove that a great adventure doesn’t have to involve weeks of planning, hours of travelling or days of camping. All you need is an empty weekend, a few basic bits of gear and a great sense of adventure.
HOW TO DO IT
Climb a hill, camp in a field, canoe a river… the choice is yours |Visit Britain
Wake up, climb out of bed, pack your rucksack and open the front door… Okay, you might want a bit more planning than that!
Start off by choosing your vehicle: will you be travelling to your campsite by canoe, bike or foot? Rowboat or motorcycle? Scooter or err… parachute. The options are next to endless.
From there work out your area. If you’re staying local, determine your limits (e.g. seven miles walking, 25 miles cycling) and look for scenic spots or campsites within that distance from your home.
Using public transport opens up the options even further: look for rural train stations or small towns on main railways and use them as your base (for example, Lewes is on the mainline from London but minutes from the South Downs, or Hathersage, in the heart of the Peak District, but easily train-able from Sheffield and Manchester).
Sunday mornings are always better with views like this | Visit Britain
Using a car opens up the whole country, of course, but takes the challenge out of it somewhat.
Before pinpointing your final spot think about whether you’ll stay at a campsite, or try wild camping: wild camping adds flexibility and sense of adventure, but comes with extra considerations (see do’s or don’ts, below).
You’ve picked your mode of transport and destination. Now’s the time to work out the logistics: look up timetables, find out when the sun sets (no one likes to pitch a tent in the dark), arrange hire (if needed) and buy/pack supplies. Simple.
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR MINI ADVENTURES
If wild camping, remember it is technically illegal in most of the UK | Mountain Hardwear
• Do be flexible – bad weather or logistical nightmares don’t need to scupper your plans, just alter them
• In England wild camping is only legal on Dartmoor, so don’t try it without asking the landowner’s permission. In Scotland you can wild camp anywhere, but you must always leave the site as you found it.
• Do pack light, especially if hiking or cycling. Less is always more.
• Don’t forget the camera, adventurous selfies are a must!
WHAT TO PACK
• Sleeping bag – a good, packable three season one should do the trick
• Sleeping mat – essential for added comfort and warmth
• Tent or bivvy – the smaller and lighter the better
• Lightweight stove – Primus ETA or Jetboil systems are good places to start
• Layers – a good base layer, mid layer and shell will keep all weather bases covered
• A torch (plus batteries)
• Food and water
• A map and compass
• A warm hat
• Toiletries
• A sense of adventure!
Need more inspiration? Check out our tried and tested mini-adventures: The Poorly Planned Canoe Trip and the Secret Island Adventure.
