The Best Outdoor Activity Breaks in the UK

Activity breaks are an exciting and fun alternative to the traditional holiday by the sea. At home in the UK, holidaymakers can choose from a range of breaks offering activities including surfing, kayaking, walking and hiking, amongst others. Sports coach Richard Mallett believes activity breaks are a great way to get away from the stressors of modern-day life whilst staying active.

Sea Kayaking, Scottish Highlands

Wilderness Scotland has a trip available that combines sea kayaking with hiking, to offer an activity break that is ideal for beginners and those who are looking to hone their skills. Holidaymakers can expect to spend four days on the water, paddling through remote bays and the picturesque uninhabited islands that line Scotland’s west coast. The trip also includes a guided walk that runs from the village of Gairloch, a great place to spot whales.

River Swimming, Oxfordshire

The clean, calm water of the Thames near Oxfordshire makes for a temping swim. SwimTrek’s itinerary takes place in sheltered water and traces the riverbank from Buscot Lock near Lechlade to Buckland Marsh near Faringdon. Before taking on this trip, holidaymakers should already have some understanding of open water swimming and be able to complete the daily distance of 6km.

Kite-Buggying, East Sussex

Kite-buggying combines go-karting and kite-flying in one exhilarating day at the beach. Kite-buggying is a thrilling sport where adventurers zip across the sand at up to 50mph in a low three-wheeled kart. The miles of flat, open beach of Camber Sands is the ideal place to give this sport a go.

Via Ferrata, Cumbria

In the Honister Slate Mine, holidaymakers will find England’s first via ferrata. This is a series of steel ladders and bridges that follow a Victorian miner’s route to the summit of Fleetwith Pike. Adventurers have a choice of Classic and Xtreme routes, and both will require a reasonable level of fitness and a head for heights.

Coasteering, Giant’s Causeway – County Antrim

Causeway Coasteering offers guided coasteering sessions along the Giant’s Causeway. Coasteering is an activity in which people explore the coastline by jumping, scrambling over rocks and swimming (cliff jumping is optional).

Strength Training Equipment for the Home

Strength training offers varied types of workout that can be completed almost anywhere. With the right equipment, it is possible to complete effective strength training at home. Sports coach Richard Mallett uses strength training as part of his training for the Ironman 2021 event.

Thick Yoga Mat

Strength training can be uncomfortable, and if an exercise calls for time to be spent kneeling on the ground a thick yoga mat can make all the difference. A thick mat will offer the knees, elbows and other joints extra support when doing high-impact exercises.

Kettlebells

Wherever a workout takes place, kettlebells are an essential strength training tool as they benefit a variety of exercises. Kettlebells are ideal for use with a range of strength exercises including bicep curls, squats and deadlifts. Unlike dumbbells, kettlebells force the user to work multiple muscle groups by challenging their balance.

Dumbbells

Dumbbells are an excellent equipment choice for compound and single lift exercises alike. Using dumbbells in strength training exercises can help to build muscle mass by using heavier weights and improve cardiovascular health by helping to increase the heart rate. Lunges, tricep kickbacks and shoulder presses can all benefit from the addition of dumbbells as they will challenge the body’s range of motion.

Resistance Bands

Originally designed for use in physiotherapy, resistance bands can help to tone small and large muscle groups. Resistance bands tend to vary in size and level of resistance and can be used to make low-impact exercises more intense. When compared to other exercise equipment, resistance bands are an economical way of improving fitness.

Stability Balls

Using a stability ball in place of a bench when working out core muscles challenges balance. Keeping steady throughout this type of exercise works multiple muscle groups, which increases the number of calories burned during a workout. Making use of a stability ball can also strengthen the core stability muscles, reducing the chance of injury. A stability ball can be used in hamstring curls, wall squats and glute bridges to strengthen the glutes, quads, arms and core muscles.