Summer Outdoor Bucket List
Summer is in full swing, but it won’t last forever (to the joy of heatwave haters everywhere). Before the dark, chilly days make their dreaded return, now is the time to squeeze as much outdoor adventure as you can out of the summer season.
To help inspire your next adventure, we’ve put together a summer outdoor bucket list full to the brim with experiences to make this season one to remember. To make things interesting, we’ve also put together a scoring system to see how many you can tick off before the autumn leaves begin to tumble. How many will you be able to get? (No excuses!) -
1–3 = Fair-weather explorer
4–7 = Outdoor enthusiast
8–10 = Adventure addict
Summer Outdoor Bucket List
Camp under the stars
Yes, technically all camping is under the stars. But for the true experience, pick a clear night and choose a location with as little light pollution as possible. From there you can imagine an alien species on one of those stars camping on their own planet, staring back and saying 'that one looks cool'.
Or not. You can just admire the pretty lights; we won't judge.
Try paddleboarding somewhere new
Catch some waves this summer with a paddleboarding trip. One of the UK's fastest-growing water sports, you can get paddling in some stunning locations. (That you can view upside down if you fall off the board)
New to paddleboarding? We have an extensive guide on everything paddleboarding, where you can learn all the essentials.
Complete a coastal walk
There is something special about a walk by the sea. A sea breeze, the crashing of the waves and consistently beautiful views, no matter how far you've travelled.
However, fair warning. Be on guard for one of Mother Nature's most dangerous creatures: the seagull. Particularly fearsome when they have a bag of chips in sight or a sausage roll to swipe from a unsuspecting victim.
From dramatic clifftops, sandy beaches or a stroll to the ice cream van (How much for a 99?), there's tons of incredible coastal walks in the UK. Can't decide? Check out our guide on coastal walks which offers plenty of inspiration.
Watch a sunset from a hilltop
After a challenging climb, there's nothing more rewarding than a quiet, stunning view at the top. Sit back, relax, enjoy a bite to eat (oi, clean up afterwards).
Cook breakfast outdoors
Imagine this: the birds are chirping, there's a gentle breeze sighing, the sun is slowly drifting up out of the horizon, turning purple into blue, and you're just about to complete the set with a sausage sandwich. Whether you're just up early for a garden brekkie or waking up on your campsite, nothing quite beats opening the day up with an outdoor breakfast. Prepare for your early morning feast with a camping stove or barbecue that will help even terrible chefs (like me) cook up a treat.
Complete a circular walk and stop for a pub lunch halfway
No Sunday stroll is complete without a visit to the pub halfway through. A lovely, gentle stroll followed by a strong, hearty lunch and then a further stroll to walk off those calories. If you're stopping halfway, make sure you don't eat too much; no one wants to see your Yorkshire pudding for the second time in a day.
Luckily for you, you're spoiled for choice, as we have a full guide showcasing the best the UK has to offer for those delicious pub walks.
Watch the Perseid meteor shower
Photo by Prokhor Minin on Unsplash
One of the most active meteor showers of the year, it happens as Earth passes through the debris of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
It is set to range from 17 July to 24 August, with the supposed peak happening on the nights of the 12th and 13th of August. To get the best opportunity of watching it, visit a dark nature reserve such as the Yorkshire Dales National Park or Northumberland National Park, which will give you a gorgeously unobscured look at the sky depending on the weather. Stay away, pesky clouds.
Basically, the sky looks really cool, and you should definitely get out and see it.
Find a wild swimming spot
Go for a dip in a brand new location. Wild swimming can be incredibly rewarding, but safety always comes first. Check water conditions, temperature, depth, currents and other suitability factors before taking the plunge.
Also, if you can't swim, then maybe it's not the adventure to start with for you just yet.
Spend a day completely offline
One that we could all probably do with. A challenge that I'm sure would seem remarkable to people from the not-too-distant past, but here we are. Get offline, go for a stroll, get in the garden, read a book and enjoy a day without screens.
Keep a phone nearby in case you need to be contacted in an emergency, and let people know so you're not actively ghosting, but apart from that, leave that screen alone.
So, what are you still doing here? I know this blog is impossible to put down, but it'll still be here when you're done, ready to tick this one off.
So, how many did you complete?
Have you ticked off any of the checklist? (I hope so; it took me time to write it). Whether you're a fair-weather explorer or an adventure addict, the reality is, as long as you got outdoors this summer, it doesn't really matter. (Only if you got zero, come on). As summer comes towards its conclusion, don't despair; we've got autumn to look forward to, which promises plenty of outdoor adventure and a lack of heatwaves.
Calum Jones
Author & Outdoor Enthusiast Since graduating from university in 2021, a full-time dream role in the outdoors has been Calum's focus. He specialises in content creation, helping to spread and articulate the joys of the outdoors to journalists, organisations, and the general outdoor population. Learning the intricacies and niches of the outdoor industry, Calum has developed a keen interest in everything outdoors, where his favourite UK locations to explore are the stunning Peak District, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. Calum enjoyed completing The Yorkshire Three Peaks recently, and has challenging routes around the Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough under his belt. A keen eye for fitness, Calum's main interests include going to the gym and taking strolls around the surrounding walking trails and nature reserves of South Manchester. At the weekend, you'll usually find Calum at the Etihad Stadium cheering on his boyhood football team, Manchester City.
