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Top 5 Fun Outdoor Activities For Adults

Top 5 Fun Outdoor Activities For Adults

26 May 2016

Whatever the weather, there’s nothing better than being active outdoors. Even something as simple as going for a walk or a run outside energises you and contributes to your overall mental and physical fitness. Especially if you have an office-based job where you sit at a desk all day, and you commute via car or public transportation, being active outdoors can really enliven your routine. Exercising in an indoor gym is good, but fresh air, beautiful scenery and an escape from the city centre make exercise even better.

Volunteering with the Army Cadet Force offers plenty of opportunities for fun outdoor activities for adults. As team leaders, our adult volunteers participate in the same activities as the cadets.

If you are an outdoors enthusiast, here are 5 fun outdoor activities for adults that you can do with the ACF.

1. Kayaking is one of the most versatile outdoor activities there is. You can kayak on the open sea, down a roaring river or around a placid lake. Dating back thousands of years to the Inuit people, kayaking allows you to get closer to nature than many other activities. You can explore places that would be difficult to reach on land, and see marine life up close. Ideal as a group activity, kayaking is great for teambuilding.

2. Skiing is an excellent way to spend time outside, getting exercise and scenic views in one. Perfect for beating the winter blues, you can enjoy even the coldest days when you’re on the slopes. There’s something for everyone: fast-paced downhill for experienced skiers, strenuous cross country for fitness buffs, easy cross country for beginners and backcountry for the adventurous.

3. Mountain biking is the ultimate outdoor challenge, requiring strength and stamina in heaps. It gives you a sense of accomplishment unlike anything else: pushing through burning muscles and weakening resolve to reach the peak. To mountain bike is to embrace difficulty and to know victory. It also is to know beauty – the clean mountain air, the views stretching as far as your eyes can see, and the peace that envelops you at the top.

4. Navigation, or orienteering, challenges your mind as well as your body. Its origins are as a military training exercise, but it has developed into a full-fledged sport. The aim is to navigate between various specific points, using a map and compass to guide your way. As a sport, the goal is to be a fast as possible, but if you’re doing it for fun, you can relax and take your time! Orienteering can be done on foot, bicycle, canoe, skis or car. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to go for a walk you could always try one of the best walks in the UK.

5. Shooting can be very intimidating, especially to complete novices who have never handled a gun. Once you practise a bit and get comfortable, however, it’s a lot of fun with a challenging twist. Shooting requires discipline and precision – controlling your breathing, your posture and your aim. It also requires a lot of responsibility; at the ACF, we ensure