20 wild days out in the UK countryside
Pony express, Dartmoor, Devon Explore 400 sq miles of moorland on horseback — children even get to ride the famous Dartmoor ponies. Trot past rocky outcrops, gorse and heather, and splash through streams. dartmoorstables.com, 01364 621281
Hunters and highwaymen, Epping Forest, Essex A former Royal hunting ground and 18th-century haunt of the highwayman Dick Turpin, Epping Forest is a rich mosaic of habitats. Discover heath, rivers and more than 80 lakes and ponds. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/epping, 020-8508 0028 Insect hunting Cambridgeshire Wicken Fen is Britain’s oldest nature reserve and supports 8,230 species of birds, plants and insects. Don’t miss the rich peat bog, a haven for invertebrates — Charles Darwin travelled here to collect the rare crucifix ground beetle. wicken.org.uk, 01353 720274
Cold War relic, Orford Ness, Suffolk Today the bleak shingle spit is home to marsh harriers and barn owls, but only 40 years ago it was the test site for Britain’s first atomic bomb. The ramshackle concrete pagodas that once housed secret experiments on nuclear weapons can still be seen today. tinyurl.com/pdaoh, 01728 648024
Peak practice, Dark Peak, Derbyshire Lying in the north of the Peak District National Park, this moorland is dotted with bizarrely shaped boulders with outlandish names, such as Back Tor, the Cakes of Bread and Salt Cellar. Worth a visit, as long as you are aware that it is also notorious for uncanny occurrences, from missing aircraft to a giant slug that is rumoured to slither across the moor. www.visitpeakdistrict.com, 01457 869176
Rule the roost, Rutland Water, Rutland Stand on the banks of Western Europe’s largest man-made reservoir, watching windsurfers, canoeists and fishing boats, and chances are, until early September, you could spot something rarer. The osprey — on the brink of extinction — was introduced to Rutland Water by conservationists in 1996. Chicks hatch between May and June and develop into fledglings just nine weeks later. rutlandwater.org.uk, 01572 770651
Wildlife of the Wash, Frampton Marsh If you fancy a panoramic view of this Lincolnshire nature reserve, one of the 360-degree hides will bring the wildlife of the Wash, such as wading birds and ducks, up close. rspb.org.uk/framptonmarsh, 01205 724678
Waterfall watch, Durham Dales Is it any wonder that this has been named Britain’s most tranquil spot? Open moorland, sweeping meadows, heather-clad hills and the High Force waterfall — England’s highest uninterrupted drop — where the River Tees plunges 21m (70ft) into a churning pool. visitcountydurham.com, 01833 640209
Wild walking, Forest of Bowland Why not see if you agree with the Queen when she says that if she could retire, she would make the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, her home? Enjoy 300 sq miles of remote, heather-covered, peat-bog moorland. forestofbowland.com, 01200 448000
Caves and caverns, Isle of Staffa This small, uninhabited island off Mull in the Inner Hebrides is home to Fingal’s Cave, one of the world’s most famous caverns — it inspired Mendelssohn’s work of the same name. Take a boat from Oban or Iona to see its haunting beauty. tinyurl.com/yh8eo7q, 0844 4932215
Golden eagles, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Generations of urban Scots have journeyed to Loch Lomond in West Dunbartonshire for fresh air. The 24-mile (38km) stretch of water is home to more than 30 uninhabitated islands, while the Trossachs are often described as the Highlands in miniature. www.lochlomond-trossachs.org, 08452 255121
Precipice Walk, Snowdonia Despite its scary-sounding name, the four-mile walk on the lower slopes of Foel Cynwch involves hardly any climbing, although at 244m it is probably best not attempted by vertigo sufferers. Surefooted walkers aged 8 to 80 can enjoy the spectacular views. www.visitmidwales.co.uk, 01654 703526
Dolphin-spotting, Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion Cardigan Bay is home to some of the largest bottlenose dolphins on earth. While they can be seen at most times of the day, the best chances of seeing these playful animals are in the early morning or evening when there is more boat traffic. visitcardigan.com, 01239 613230
Coasteering, Pembrokeshire coast The term “coasteering” was first coined here 20 years ago. Simply dress in a wet suit, put on some protective headgear, grab a buoyancy aid and then throw yourself off a rock face into the swirling sea below. Not something you should try alone, but if the idea appeals there are several companies that organise coasteering days for wannabe daredevils. www.activitypembrokeshire.com, 01437 776499
Mind the hump, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall England’s most southerly point is a favourite with wildlife enthusiasts. The peninsula’s sea caves, formerly home to smugglers, now provide a haven for grey seals. For a beach trip with a difference, take a ride down to the seaside on a camel. Seven camels live at a nearby farm and pay their way by taking people on treks. cornishcamels.com, 01326 231119
Bats and hobgoblins, Forest of Dean The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire is peppered with scowles, a local term for bizarre moss-carpeted rock formations. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Romans excavated iron ore from the forest’s caves. They have since been reclaimed by nature, leaving spooky, magical creations that look like the homes of hobgoblins and dwarfs. A word of warning: watch out for the low-flying bats that inhabit the area’s oak, lime and beech trees. puzzlewood.net, 01594 833187
Subterranean tunnels, The Needles, Isle of Wight The remote, windswept headland on the western tip of the Isle of Wight is riddled with subterranean tunnels in the chalk, and has stunning views along the cliffs. To explore the tunnels, you don’t even have to do any climbing — there’s a chairlift to take you down to the beach. www.theneedles.co.uk, 0871 720 0022
Footsteps of miners, Honister Pass, Borrowdale The Honister Via Ferrata — or Iron Road — allows you to follow in the footsteps of Victorian miners over the raw and dramatic landscape of Cumbria, crossing steep gullies on intimidatingly narrow bridges. If you have a head for heights, you can also walk across to a cliff face, fasten yourself on with lanyards and clips, and hang off the edge, thousands of feet above ground. honister-slate-mine.co.uk, 017687 77714
Witches, wizards and haunted woodland, Alderley Edge, Cheshire Hunt the wizards and witches of local folklore in this sandstone escarpment above the Cheshire Plain, which is covered by oak and beech woodland and riddled with hidden entrances to Bronze Age mines. In the middle of the wood, take time to search out the delightful, tiny wishing well. The water is said to be magical, and to fall by the sorcerer Merlin’s will. alderleyedge.org
Mountain bike paradise, Tamar Valley, Devon The network of old mine chimneys, hidden quays and lunar-like spoil tips in the Tamar Valley makes it popular with mountain bikers. Expect sections that drop 500ft in a mile, adrenalin-inducing jumps and nerve-shredding bends that weave along the 50-mile River Tamar. Watch out for nightjars, endangered lichen and rare heath fritillary butterflies. woodlandriders.com, 01822 618178
Taken from Countryfile Perfect Days Out, by Cavan Scott, (BBC Books), £16.99