HEALTH + WELLNESS
GET ACTIVE OUTSIDE cont .
Take on a charity challenge
This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge , which takes place over the weekend of 13th and 14th May . Although apparently you only need to be of ‘ average ’ fitness to take on what sounds like a mammoth challenge and can train for it in about three weeks , we ’ re not suggesting you grab your hiking boots and head straight up a mountain . It is worth considering a charity challenge on a slightly smaller scale to get your fitness kick started though . Most , if not all , are outside – be them sponsored walks , runs , or cycles – and many take into account absolute beginners too . Charities such as the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK detail a long list of outdoor activities right across the UK to choose from on their websites , so why not take a look , set yourself a goal , and raise some money for a good cause in the process . www . bhf . org . uk / challenges / www . diabetes . org . uk
Head out into the forest
Not your run-of-the-mill walking route , forests are enchanting – where else are you likely to encounter more squirrels and horses than people ? – and the Forestry Commission are encouraging us all to get out and explore the abundance of forest right on our doorsteps with a constantly evolving ‘ Active Forests ’ programme . Besides off-road cycling courses available at various sites and accessible to everyone from toddlers on stabilisers to hardy mountain bikers , # RunForestRun running routes cater for beginner runners with 3km , 2km and 1km trails marked out at various forests across the UK , and last year ‘ Wild Running ’ was established allowing more experienced runners to download routes across off-piste , non-waymarked trails – head to the website to find out about forest activities near you . www . forestry . gov . uk
Try your hand at orienteering
A great sport for people who want to brush up on their navigation skills , orienteering involves walking or running around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass too . The main aim is to navigate between a set of points provided in the quickest time possible , but there ’ s no real emphasis on time and you can complete courses at your own pace . These days , technology plays a helpful role – instead of faffing about with pens , paper and stopwatches , before you start a course , you ’ ll be given a small electronic ' dibber ', which attaches to your finger . When you present this to the recording box at each control point , it automatically logs your time and at the end of the course tots up a printout of your total time as well as a breakdown of the time you took between each leg . A brilliant activity for people who generally don ’ t like the idea of exercise ( or at least think they don ’ t ), orienteering is a lot fun and is a good workout for your brain too – before you know it , you ’ ll have walked miles . Saxons Orienteering Club organises orienteering events across the whole of Kent with varying degrees of navigational difficulty , so there ’ s something to suit all ages and levels of experience . Have a look at their website for events happening this summer . www . saxons-oc . org
Get to grips with mountain biking
According to research the average Brit hasn ’ t been on a bike in nine years . Nine years ! A shocking statistic considering Britain has some of the best off-road cycling in the world . Firstly , don ’ t let the ‘ mountain ’ in the title put you off , mountain bikes are used on every rideable surface from undulating forest trails to smooth tarmac pathways . Finding somewhere to ride is simple – one quick search online can point you towards loads of free resources to identify suitable locations and routes near you and national parks are becoming more bike friendly with every passing month . The National Trust is in the midst of building lots of new family-friendly trails across the country and many larger parks are introducing bike hire too . Check out the National Trust cycle route to Sissinghurst Castle and back to get you started – a ride of about 45 minutes , the route has been created to get you from Staplehurst station to Sissinghurst Castle and back , using back lanes and keeping you away from traffic on the busy A229 . Taking in leafy lanes , country cottages , farms , oast houses , orchards and the sleepy village of Frittenden , you ' ll approach the castle across National Trust farmland having seen lots of lovely countryside and ridden a very healthy 6.5 miles . www . nationaltrust . org . uk / sissinghurstcastle-garden / documents / download-ourcycle-trail . pdf
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