10 things... that are fun to do outdoors

i've had an outdoorsy post in my mind for a while and shimelle's "10 things" idea gave me just the excuse i needed to finally write it!

people often comment on how many outdoor hobbies i have, which i always think is weird as i don't see myself as a dirt under the finger nails type of girl at all. i hate the idea of camping, or being knee deep in dirt, but i do love the green of the country side, the feeling of sun on my face, and all the wonders of nature. given the option to write about any ten things of my choice, outdoorsy fun came to mind straight away. (and yes - there is one thing that is fun to do outdoors that i am purposely leaving off my list - but i imagine you can guess what that is)

1} horse riding. i took up riding at the age of 25, when all the other people at the stables were either 6 year old girls, or incredibly experienced adults. i thought it was pretty much too late to learn, but i was wrong. the rush of galloping through the country side and the joy of getting over a jump - no matter how high - are only heightened by the fact that i know a few years ago, i couldn't do any of this!

2} sailing. whether it's little boats or impressive yachts, sailing is great fun once you know the basics. i'll be the first to admit it's preferable to do it somewhere warm an sunny than anywhere on the british coast line, and that's why we reserve this as a holiday hobby. an added bonus is that it's really easy to tan (or alternatively - burn) with the cool breeze that's powering your sails on your face.

3} hiking. now this is a great option for a cheap day out. just throw on some sturdy boots, pack some sandwiches and a map, and go! whether it's ben nevis, or the local park, there's a great feeling of achievement in getting to the top of a hill.

4} yoga. this is on my wish list. i've always wanted to try a yoga class outdoors, preferably by a lake or somewhere equally as serene! where i live it's unlikely to be a nice experience, but a girl can dream.

5} geo-caching. for the big kid in all of us - there's nothing like finding some buried treasure. go to www.geocaching.com for all the details. if you don't have a gps device, you can test your map reading skills. you'd be amazed how many people are loving this craze right now. there's probably a cache buried right by your house and you wouldn't even know it.

6} kayaking. the best way to enjoy a nature reserve is on the water. from a kayak you can spot all kinds of things you might miss on foot. plus it's a great upper body work out. at tarpon bay on sanibel in florida, i've seen dolphins, sharks, manatees (or is the plural manatee? i never know!), and all kinds of birds, from the seat of a kayak.

7} via ferrata. a fantastic combo of hiking and rock climbing, this makes a great change from a usual mountain climb if you can get to a place to do it. using iron pegs and ropes already drilled into the rock, scale rock faces that would have been impossible on foot. i've enjoyed some of the via ferrata routes in the dolomites in italy, and there's also the honister slate mine in the lake district for a great day out.

8} explore country estates. as you may already know, i'm a huge fan of the english country estate. but not just the indoors. when many of those national trust houses are closed up for the winter, there are still grounds and gardens to wander around. the best kind have orangeries and follies to explore.

9} jogging. just fling on some trainers and run, any time of day you fancy. how great is that? getting fit and it's totally free.

10} nothing at all. my personal favourite. just sit on a picnic blanket and admire everything around you. listen to bird song or car horns. watch the breeze in the trees or the people passing by. smell the freshly cut grass or in my case, the freshly baked bread from the nearby factory.

i hope at least one thing here has inspired you. what's your favourite thing to do outdoors?

{em} x