Exploration
10 adventure experiences you won’t believe you can have in the UK
From deserts and rainforests to the Northern Lights and fiery viking ceremonies -- prepare to take a walk on the UK’s exotic side.
There are parts of the UK that are more exotic than you might think. Scratch the surface and you’ll find all sorts of weird, wonderful and otherworldly adventures, right here on your doorstep.
You can explore coral reefs, wander alpine heaths and watch seals cavorting off the coastline. You can ski down mountain slopes, weather permitting, and take a trip to the UK’s only desert. All within striking distance of a proper cup of tea...
Word of caution: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, you should refer to local guidelines before visiting these locations. You can find more information about accessing green spaces safely, by clicking on the following locations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Some attractions and facilities may also be closed, so check before you go.
1. Find a remote place to see the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights and a shooting star over the Firth of Forth
© Michal Ziembicki; Flickr CC
Location: Various (inc. Shetland Islands, Donegal)
If for no other reason than the British Isles has a somewhat damp climate, it seems only fair that those ashore should get an occasional glimpse of the aurora borealis. Y’know, just to take the edge off the frostbite.
The Northern Lights sometimes really are visible in the UK – particularly in places with low light pollution. As a general rule, the further north you go, the better your chance of seeing the aurora -- so head for the Scottish Highlands or islands such as the Shetlands if you can. Over in Northern Ireland, Donegal is a popular spot for it.
Wherever you trek though, check out AuroraWatch UK, a free service run by scientists at the University of Lancaster, which sends a notification whenever the level of disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field suggests an aurora sighting is possible.
2. Ride a fatbike down Europe’s second-biggest sand dune
Location: Porthcawl, Wales
Tyres and sand tends not to be a dream combination. Unless, of course, you’re riding a fatbike.
With tyres around 3-inches wide and low air pressure of around 8-10psi, these bikes truly come to life on sketchier terrain such as snow, mud and sand.
One of the best places to go fatbiking in the UK is Bridgend County in Wales, an area where beaches and sand dunes abound. You can hire a fatbike here from £10, or book onto a fatbiking tour from £55, via Porthcawl Bike Hire.
Fatbiking in this part of the world ranges from extreme to serene. In Methyr Mawr, adventure-seekers can take on Europe’s second-biggest sand dune, the ‘Big Dipper’ (only beaten for size by Western France's Dune of Pilat), while milder thrills can be found among the pretty coastline and rare fen orchids found in the area.
3. Visit a desert… in Kent!
Dungeness can feel a bit like a mirage
© Ijclark; Flickr CC
Location: Dungeness, Kent
Dungeness feels a bit like a mirage. Sat on Kent’s most south-easterly headland, roughly a 2-hour drive from London, is what has long been described as the UK's only desert.
Granted, many leading experts have gone on record as saying the area doesn't warrant desert status, claiming the level of rainfall in Dungeness disqualifies it from being a true desert; but it certainly bears enough of the hallmarks to warrant a day-trip all the same.
The 12-square miles of desolate shingle interspersed with rare plants, rusted railway tracks and quirky homes give it the feel of dusty Nevada. Unless you’re among the handful of people who live in this enigmatic wasteland, it could hardly feel less like home.
Should you also want to get in some kitesurfing while you’re in the neighbourhood, head for The Kitesurf Centre in nearby Camber for a gnarly afternoon on the water.
4. Go whale watching
Killer whales can be found in the northern waters around Scotland
© Getty Images
Location: Various (inc. Hebrides, Yorkshire)
Whales, dolphins and other marine megafauna are surprisingly abundant in UK waters – especially in hot spots off the east and south-west of England, in the Irish Sea, and around the Scottish islands. The species sighted hereabouts include minke whales, basking sharks, porpoises, and on rare occasions, orcas and humpback whales.
Whale-watching cruises set sail from various ports around the country, including Whitby, Penzance, and Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands. Bear in mind that the species you can see will vary depending on the area you visit, and there can be no guarantee of a sighting. Moby Dick is over 200,000 words long for good reason.
While whales are seen around the UK all through the year, sightings tend to be likelier between April and November.
5. Ski down a snowy mountain slope
Depending on weather, you can get your ski fix in the Scottish Highlands
© Gbsngrhm; Flickr CC
Location: Scottish Highlands
It’s not quite the Swiss Alps, but the Scottish Highlands can offer good skiing through winter and spring – especially in January and February. This area is home to the UK’s most popular (and snowy) ski resorts, notably including Glenshee Ski Centre, CairnGorm Mountain and Glencoe Ski Centre.
Ski season in Scotland depends entirely on the weather, with some years producing better conditions and a longer season than others. It’s always a good idea to check the lay of the land before making any plans – and that counts double for those of you eyeing up a ski session in England or Wales, where rope tows are used by groups such as The Lake District Ski Club when the snow gods are kind.
6. Explore a dazzling coral reef
Location: Plymouth
Fancy a glimpse into a whole other world? Just go to Plymouth.
Just offshore you'll find Plymouth Reefs, an area of spectacular marine landscapes and home to a kaleidoscopic array of species, communities and habitats. You name it -- coral reefs, dazzling fish such as the corkwing wrasse, kelp parks, sea fans -- they've got it.
If you’re a keen diver and you’d like to explore this fascinating region, you can charter a boat trip to the best Plymouth Reefs dive sites with Venture Charters, who describe Plymouth Reefs as a 'flooded garden'.
7. Watch a Viking boat burning ceremony
Location: Lerwick
Most of the adventure experiences covered in this article will take you to places you may not have expected to find in the UK. This one will take you to another time.
Up Helly Aa is Shetland’s Viking Fire Festival, an annual celebration of the region’s heritage, featuring a mix of traditional Scandinavian dress, a torchlit procession, and a show-stopping boat-burning ceremony. With over 800 participants and thousands of attendees, it’s an otherworldly spectacle of fire – and, often, ice.
The event takes place at Lerwick, the main town of the Shetland Islands, on the last Tuesday of January. You can get there by air or ferry (under the circumstances, it’s best to avoid wooden galleys), and you’ll need to book your accommodation in advance.
8. Check out an alpine heath
The Lake District is home to rich purple heathland
© Thierry Gregorius; Flickr CC
Location: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Here’s one for the botanists among you. The UK has an abundance of heathland, including various types of alpine heath (above the treeline) and boreal heath (below it). These lofty regions are characterised by low, woody shrubland, commonly including heath, heather and gorse. Lichens, bilberries and scarcer plants such as Alpine blue-sowthistle, tufted saxifrage and alpine sulphur tresses are also present in a few locations – though it often takes knowledge, determination and luck to find them.
Alpine and boreal heaths exist only in the northerly parts of the British Isles, including the Lake District High Fells, Moor House in Upper Teesdale, and the highest summits of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. As might be expected, Scotland has more alpine and boreal heaths than the rest of the UK put together, in areas such as the Cairngorms, Foinaven and Ben Wyvis.
Oh, and when visiting an alpine heath, try to stick to the footpaths. You’re there to spot rare plants, not squash them.
9. Hike through a rainforest
The windswept Crinan Wood, Argyll, is all a bit Jurassic Park
© Crinan Wood, Argyll
Location: Various (inc. parts of the west coast of Scotland, Snowdonia, Devon, Cumbria and Northern Ireland)
In parts of the West Coast of Scotland, Snowdonia, Devon, Cumbria and Northern Ireland, you’ll find a type of environment that only exists in a handful of places worldwide. These areas are coastal temperate rainforests: broadleaf or coniferous forests where annual rainfall exceeds 140cm, and mean temperatures range from 4-12°C.
UK rainforests are considered part of the world's Coastal Temperate Rainforest biome, a habitat ultra rare and actually more threatened than tropical rainforest. They attract a diverse amount of wildlife and plants, with a wide range of mosses, lichens, fungi and birds can thrive in these cold, wet conditions.
Good places to experience this rare habitat include Crinan Wood, near Loch Crinan in Scotland, and Coed Felenrhyd in Gwynedd, Wales. Both these sites are managed by the Woodland Trust, so you can expect plenty of good footpaths and signage when you visit. To find your nearest UK rainforest, consult this handy guide from the Woodland Trust.
10. Visit an Italianate village
Portmeirion Village
© Wiki Commons
Location: Portmeirion, Wales
While Italy may never forgive Wales for continually pummelling them on the rugby field, they can always take solace from the peculiar Welsh village of Portmeirion, which has been doing its bit for diplomatic relations between the nations for the better part of a century.
Built between 1925 and 1975 by Italophile architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, recreating the ambience and architectural style of a traditional Italian fishing village, there's a lot to pack in. As well as a couple of hotels (visitors can stay in the bespoke cottages overlooking the main piazza), six restaurants, an art gallery, cafes, ice cream parlour, a spa, there's also the white sandy beaches of the Dwyryd Estuary, where you can discover hidden caves, gullies and go for a swim.
What's more, just a short drive from nearby Snowdonia National Park, there's plenty more adventure if you want it...
