Outdoor wellbeing

Find an outdoor gym, take a poetic walk or connect with nature by way of a bracing outdoor swim. By Jane Dunford

Horse riding, Argyll More than just a physical activity, riding and spending time with horses has been shown to have positive effects on mental health, helping with anxiety and stress. On a full-day riding adventure on the Mull of Kintyre, the incredible scenery will also help spirits soar. Leaving from Campbeltown, riders explore beaches and the rocky coastline, learn of local legends, and stop to picnic while horses graze. Suitable for all riders with experience of cantering. A half-day trek through hills and ancient glens would suit novices. Half days from £75, wilderways.scot

Seaside yoga, Sussex Newly opened on the seafront in Kemptown, Brighton, Luna Wave offers yoga-lovers the chance to practise outside with views over the sea – a perfect addition to a seaside stay or day out. The timetable features classes for all levels of ability, from slow flow to stronger vinyasa (some even to live piano – this is Brighton after all) and there’s a geodesic dome with a large window overlooking the beach if the weather doesn’t hold. Social distancing and Covid safety measures are in place, too. It’s right next to the Bison Beach Bar and White Cloud Coffee for a pick-me-up after class. Drop-in classes £13, lunawave.co.uk

Creative walks, Devon Exercise body and mind on a walk with artist and nature-therapy guide Emma Capper in Devon. Her “Art of Being” Wanders take small groups to the beach, woodlands or the river – with the focus on different senses to allow a deeper connection to the landscape. Walkers are encouraged to write poems or draw pictures as part of a creative, playful afternoon. The next walk (3 October) is on Dartmoor, to the ancient site of Bone Hill Rocks, with an Autumnal Intuitive Art Trail and a Tree Story Trail later in the month at Dartington Hall Estate. Capper also tailor-makes sessions for groups and individuals. The Art of Being costs £25 for three hours, creativejourneys.org.uk

Outdoor swimming, Cambridgeshire With many indoor pools still closed there’s been a surge in outdoor swimming this summer – whether in rivers, lakes or the sea – and cold-water dips are proven to boost the immune system and help with stress. For hardy souls, SwimTrek runs small-group day trips into October (or wait until the weather warms up again in May). For a 3km swim in the River Cam in Cambridge, meet at the station, then it’s a pretty walk along the riverbank through parks and woodland to the start of the swim. Kent’s Viking Coast or Seven Sisters in Sussex are other day options, as are longer UK swimming holidays next year. Day trips on the Cam cost £145pp for five people. thomas@swimtrek.com

Outdoor gym, London Add a dose of alfresco activity to a day out in London with a session at an outdoor gym. There are several in the capital, with the one at Primrose Hill among the best. Varied equipment includes parallel and monkey bars – and the park is a good spot for hill running, with views across the city. There are many routes to choose from taking in Regent’s Park too – check out Royal Parks’ website for suggestions. For a proper workout, perhaps book a session with a mobile personal trainer via Home Health Fitness, which provides experts across London and the south-east, and tailors sessions to individual needs. One-hour private session costs £45, homehealthfitness.com

Woodland wellbeing, Essex Forest bathing is such a thing now it even has its own international day. Time spent soaking up the atmosphere of a forest can lower stress and boost the immune system. Guide Ruth Mortimer runs Forest Clouds Nature Therapy and leads three-hour sessions in woodlands in Essex, near Leigh-on-Sea and in Chelmsford, practising mindfulness and other exercises to help people relax. Group sessions cost £18pp. Next one is 8 Nov, but private sessions can also be booked, forestcloudsnaturetherapy.co.uk

Mountain hiking, Wales Don your walking boots for a day’s hiking on one of Snowdonia’s peaks. Instructors from the Plas y Brenin National Outdoor Centre will take families and small groups into the wilds, with all technical equipment provided. Routes depend on experience, fitness levels and group size. Newer hillwalkers might head towards the summit of Crimpiau, which offers great views, while the more experienced could go for a hike on 872m Moel Siabod. Full-day costs £350 for six people, pyb.co.uk

Outdoor meditation and yoga, Isle of Scilly The benefits of yoga and meditation are further boosted by soul-soothing scenery on picturesque Tresco. Weather permitting, Bryher islander Gem Hansen and guest tutor Esmée Halliday offer outdoor classes in locations from subtropical Tresco Abbey Garden to sandy beaches, into October – with practices including dawn meditation and dynamic flow (check website for updates). The archipelago, off the Cornish coast, lends itself to coastal walking, too. Drop-in classes from £10, tresco.co.uk

Farming fit, Fife Forget the confines of a gym with a fitness fix on a working farm near Leuchars. Rhynd Fitness offers challenges from climbing over straw bales to flipping tractor tyres as well as running and cycling routes through woodland and fields. Classes are on weekends and Wednesdays, and there are flexible personal sessions, too. Suitable for all levels. The farm has a café in a former grain store, Tentsmuir beach is just five minutes away, and St Andrews and Dundee are both 15 minutes by car. Drop-in class £8, therhynd.com

SUP Yoga, Lake District Enjoy the beauty of the Lake District from a new angle with a stand-up paddleboarding yoga session. Stef Kerek runs classes on Windermere at weekends into October (weather permitting), as well as bespoke lessons, for groups of up to five. Offering the opportunity to commune with nature as well as working on balance and strength, it’s a holistic, meditative experience as the mind focuses on the movement (and staying on board). And it’s all enhanced by the sounds of the birds and lapping water. No experience is necessary. Aged 12-plus. Two hours cost £40, board and wetsuit provided (£25 for those with own equipment), wasuppaddlesports.co.uk

Short runs with glorious countryside views

Get your running shoes on and stride out through Britain’s most enchanting landscapes. By Jen and Sim Benson

Ilam and Dovedale, Peak District Early morning is the best time to make the most of running in this beautiful but popular corner of the White Peak. Starting either at Ilam – where there’s also a café – or Dovedale, follow level trails alongside the River Dove and up the steep-sided limestone gorge. Cross the famous stepping stones, pass the towering pinnacle of Ilam Rock and climb up through Dovedale Wood. If the weather’s good, add in the steep ascent to the summit of Thorpe Cloud for one of the best viewpoints in the Peak District. Start/finish: Ilam Park, Derbyshire, DE6 2AZ. Distance: 5.5 miles (8.8km)

Penrose, Cornwall Set on the western edge of Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula, the Penrose Estate is a diverse mix of parkland, farmland, coast and wetland. At its centre, freshwater Loe Pool is divided from the sea by the vast shingle spit of Loe Bar. Run the peaceful waterside trail right around the pool, crossing the bar to finish. Look out for herons, kingfishers, buzzards and, if you’re really lucky, otters, as you go. Start/finish: Penrose Hill car park, Helston, TR13 0RD. Distance: 5.8 miles (9.4km)

Heddon Valley, Exmoor Nestled on Exmoor’s rugged coastline, Heddon Valley is a steep-sided wooded cleft that runs to the sea at Heddon’s Mouth. At the heart of the valley, the National Trust-owned Hunter’s Inn makes a cosy base for exploring. There’s a good climb to start, following the 19th-century carriageway out of the valley, winding through Hollow Brook Combe, flanked with sessile oaks and rare whitebeams, and past Martinhoe Beacon Roman Fortlet. The final miles rise and fall with the South West Coast Path all the way back to Heddon. Start/finish: Heddon Valley National Trust car park, EX31 4PY. Distance: 6 miles (9.5km). nationaltrust.org.uk

Devil’s Punch Bowl, Surrey It’s said that this deep hollow in the Surrey Hills was created by the Devil who, in a fit of rage, scooped up a vast handful of earth to throw at Thor. Geologists suggest spring-sapping – underground erosion by water. Either way, the Devil’s Punch Bowl is a monumental feature – a pocket of lowland heath freed from the A3, which now runs underground. Start your run along the edge of the bowl, diving into the depths of Highcombe Bottom and emerging on to an atmospheric grassed-over stretch of the old A-road. Start/finish: Devil’s Punch Bowl, Hindhead, GU26 6AB. Distance: 4.5 miles (7.3km)

The Lodes Way, Cambridgeshire The six waterways of the Cambridgeshire Lodes connect the River Cam with the villages on the edge of the fens. Running through this intriguing landscape, the 8-mile (13km) Lodes Way links the nature reserve at Wicken Fen with the Jacobean-style house at Anglesey Abbey. It is totally flat yet utterly absorbing, and you can follow the trail as far as you wish through some of Europe’s most important wetlands, home to 9,000 species of plants and animals including rare hen harriers and bitterns. “Wild” camping in open cabins is available at Wicken Fen. Start/finish: Wicken Fen visitor centre, CB7 5XP. Distance: Up to 6.2 miles (10km) each way

Malham, Yorkshire High above the popular village of Malham, with its awe-inspiring limestone cove and pavement, the peaceful expanse of Malham Tarn nestles within the rugged fellside. Reflecting the weather and the sky, this natural lake is an essential part of the nature reserve. Begin your run at the water’s edge, climbing up on to open moorland for sweeping views across the Dales before following the Pennine Way down through dry limestone valleys to finish. For a longer trip, you can stay at one of the National Trust’s bothies, situated minutes from the tarn. Start/finish: Watersinks car park, Malham Tarn, BD23 4DJ. Distance: 6.3 miles (10.2km). nationaltrust.org.uk

Great Langdale, Lake District Esteemed by rock climbers, fell runners and hill walkers seeking the rugged crags and summits of the famous Pikes, Great Langdale is also home to some outstanding and infinitely more runnable lower-level trails. Taking its name from the Norse for “long valley”, this U-shaped glacial valley was protected from development by the academic and historian George Macaulay Trevelyan, who gave it to the National Trust for everyone to enjoy. Follow the Cumbria Way as it loops Great Langdale, traversing the feet of mountains that rise thrillingly to either side. Start/finish: Sticklebarn, Great Langdale, LA22 9JU. Distance: 3.9 miles (6.3km)

Dolmelynllyn, Gwynedd A rare pocket of temperate rainforest, Dolmelynllyn, in southern Snowdonia, is rich in ancient trees, lichens, mosses and ferns, all of which thrive in its moist environment, fed by the spray from waterfalls. The forest is also home to red squirrels, pine martens, otters and birds of prey. Run along the waymarked Estate Walk on trails travelled by humans for millennia through a landscape that has changed little during this time. You’ll cross the impressive Rhaeadr Ddu falls, inspiration to generations of artists and writers, and traverse an exhilarating stretch of open mountainside. Start/finish: Dolmelynllyn, Ganllwyd, Gwynedd, LL40 2TF. Distance: 4.4 miles (7km)

Skirrid Fawr, Brecon Beacons Rising from the Black Mountains on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons, the distinctive jagged outline of Skirrid Fawr results from a long history of landslips. Its Welsh name, Ysgyryd, means “split” or “shattered”, leading to many local legends about its formation. The run begins with a steady climb through woodland, emerging on to the open ridgeline that soars straight for the summit. Though the summit stands just 1,594ft (486m) high, the views rival many of its higher neighbours. A steep descent follows, plunging into a valley that feels remote and ancient, edged by woodland and craggy outcrops. Start/finish: Llanddewi Skirrid, Abergavenny, NP7 8AP. Distance: 3.1 miles (5km)

Balmacara, Highlands Covering the rocky hills, forest and moorland between Loch Alsh and Loch Carron, Balmacara is a traditional Highland crofting estate owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Miles of well-maintained, waymarked trails connect the region’s settlements, yet in this remote and undiscovered corner of Scotland you’re likely to have them all to yourself. Start your run in the centre of Balmacara village, with its friendly café and gallery. There’s a good climb to reach the forested foothills of Sgurr Mor, then clear tracks lead to the hamlet of Reraig. With views across Loch Alsh to Skye and the narrows of Kyle Rhea, it’s downhill all the way to the finish. Start/finish: The Square, Balmacara, IV40 8DP. Distance: 3.4 miles (5.5km)

To buy a copy of Short Runs in Beautiful Places by Jen and Sim Benson (National Trust Books, £12.99) for £11.30, go to guardianbookshop.com

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