ExerciseExplorer

Categories / Outdoor & adventure

Outdoor & adventure

Orienteering, climbing, golf, archery, skating and more. Get outside, try something new and keep it social. Some have real risks, so learn with a guide or club.

Outdoor and adventure activities get you into fresh air and nature while you build fitness. Our 17 exercises include orienteering, climbing, golf, archery, skating, skateboarding, parkour and other active hobbies, many of them sociable and easy to try with a club or a guide.

Some of these activities carry real risks, so learn the basics properly and use proper safety kit. Each guide explains how to start, how to progress and what to know before you go. Compare the options to find an outdoor activity that suits your fitness, budget and where you live.

Which outdoor and adventure activity option suits you?

Answer what you can. We pick the best match from the 17 below. Your answers are saved on this device only, so the rest of the site can use them.

Where can you get out? (tick all that apply)
Anything we should allow for? (optional)

17 regimes

Outdoor & adventure

Orienteering

Navigate with map and compass between checkpoints.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●○○Low cost
Outdoor & adventure

Obstacle Course Racing

Runs with walls, crawls and carries (e.g. Spartan, Tough Mudder).

120 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●●●Moderate cost
Outdoor & adventure

Via Ferrata and Scrambling

Protected climbing routes in mountains.

240 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●○○Moderate cost
Outdoor & adventure

Caving

Exploring underground cave systems.

180 min × 1/wkEffort ●●●○○Moderate cost
Outdoor & adventure

Horse Riding

Riding for leisure or sport.

60 min × 1/wkEffort ●●○○○High cost
Outdoor & adventure

Golf (Walking)

Round of golf on foot.

240 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Moderate cost
Outdoor & adventure

Disc Golf

Golf-style game with flying discs.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●●○○○Free
Outdoor & adventure

Archery

Bow shooting for focus and posture.

60 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Moderate cost
Outdoor & adventure

Skateboarding

Street and ramp skating.

60 min × 3/wkEffort ●●●○○Low cost
Outdoor & adventure

Parkour

Moving over obstacles using jumps, vaults and climbs.

90 min × 3/wkEffort ●●●●○Low cost
Outdoor & adventure

Slacklining

Balancing and walking on a flat line.

20 min × 2/wkEffort ●●○○○Low cost
Outdoor & adventure

Geocaching

GPS treasure hunt that adds walking.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Free
Outdoor & adventure

Lawn Bowls

Gentle bowling game on grass.

120 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Low cost
Outdoor & adventure

Pétanque and Boules

Throwing steel balls to a target; casual and social.

60 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Free
Outdoor & adventure

Croquet

Mallet and hoop lawn game.

90 min × 1/wkEffort ●○○○○Low cost

Outdoor & adventure: pros and cons

What to like and what to watch for, so you can decide whether this type of exercise is right for you.

Best for: People who want adventure, nature and a new skill, not just a workout.

Pros

  • Fresh air and green space are good for mood
  • Plenty of variety, from golf and archery to climbing and orienteering
  • Often sociable, with clubs and groups
  • Learning a new skill keeps it interesting

Cons

  • Some activities carry real risks, so learn from a guide or club
  • Travel, kit and fees can be significant
  • Weather, daylight and where you live limit what you can do
Compare with the other 18 categories →