8 Activities To Add To Your Summer SUP Bucket List
Summer's in full swing, so pack your gear and get out in the sun! Have a look through our inspiring list of awesome summer SUP activities to try this year.
Red’s Epic Solo Adventure Ideas For Outdoorsy Individuals
Written by Luke Green /
A solo adventure is always sure to be a unique and memorable experience. It’s a chance to challenge yourself as you become fully immersed in nature and all that it has to offer - all without having to make plans on anybody else's terms.
Whether you’re hiking in the mountains, paddleboarding along serene waterways or backpacking across remote trails in the wild, solo adventures offer a huge range of opportunities to discover things about the great outdoors and about yourself. Sounds pretty great right? We think so too, and have come up with five solo adventure ideas for you to consider as a starting point.
Why Go On A Solo Adventure?
We can’t deny that there’s a certain charm in sharing your time in the great outdoors with family and/or friends. You get to create lifelong memories together and can quite literally share the load if your chosen activity requires equipment or supplies to keep you going.
However, there are always times when it’s simply not possible to align schedules with your adventure buddies and it’s these moments where it would be easy to put your plans on hold and save your exploration for another day. By going solo instead, you’ll not only get to enjoy the same experiences you’d envisaged but you’ll also get some precious and rare time for self-reflection and relaxation.
It’s also a common misconception that going on a solo adventure means completely isolating yourself from others and spending the whole time alone. This certainly isn’t the case; you may wish to start an adventure solo but aim to meet like-minded people along the way or join a group tour or activity without knowing anybody beforehand. All of these experiences make experiencing the great outdoors alone that little bit less daunting, without having to totally sacrifice your all-important alone time.
Solo Adventures To Try
When it comes to planning your solo adventure, there are very few activities that you’d fail to adapt and make suitable for trying alone. However, from both a safety and a fun perspective, it’s incredibly worthwhile to plan ahead and work out how you can get the most out of your solo adventure without putting yourself at risk or in danger.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Enjoy the freedom that your inflatable paddleboard grants and head off on a tranquil SUP solo adventure trip. There are some amazing picturesque paddleboarding spots that you could visit all over the UK, such as in the Lake District, and they’re generally popular enough with other water users that you’ll have some level of comfort in knowing that you’ll never be totally alone.
SUP Yoga
You could even add an extra element of relaxation to your paddleboarding adventure by trying SUP Yoga or going on a SUP Yoga retreat. This unique activity certainly adds a more challenging dimension to your paddleboarding, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience and gives you the chance to switch off and fully immerse yourself in some truly beautiful watery vistas.
Cycling Trip
The next of our solo adventure ideas for you to try is a long-distance cycling trip - an all-round great activity for building endurance, strengthening your immune system and enhancing mindfulness. The beauty of cycling alone is that you can plan out your journey according to your tastes, set your own pace and immerse yourself in all kinds of different environments on a cycling solo adventure trip. If there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to explore, cycling solo is a great way to get there free of the pressure of group ability leading the way.
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing can be a thrilling and challenging experience, which makes it one of our top solo adventure ideas for anyone with a passion for more extreme and tactical activities. There are amazing rock climbing routes all over the world, so have a look into where you might want to try climbing, whether it be closer to home or far abroad as part of a bigger trip.
Although solo rock climbing requires stringent preparation and safety measures, it is a deeply engaging and rewarding experience. Unless you’re really experienced, we’d suggest looking into this as a trip where you meet others along the way. There are loads of group trips and tours you can book as an individual, so get researching and find an adventure that matches your skill level.
Wild Camping
One of the easiest ways to explore the outdoors solo is a camping trip in the wild. Wild camping is an incredible activity that allows you to get away from your busy home life and take some time to immerse yourself in boundless nature, all without too much planning or requirement for equipment beyond a reliable tent. Camping alone helps you to forget all the minutiae and stress and remember the important things in life, just like Katie and Fudge did earlier this year. Just ensure that you have proper permission from the landowner, let a loved one know you are going away and when you plan to return, and prepare accordingly with food, water and equipment.
Hiking
Perfect as a short adventure or combined with some of the solo adventure ideas on this list as part of an epic trip, hiking on the world’s greatest trails can be a thoroughly scenic and immersive experience, with unbeatable views that will stay with you forever. There are hikes available for tastes, whether you’re after exploration in a historic site, an epic mountain hike or a tranquil forest trek. Get all of your gear together in your Waterproof Backpack and head out on your very own, truly independent hiking adventure.
Related articles
How To Prepare For Your Summer SUP Adventures
With summer on the near horizon, it’s a great time to start making preparations to embark on your very own summer SUP adventure.
Why A Red Paddleboard Is The Best Gift For An Outdoorsy Person
Struggling with your gift-buying this year? A Red paddleboard is the ultimate gift for an outdoorsy person - find out why in this Red Paddl
