If you’ve been finding yourself sat around, twiddling your thumbs lately and can’t decide what to do to keep busy this Winter, don’t let the cold weather stop you exploring the outdoors.
Wrap up warm, get your flask of tea or coffee, and head out on an adventure with our top recommendations for winter activities to keep you busy and active.
Go Fishing!
Whether it’s a cold or warm climate, fishing is an extremely relaxing sport and something you can do all year, even in the Winter.
Get your gear packed and head down to your local fishing spot, whether it’s lakeside fishing or sea fishing, you’re sure to spot some interesting specimens.
Our top rule for Winter fishing is to be patient. The fish can be scared away in cold weather, but they’re still there somewhere, all it takes is patience, the right technique, and the right bait.
Like all sports, fishing takes practice, but another tip of ours is that the time of day is crucial in getting a good bite. You’re more likely to lure in more fish later on in the day as this tends to be when water creatures congregate for their late dinner.
What bait should you use? Believe it or not, there’s a knack to this too, especially during this time of year. We recommend using a darker bait in a smaller quantity as this encourages the more reluctant fish to come out of hiding.
Cycling
We typically envision cycling to be more of a Summer sport but it’s just as enjoyable and beneficial for your fitness in Winter too.
When layering up your clothing, it’s important not to overdo it. You shouldn’t be warm when you step out the front door, it’s normal to feel slightly cold when you get going as this gives opportunity for your body to warm up as you get moving.
Your body focuses more on keeping your core warm, so it’s important to wear gloves and warm footwear to keep these areas nice and toasty and well circulated too.
Make sure you pack extra gear, including thermals, gloves, and a drink. If you’re looking for a convenient rucksack to store these items in all weather, have you seen our waterproof bags?
Something we can’t stress enough is to make sure you’re seen by other vehicles by installing a rechargeable bicycle light. This might not seem necessary if you’re cycling during the day, but daylight is limited in the Winter and it could be harder to spot you on the roads than you might think.
If you’re looking for some new places to set out cycling, here are some great spots across the UK. Are any of these near you?
Stargazing
If exercising isn’t for you but you’re looking for a new hobby to take up to keep you busy, stargazing could be perfect for you and is great to enjoy as a family.
The sky is constantly changing throughout the different seasons, but Winter is one of the best times to stargaze as it gets darker earlier on in the day. However, stargazing at different times in the year will help you spot seasonal constellations and astronomical changes.
You don’t need to be an expert in astronomy, or own a fancy telescope, or even really know what you’re looking for. There are many apps you can download on your phone that will tell you what the different constellations are and what you can see from your specific location – we recommend using Google Sky and Star Walk.
One of our top tips is to check the phase of the moon before you start. Stargazing is best done just before a full moon as the natural moonlight can wash out the light from the stars.
Fossil Hunting
If you’re looking for something a little outside of the box from the norm, the possibilities of fossil hunting are endless.
This can be done in so many different outdoor spaces, such as the beach, moorland and even certain fields if you’re lucky.
If you’re out hunting for fossils on your local beach, it’s important to remember that many fossils are washed across the sea, so any fossils you find could have travelled miles.
What does it look like? What kind of markings does it have? Does it look like there are any parts missing? These are all questions you can be asking yourself to make the experience even more interesting.
You can even use paper and crayon to print the fossil’s pattern onto paper and compare with any others you find in the future.
If you’re looking to take up one of these outdoor activities this Winter, or any other time in the year for that matter, our Ultra Dry bags are great for storing anything you need to take on your trip to keep everything dry in any weather. Shop our collection here.