12 ways to add adventure to your UK winter

Chances are, you’ve arrived here because the UK Winter is on its way and you’re looking for ways to add adventure to those UK Winter days that get shorter, darker and less inviting.

You’ve arrived at the right place. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you all the ways you could turn up the fun and indulgence for your UK Winter adventures. The turning of the seasons is a beautiful thing to embrace and I truly believe there’s just as much adventure in the UK during the Winter. You might just need me to inspire you and need to get a warm jacket ordered!

Aside from outdoor adventure, which is still more than possible, the UK Winter is also a time to take the adventure indoors and snuggle up in front of the fire, stay at home with a good book or film and drink endless cups of tea. Home comforts are to be indulged in (guilt-free) when the weather outside is less than appealing (unless you are blessed with a white winter full of powdery snow, in which case, you are very lucky!).

However, just because UK winter adventure is a bit colder, and a bit greyer, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. From road trips, baking and taking advantage of adventures closer to home to chasing the winter sun for a holiday, hitting the mountains and Christmas markets… UK winter adventure can be nothing short of magical!

Pens and paper at the ready…

Here are my top 12 tips for planning UK winter adventure…

1. Embrace the cold and book a weekend getaway in a Shepherd’s Hut.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite UK winter adventures to go on. Sometimes there’s nothing better than grabbing your friends, packing a bag full of warm woollen knits, and getting away for a few days. You can be spontaneous and you don’t have to travel far to do it!

Use Airbnb to find a Shepherd’s hut in the English countryside and spend some quality time together breathing in the fresh country air.

Use this link to book the Shepherd’s Hut I stayed in near Brighton.

Check out my winter weekend in Sussex here.

Use this link to book this Shepherd’s Hut I stayed in in Sussex!

A Weekend Guide To Brighton, England: The best things to do in Brighton

Planning a winter getaway in the English Countryside | Where's Mollie? A travel and adventure lifestyle blog

Top tip: Get up to £30 off your first AirBnb stay with this link.

2. Book a Christmas markets road trip.

Christmas has to be one of the best reasons to stay for a UK Winter. If we didn’t have the dark nights, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy all the Christmas lights and the magic they bring. If we didn’t have the cold days, hot chocolates and mulled wine wouldn’t be so enjoyable!

Huts full of Christmas keepsakes, amazing food and warm mulled wine, as well as exploring somewhere new – what’s not to love about a UK winter adventure?! There are plenty of UK Christmas markets to check out including Bath, London and Cambridge. If you’re feeling fancy, head over to Europe. I’ve done a few and have some Europe Chrismas Market travel guides below…

The ultimate christmas markets roadtrip through Europe | Where's Mollie? A travel and adventure lifestyle blog

3. Have a Christmas day out in London.

Christmas is the most magical time to be in London. The lights, the Christmas cheer, the huts drawing you in with the smell of mulled wine and hot chocolate… I love London at this time of year! Absolutely book in a day out to visit the Christmas magic in London this UK Winter! Consider:

Going to the theatre
Visiting one of the London Christmas markets
Outdoor Ice Skating
Dining in one of the igloo restaurants
Christmas shopping!

London travel guides:

EXPLORE LONDON ON MY BLOG HERE

4. Get some winter recipe inspiration on Pinterest.

There’s nothing like a warming bowl of nutritious goodness to get you through the day. Whether you want to try something new for yourself, meal plan for the week, surprise a loved one to a home-cooked meal or invite your friends and family round for a dinner party, Pinterest is an excellent place to go for inspiration!

Have a scroll, choose a recipe, lock in a day and get cooking! Or baking. Take the UK winter adventure to the kitchen.

Tuck into your bakes with a cup of tea and a good book OR share the love and deliver some goodies to your friends. Kindness goes a long way every day, but especially in Winter!

Check out my recipes Pinterest board here and all my recipes on my blog here.

Top tip: Follow me on Pinterest @wheresmollieblog for travel inspiration, recipe inspiration, home & diy inspiration & more!

RECIPE: A warming turmeric, chia and berry oats bowl

Recipe: Vegan Lentil and Sweet Potato Pie

A quick cajun chickpea and tomato dish recipe

My favourite chickpea and sweet potato coconut curry recipe

5. Try something new.

Our summer diaries get booked up so far in advance, much like our Christmas diaries to be honest! However, if you find you are bored and stuck for adventure, use the UK winter as an opportunity to try a new adventure out! Anything from a new hobby to reading a new book or starting a new daily routine, winter is a great time to test out new things and see what you do and don’t like!

Ideas:

indoor climbing
something crafty/arty!
baking
improve your photo/video editing skills
night photography
candle making

A weekend at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa, England

6. Treat yourself to some new walking boots to keep your toes cosy, dry and warm.

Great for exploring your local area, hiking, and keeps your toes cosy during the colder, rainier months of the year, I think that a great pair of walking boots are a must for any UK Winter adventure wardrobe! It wouldn’t be a UK winter adventure without a good hike in the countryside. Personally, the English countryside comes alive on those crisp mornings where you crunch your walking boots through the slightly frosty blades of grass. Choose from one of the many UK hikes I have on my blog, grab a friend, a flask of tea and book a country pub for lunch at the end of your hike! Gosh, I’m excited about a UK winter adventure just talking about it.

Shop my Merrell walking boots here.

7. Set some new goals.

Use your UK winter to dream about future adventures. Have a think about everything you really want to achieve over the next few months or during the next year. Make a plan, and smash it! Sometimes you just need to sit and have a think to kickstart something and really motivate yourself.

8. Staycation! Explore an area of the UK you’ve never been to before.

You don’t have to travel far to have a UK winter adventure! What’s on your doorstop that you’ve been meaning to explore? Maybe there’s a city you haven’t explored, a road trip you want to try, a mountain you haven’t hiked, or an area of the countryside you’ve not explored. Now is your time to do it!

If you’re short on time, why not try a microgap? 3 days exploring somewhere in the UK might be just what you need!

EXPLORE THE UK ON MY BLOG HERE

A 3-day microgap in Bournemouth, England

9. Plan a Winter cocktail evening!

Take your UK winter adventure into the kitchen and plan a winter cocktail evening! Get your friends over, all bring a recipe/contribution and get exploring in the kitchen!

Go for something deep and smoky, or full of spice and all things nice! Check out 25 places to try cocktails in London here.

10. Escape your hometown and try a European city break.

Even if Christmas markets aren’t your thing, there are so many reasons to explore beyond the UK winter adventure and head into Europe! Cities are often a bit quieter, and it can be nicer to explore without the melting summer sun! Pick a city you haven’t been to before, secure some cheap flights and explore a new corner of Europe.

Check out my bucket list of European weekend breaks here.

EXPLORE EUROPE ON MY BLOG HERE

An epic 4 day Holland road trip: 4 cities in 3 days

AN ULTIMATE 8-DAY ITINERARY FOR CROATIA: SPLIT, HVAR & DUBROVNIK

And if all else fails…

11. Book a snow adventure.

Whether you want an active, sporty trip, or you want to snuggle up in a chalet and appreciate the snow from afar, winter holidays offer something for everyone. If you’re lucky enough to escape the UK winter for an adventure further afield – happy days! I’ve done it many times and can recommend the below!

Check out the winter sports posts on my blog here.