Watch the Weather
We are renowned for being a bit obsessed with the weather in the UK, which makes it surprising that people frequently don’t pay enough attention to how it might affect their days adventure.
Whatever your activity being prepared for the weather can make a big difference as to how you feel at the end of the day.
Plan for a great day! Here are our tips for working with the infamous UK weather:
Check the latest weather forecast before you set off…
and be aware of how it will affect your plans.
Check the weather forecast – the Met Office / Met Éireann is a good place to start. Remember to check conditions for different points on your route, for example, if you are heading for the hills find out how cold and windy it will be at the top of your climb, and also what level the cloud base will be. Don’t underestimate the wind chill factor. Checking the weather forecast before you set off is just as important if you are heading out for a day on the water, whether that be sea, lake or river. While at sea regularly monitor coastguard maritime safety information broadcasts for updates
If the sun shines on your adventure…
don’t forget your sunscreen and sun hat!
Just in case you thought we were only concerned with making sure you don’t get cold and wet! Follow our guide for your spring and summer adventures which includes great advice for being sun smart.
When open water swimming on hot days, apply sunscreen and have a drink ready for when you finish your swim. If wearing a wetsuit there is a danger of overheating, so sit in the shallows and cool off before leaving the water. On cold days you’ll be in need of some food and a warm drink.
Be flexible
There’s no shame in changing your plans.
Choose a different route or turn back if the forecast doesn’t look too clever; if the weather closes in unexpectedly or if the conditions turn out to be more difficult than you’d expected.
If you are heading for the hills and realise that reaching the summit is going to be a challenge then switch to a lower level walk that you can all enjoy and achieve comfortably. Check out National Park and AONB websites for walking routes for all abilities.
Heading for the coast?
Whether you are walking or spending time on the beach, check out our guide for staying ahead of the tides and having a great day.
When seas are rough…
wave watch from a respectful distance.
15cm of water can knock you off your feet.
If the water is too rough don’t go in for a swim.
BE ADVENTURESMART
Think about Gear
You don’t need the latest high tech, high performance, painfully expensive jacket to be AdventureSmart. The trick is putting a little bit of thought into what conditions you might meet and packing a bag with just enough to ensure you can cope with whatever the day may bring.
Watch the Weather
We are renowned for being a bit obsessed with the weather in the UK, which makes it surprising that people frequently don’t pay enough attention to how it might affect their days adventure.
Whatever your activity being prepared for the weather can make a big difference as to how you feel at the end of the day.
Develop your skills
Whatever your planned activity for the day, be honest with yourself about you and your companions’ knowledge, fitness and ability. We all like to kid ourselves that we are fitter, or indeed more capable than we are but in this instance it pays to be honest.
Know how and when to get help
Accidents can happen to anyone however adventure smart you are, so whatever your activity make sure you carry an appropriate means of calling for help should you need to.