By: Blonde Two
It’s August, the school holidays are coming to an end and we are all secretly looking forward to a bit of normality. It has been a great summer down here in Devon so far (cue rain) but if you are running out of ‘Get Outside’ things to do, this week’s Tuesday’s Ten has a few suggestions for you of August things to do in Devon:
1. Climb a Dartmoor tor. Big, small, flat, pointy, we have plenty of tors to offer and climbing can be anything from a scramble over a boulder to a full-blown, climbing instructor led session.
2. Cook a meal outside. Meals don’t have to be complicated, noodles or pasta with sauce make a good starting point. Open fires are an outdoor no-no but lightweight camping stoves can be carried in a daysack and safely placed on rocks to protect vegetation and avoid damage.
3. Create your own treasure hunt for someone else to follow. You can do this in any outdoor space. Draw a map, add some key features and offer a reward when all of the features have been found.
4. Walk a section of the South West Coast Path. The best way to enjoy this is to use a 1:25,000 scale Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (orange). For your first try, pick a section that doesn’t cross too many contour lines (steep hills) and can be joined up to make a circular walk (look for green or orange dotted lines). Remember that one blue grid line marks one kilometre and will take you around 20 minutes to walk if there aren’t any hills and you don’t stop to take too many photos.
5. Take a dip in the sea. If you aren’t used to sea swimming and don’t have a good grasp of local currents and tides, stay safe and find a lifeguarded beach. Avoid inflatables and swim within the marked swimming area (red over yellow flag).
6. Hug a trig pillar. Trig pillars are marked on your map with a small blue triangle. They are always at a highest point but not necessarily too hard to get to. We love Berry Head in Brixham, Rippon Tor on Dartmoor and Winsford Hill on Exmoor.
7. Go rockpooling. All you need for this is a rocky beach and a low tide. Try not to disturb the creatures you see but have fun identifying them and deciding which you would like to be.
8. Try out an e-bike. Electric bikes are becoming more popular and offer an opportunity for two-wheeled exploration that those of us who are reluctant pedallers can enjoy.
9. Spend a night outside. Whether you choose a campsite, a bit of Dartmoor wild camping, a tent or a bivvy bag. Sleeping outdoors is a wonderful experience and gives you a great tale to tell in the morning.
10. Learn to use a map and compass. We still have a few places available on next week’s Dartmoor navigation course and are welcoming budding adult explorers of all abilities.
