The Top 22 Bucket List Adventures in the UK

Want to make this your year of adventure? Then, Great Britain is the destination for you! We’ve put together the best bucket list adventures in the UK to help you make the most of this spectacular nation’s varied landscapes and epic natural playgrounds…

1. Climb the UK’s Highest Peaks

One of the top bucket list UK adventures to tick off is to climb the highest peaks in every country of the UK. The tallest overall is Ben Nevis in Scotland at 1,345m high. In Wales, the highest peak is Snowdon at 1,085m. And over in England, you have the Lake District’s Scafell Pike at 978m, while in Northern Ireland the tallest mountain is Sliabh Dónairt (Slieve Donard) at 850m.

2. Tackle a Long-Distance Trail Run

Trail running is becoming increasingly popular in the UK – it’s the perfect adventure for anyone who loves running outdoors amidst nature.

Looking for a bigger challenge this year? Come and take on the Trans Wales Trail Run with us! This is one of our favourite adventures: an epic guided trail running holiday across the heart of mid-Wales. 

Starting from the English border at Knighton, this 100km journey takes you across the Cambrian mountains to Aberystwyth on the stunning west coast.

3. Walk the South West Coast Path

Britain’s long-distance walking paths are perfect additions to your UK adventure bucket list. One of the most popular (and most impressive) is the South West Coast Path in England.

This enormous trail stretches for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Tackle the rugged northern coasts of Cornwall and Devon, dotted with ancient castles and historic tin mines, explore picturesque fishing villages and gorgeous white-sand beaches on the south coast, and marvel at iconic geological sights of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

4. Give Coasteering a Go

If you haven’t tried it already, coasteering is a MUST for your UK bucket list! Turn the British coast into your very own playground as you climb cliffs, scramble over rocks and through hidden caves, and leap into the sea from heart-thumping heights. 

It is the perfect activity for anyone looking to go on an exciting adventure holiday in the UK. There are great places to try coasteering all over Britain, from the Jurassic Coast in southern England to the north-western coast of Scotland.

Our favourite spot is the Isle of Anglesey – one of the most popular activities on our epic Family Adventure North Wales tour.

5. Mountain Biking in the Scottish Highlands

If you’re into mountain biking, you can find incredible destinations all over the UK. However, the Nevis Range in the heart of the Scottish Highlands is the home of the UCI Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, so it’s a pretty bucket list destination for bikers. 

Skirting along this epic landscape promises the ultimate biking adventure in the UK. 

6. Take on the World’s Fastest Zip Line

Did you know that the world’s fastest zip line is right here in the UK? Penrhyn Slate Quarry in North Wales is home to Zip World Velocity 2, the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe. Now a vast blue lagoon, this historic quarry is a spectacular setting for adventure. 

There’s nothing quite like shooting across it at speeds of over 160kph – an unforgettable thrill for anyone looking to go on an exciting adventure holiday in the UK!

7. The UK’s Highest Freefall Abseil

Another bucket list thrill in the UK is the country’s highest freefall abseil. Surprisingly enough, you’ll find this adventure in London – it’s the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Abseil down the UK’s tallest sculpture, from a height of 262ft, for some incredible London views – and a pretty massive rush of adrenaline. 

8. Try a Via Ferrata in the Lake District

No UK adventure bucket list would be complete without a visit to the Lake District. Known for its stunning landscapes and scenic hiking trails, the Lake District is England’s adventure capital. It’s also one of the only places in the UK where you can try a Via Ferrata.

A Via Ferrata or ‘Iron Road’ is a protected climbing route where you’re attached by a harness to a permanently fixed cable, so you don’t need any climbing experience to try it.

The Via Ferrata Xtreme at Honnister follows an ancient miner’s route to the top of Fleetwith Pike (648m) for one of the finest views in the Lake District.

9. Learn Orienteering

Learn a few new skills this year. Orienteering is a fun outdoor adventure sport that exercises both the mind and the body. It’s a great activity for those looking for solo adventures in the UK.

All you have to do is navigate between checkpoints or controls marked on a special orienteering map. If you want to learn more, contact your local club or read this Newcomers Guide from British Orienteering. They also have route maps for courses all over the UK, so download a few and see how quickly you can complete the course.

10. Learn to Surf 

Another fun new adventure skill to learn this year is surfing. There are loads of great places in the UK for surfing, so if that’s on your bucket list, you should be able to find some classes.

Spots nearer the south of the country tend to be better for beginners, like Cornwall, Devon, and South Wales. For an immersive introduction to the sport, you can’t beat a surfing holiday while driving along the SW660 on a self-drive tour of North Cornwall. You can surf epic waves while exploring one of the most breathtaking parts of England. 

11. Walk the Offa’s Dyke Path

When Adventure Tours UK Founders Claire and Jim walked Offa’s Dyke Path as research for a tour we were putting together, they saw first-hand how amazing it is and we agree this incredible trail deserves a spot on any UK bucket list!

The Path is a 177-mile (285km) walking trail which follows Britain’s longest ancient monument – an 8th-century dyke constructed by King Offa of Mercia. The route passes through eight counties and two of Wales’s National Landscapes (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty); the Wye Valley and Clwydian Range. The route often takes you through parts of the country that are seldom seen by tourists.

If you don’t fancy tackling the whole trail in one go, we offer self-guided hiking tours that focus on individual sections of the route. Offa’s Dyke Path: South leads you along a 90-kilometre-long southern section of the trail from Sedbury Cliffs to Hay-on-Wye, by stunning castles, quaint towns and mediaeval abbeys.

Offa’s Dyke Path: Mid, on the other hand, invites hikers to explore the middle section of the path. The 115-kilometre route takes you on a journey from Hay-on-Wye to Welshpool, passing ancient woodlands, scenic towns and historical landmarks.

Our final section is Offa’s Dyke Path: North, which takes you along the upper section of Offa’s Dyke Path. You trek from Welshpool to Prestatyn Beach by limestone quarries and legendary landmarks such as the epic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. 

Alternatively, if you’re up for a challenge, you can bolt each of the Offa’s Dyke Path sections together to conquer the whole route or do it in two halves. 

12. Spend a Night Wild Camping

Fancy immersing yourself in nature? Add wild camping to your bucket list adventures!

Wild camping simply means setting up camp outside of a campsite or caravan park. That means you’ll be sleeping in the wilderness without facilities like running water and toilets. It requires a bit more prep and planning than camping on a campsite but offers a much greater sense of adventure.

In fact, wild camping trips offer fantastic adventure holidays in the UK for adults because they let you really unplug from daily life and fully embrace the great outdoors.

However, remember that wild camping isn’t legal everywhere in the UK, and you may need to get the landowner’s permission. Do your research carefully, and be sure to leave no trace behind when you move on.

13. Take the Whole Family on an Adventure

Multigenerational adventure travel is growing in popularity, with more and more families seeking out experiences and challenges together in place of the more traditional package holidays.

Our brand-new Family Adventure North Wales trip is an action-packed 8-day tour aimed at families with children over 14 years old. Spend quality time together and bond over shared experiences like kayaking, mountain hiking and coasteering. Perfect if you want a family holiday with a difference this year.

14. Road Trip the Causeway Coast

The iconic Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland makes its way onto almost every UK adventure bucket list. If you’re searching for a bucket list adventure this year, a road trip along the whole Causeway Coast is ideal!

From the dizzying heights of the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge to water sports along the striking coastline, the Causeway Coast is the perfect setting for adventure.

15. Enjoy the Simple Life with a Mindful Walking Retreat

There’s nothing quite like refreshing your mind by stepping away from the rush of daily life and escaping into nature for a few days. One of the best ways to do this is by practising mindfulness while exploring unspoilt landscapes. 

Our Mindful Walking Retreat in the remote Ceiriog Valley of North Wales offers the ultimate escape for anyone wanting to reconnect with their body and nature. The two-night trip takes you deep into the valley to stay in a traditional Welsh inn and you’ll experience a guided mindfulness walk through the wild landscape with a certified mindfulness and walking guide. 

16. Learn Some Bushcraft Skills

Another fun new skill to learn this year is the art of bushcraft.

Bushcraft is a term relating to outdoor skills that would help you survive in a natural environment. Things like finding and using wild food (foraging), making fires and building shelters. As well as being fairly useful skills if you ever find yourself in a survival situation, it’s also a fun way to connect with nature and spend some time outdoors. This is a great experience to include on any tailor-made family adventure.

17. Scottish Islands Road Trip

Island hopping on Scotland’s West Coast is on many a UK bucket list. And just like the Causeway Coast we mentioned earlier, it’s the perfect setting for adventure – as Claire and Sarah discovered last summer on their “reccie” trip to scout locations for our brand new Self-Drive Highlands and Islands adventure.

18. Try Your Hand at Canyoning

Have you ever heard of canyoning? Similar to coasteering, canyoning uses a variety of techniques – like hiking, climbing, swimming, abseiling, and waterfall jumping – to traverse a canyon or gorge via a river. It’s one of our favourite activities, featured on our Adventure North Wales trip and many of our tailor-made adventure tours, it’s such a fun way to get out of your comfort zone!

19. Hike the Pennine Way

Walk the “backbone of England”, following The Pennine Way from the Peak District to the Scottish Borders. This was Britain’s first National Trail and is one of the most famous long-distance walks in the UK. 

The trail runs for 268 miles from Edale in the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park, to end at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. The Pennine Way is a must for lovers of UK adventure trails!

20. Take on the 14 Peaks Challenge in Wales

One of our favourite challenges in Britain is the 14 Peaks Challenge, aka the Welsh 3000s. Often taken on in under 24 hours, the challenge is to reach the summit of the 14 highest peaks in Snowdonia National Park, including the tallest and most famous mountain in Wales – Snowdon itself.

Find out more in our guide to the Welsh 3000s, or take a look at our 14 Peaks Experience for a guided version of the challenge taken over three days instead of one!

21. Yorkshire Three Peaks

If you’re not quite ready to take on 14 mountains, head up north for the Yorkshire Three Peaks! This involves taking on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, usually in that order and usually in less than 12 hours. It’s a fantastic challenge for those who love getting outside and exploring the British outdoors on weekend adventures in the UK!

22. Travel from Lands’ End to John O’Groats

Hike, bike, road trip, hitch-hike, rollerblade… however you do it, the journey across England and Scotland from Lands’ End to John O’Groats is a serious achievement. This vast overland journey deserves a place on any UK bucket list, as it’ll take you right across the nation. There’s no official route, so you can plan a trip that suits you – calling at some of the most spectacular sights in the country as you go.

Summary

We’re looking forward to making this year count and can’t wait to try a few more of these exciting challenges around the country! Will you be adding any of these to your bucket list of UK adventure holidays? Check out our small group trips for epic adventures led by expert guides!

Keen to tackle some of the incredible adventures on offer in the UK? Check out our small group tours for epic hiking, mountain biking and trail running adventures led by expert guides. If you fancy more independence, take a look at our self-guided adventures in the UK that span from hiking along the English-Welsh border to coastal cycling holidays in Wales. Contact us now to start planning your next bucket list adventure in the UK.