From wintery walks<\/a> to country pubs, windswept beaches and generally getting outdoors as much as possible, here is our guide on the best ways to get active and enjoy time spent in the countryside in 2021.<\/p>\n By January, you may be feeling cooped up, heavy and restless. You need a plan. It\u2019s time to get your diary out and work out when and how you are going to change things this year. So make 2020 the year you up your intake of fresh country air, in ways that leave you happier, springier, healthier and wiser.<\/p>\n More outdoors content:<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Here are just a few ways to help you get into the habit of spending time outdoors this year. Some are more active than others, some may be familiar or new to you, but all bring you lungfuls of fresh air, and the special, soothing properties that the countryside offers.<\/p>\n For most of us, walking is the easiest way to exercise in the fresh air. Even if time is tight, here are some ways to make room in your life for a stroll.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Set yourself a little daily challenge. Walk all or part of your route to work, to the shops, or other regular journeys you make. If you can, go out after breakfast every day, or walk up a hill to watch the sunset. Step counters may be a help. Wear one on your wrist to keep track of your daily activity. Many will set you a daily target automatically; 10,000 steps is a good target for many of us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Keep it local; if you plan to travel for every walk, they won\u2019t happen so often. If you live in a city, you may be surprised at the green routes you can find by canals, riversides and in parks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Choose one day a week to do a longer walk. Make a list of walks that are no more than an hour\u2019s journey from your home, stick it to the fridge, and work your way down the list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Walk with a friend or neighbour; you\u2019ll encourage each other to keep going.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Join a walking group; to find one near you, go to walkingforhealth.org.uk<\/a>; ramblers.org.uk<\/a>; walkni.com<\/a>, or for longer distances ldwa.org.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 Don\u2019t wait for spring, or summer. Start today. And don\u2019t let rain put you off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From improving your health and fitness to making new friends, joining a walking group has many benefits.<\/p>\n Our guide on walking groups looks at the many benefits of rambling with others and how to find and join a walking club in your local area<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Set a goal to get training for: choose a long-distance route, a mountain or hill to climb. It doesn\u2019t have to be a beast; something gentler may suit you better, but make it a challenge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Find the most spectacular picture of your destination you can find and stick it on the fridge door or make it your home screen on your phone. Put the date in the diary and book your B&B.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, the prospect of climbing to the top of a mountain can be a little intimidating, but it doesn\u2019t have to be \u2013 discover some of Britain\u2019s best mountains and peaks with our guide to the top easy climbs for beginner hikers.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> Make sure you have all the gear you need, including effective waterproofs, sturdy, comfortable walking shoes<\/a> and a lightweight backpack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Tell everyone what you\u2019re doing. You could even do it to fundraise for charity. Then the sheer embarrassment of backing out will make you stick to your plans, even when the temptation to shirk is strongest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Time spent watching wildlife has a soothing effect. You switch off your phone, quieten down and slowly sync to the rhythms of the world around you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Visit a wetland or woodland and you may become absorbed in the plash and flutter of teeming birdlife, the hum of insects, the stealthy dart of small mammals. All that close observation brings its rewards: you soon begin to understand the intricate relations that bind the place together and define its character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Winter is the season to enjoy some of nature\u2019s greatest wonders. Here is our guide to Britain\u2019s most impressive winter wildlife spectacles, plus some of the best wilder sounds to listen out for in the darker months.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> You may soon find yourself hooked on identifying bird species and recording sightings; enjoying the thrill of seeing something rare. It\u2019s not for everyone. The roamers out there may be restless after long hours in hides, but you won\u2019t know until you try.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So buy or borrow some binoculars, pull on your wellies and your warmest coat, pocket a field guide, a flask and sandwiches, and head for your nearest nature reserve for the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 The RSPB runs guided walks on its many nature reserves, where local experts explain how these complex habitats tick. rspb.org.uk\/walks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 The Wildlife Trust holds thousands of events across the country every year, from guided walks to pond-dipping and bat-spotting. wildlifetrusts.org\/events<\/a><\/p>\n Buy or borrow one; either way, get yourself a dog. It\u2019s guaranteed to get you outdoors in the fresh air every day, in all weathers. There\u2019s something infectious about a dog\u2019s pleasure at being released into the outdoors. But are humans really so different? After all, time spent in the open air can change your day for the better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you can\u2019t commit to owning your own dog, you might consider walking a neighbour\u2019s dog. There are lots of people out there who aren\u2019t able to get out as often as they would wish. Here are some organisations who can put you in touch with dogs who need walking.<\/p>\n \u2022 Become an RSPCA dog-walking volunteer. rspca.org.uk\/voluntary_dog_walking<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Cinnamon Trust helps elderly and terminally ill people take care of their pets. cinnamon.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Make it official through Borrow My Doggy. borrowmydoggy.com<\/a><\/p>\n A long dog walk in the countryside should be a relaxing activity for both you and your dog. Unfortunately, not all dogs are well-behaved on country walks, which can be both stressful and dangerous.<\/p>\n Our expert dog walking guide offers training tips to ensure your dog behaves beautifully \u2013 allowing you to enjoy yourself more, too!<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> There are few more immersive experiences of the natural world than standing up to your waist in a river.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, there are less wet ways to go fishing, but whether you are on a quayside or the bank of a canal this is one of the most absorbing ways of spending time in the outdoors. The challenge of catching something elusive, barely glimpsed beneath the shimmering surface \u2013 of decoding the secrets of the river \u2013 lures anglers through long hours of sunshine and showers, until they return home, red-cheeked and happy. Or grieving the one that got away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Find hints and beginners\u2019 tips at canalrivertrust.org.uk\/learn-to-fish<\/a><\/p>\n If you like the idea of working outdoors in woodlands, on beaches or riverbanks, this will appeal to you. You don\u2019t need specialist knowledge; just time, and a good pair of wellies<\/a>. Much of the work isn\u2019t strenuous; you might be asked to identify plants in a nature reserve, pick up litter, pull up weeds\u00a0or clear footpaths. You may even get the chance to learn a skill, such as hedge-laying, coppicing, haymaking or drystone walling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Volunteers often find the work itself therapeutic. On top of that, there is the company of others and a rewarding sense of belonging, not to mention the feeling that your hard work has made the world that bit better. The following organisations will help you find the right opportunity for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Find out more about volunteering with your local Wildlife Trust, including current opportunities, at wildlifetrusts.org\/volunteer<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 With The Conservation Volunteers, the emphasis is on community: \u2018Join in, feel good\u2019. You can even join a Green Gym, where the focus is on boosting fitness. Many of its projects are in urban spaces. tcv.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 The Woodland Trust manages 1,000 sites around the UK. Find out more about how you can help preserve woodlands at woodlandtrust.org.uk\/volunteer-with-us<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Help keep the 2,000 miles of English waterways clean by volunteering for The Canal and River Trust. canalrivertrust.org.uk\/volunteer<\/a><\/p>\n![\"'"A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/12\/Dorsetwinter-beach-1a9fd19.jpg?quality=45&resize=556,556"\" "\\"\"Dorsetwinter-beach\"\\"\/")
<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Walking part 1: How to set a daily challenge<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Walking groups: how to find and join a walking group<\/a><\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Walking part 2: How to take on a big challenge<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>UK\u2019s best easy mountains and peaks for beginners<\/a><\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Wildlife watching\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Britain\u2019s best winter wildlife spectacles<\/a><\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Dog walking<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Dog walking guide: expert training tips to help your dog behave<\/a><\/h4>\n
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<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>Fishing<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Environmental volunteering\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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