Author: Billis

It may come as no surprise to you that today less and less people are spending their time outdoors. From the rise of coach entertainment to the ever-expanding era of the smartphone, people have more reason to stay inside and stay inactive than ever before. Though certain TV shows may try and motivate you to get up and amongst nature, few people actually take this upon themselves and thus a sedentary life befalls millions especially in the west. The smartphone is a different creature however, and although in the long run it may negatively affect our ability to interact with one another, and give our necks and shoulders some undue stress from looking down at them permanently, there are ways in which these devices can lead us through the front door and back into the world outside. Thanks to the...

Everything You Need in One State California is one of America’s most famous states for many reasons. From its destination as a hub for those allured by a bohemian lifestyle to the glitz and glamour of tinsel town, the state is well known for its many subcultures both good and bad. Another fantastic thing about the state is that it has seemingly every form of climate within its borders. What this means is that unlike many states or even countries that have very general weather conditions (such as Australia’s heat and England’s grey dreariness) this place is unique in that an entirely different environment is accessible by a simple drive. This makes it an absolutely perfect place for outdoor sports of all kinds. The Desert Heat To the southeast of California are vast amounts of desert. Sands stretch far and...

Many of us may be apprehensive to start up a new sport of any kind, knowing that you have a new set of skills to master and that you have to be in a state of at least reasonable physical fitness is often enough to make most shy away. However the adrenaline junkies out there feel the complete opposite, they prefer not only to take on a brand new hobby, but one that dangles the risk of intense injury or often death right at them. Regular members of society cant understand the logic behind these extreme sports that pose more danger than satisfaction to most, but the extremists don’t hear them because they are too busy jumping of buildings and surfing the big waves. If you are intrigued about stepping up your current weekend activity, check out the following hair-raising...

The creation of huge areas of land in the United Kingdom has enabled large numbers of the population to use their free time to explore the wilderness that is available on their door step. This has provided a great variety of holidays for both domestic and international visitors, who make up the 110 million tourists that these areas receive each year. Many of the people who visit these areas are day visitors and this is especially true of the domestic market. Compared to other countries in the world the United Kingdom is small so many of its parks are accessible to a large percent of its population on a day visit. [caption id="attachment_143" align="alignright" width="297"] Cyclists enjoying Dartmoor[/caption] Also, many people will take holidays to certain areas of the country and make a visit to a park just for maybe...

People who enjoy outdoor pursuits have been indebted to various governments around the world who have created vast areas of land that are protected from the population form building on. These regions have, for a variety of different reasons, been designated as protected areas and they have provided those who enjoys the great outdoors huge play grounds in which to explore. [caption id="attachment_138" align="alignright" width="221"] The different protected land in the UK[/caption] The United Kingdom has attempted to protect large swathes of countryside since the end of the Second World War. In 1949 the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act as was passed in parliament and this created the first ten National Parks that were established through England and Wales. Today there are thirteen parks all funded from central Government. They all have their own separate managing authority...

There is a strong relationship between the retail trade and outdoor pursuits. This relationship however, is not a straight forward one preparing for a trip to the outside world will depend on many variables and these will influence the type of purchasing the customer will make. [caption id="attachment_131" align="alignright" width="300"] Snow and Rock store for outdoor activities[/caption] The first thing about outdoor pursuits is that not everyone loves them, but most people give the activities a try. So many people who may be preparing for their first camping expedition or walk or skiing holiday are doing it with the knowledge that it may be the first and last time they take this type of adventure. With this mind it is hardly surprising that there is a huge market for renting and hiring all clothing and equipment needs for these activities,...

Taking a once in a lifetime UTV or ATV trip is a beautiful feeling. The freedom to ride and experience the challenges and reliefs, the wilderness and vastness of open roads. There’s nothing better. If 2018 is your year for UTV or ATV adventure, then it’s time to start thinking about where to go. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. Monte Carlo is well known for being the height of extravagance, the home of high-stakes poker and the place to be for F1 and rally driving, but thankfully, you don’t have to go any further than America to find the greatest UTV trails in the world. The Paiute Trail in Utah is the largest of its kind in the world and often ranks as the number one place to drive ATVs in America. The large network of...

The beach fascinates people whenever summertime threatens in various countries. Many people who will go to the beach never have any intention of visiting the water with a good number not being able to swim. There is something about the border between sea and mainland that has captured man’s imagination for a number of years. Some people lie on the beach in order to sun bathe. The popularity of this past time has declined over the years with the greater awareness of the harmful sun’s rays and the risk of skin cancer. [caption id="attachment_104" align="alignright" width="300"] A sandcastle at the US Open[/caption] The beach is the home of simple family activities such as those associated with a bucket and spade. For centuries young families have spent hours on the beach digging ditches and creating sand castles, but this pastime has...

It may appear that it would be contradictory to have outdoor activities within urban areas however the modern city has created many areas of open space for these types of activities to take place. There are many cities that have a reputation of being green cities. Vancouver city in Canada is enclosed between the mountains and the sea. There are 200 parks and 18 miles of coastline for the citizens of the city to enjoy. [caption id="attachment_99" align="alignright" width="275"] Cyclists on the Stanley Park Seawall route[/caption] There are 249 miles of bike routes through the city. The Stanley Park seawall which separates Stanley Park from the Ocean offers cyclists a 12-mile ride along the coastline and into the Pacific Spirit Park. Stanley Park covers 400 hectares and was voted the best park in the world in 2014 by TripAdvisor. Due...

The biggest disadvantage of outdoor recreation is that it damages the land. People who go to visit the wilderness for its beauty, then play a role in the deterioration of it. Most of the landscapes that are visited are fragile ecosystems so will take years to recover from any damage. The most obvious form of damage is the litter that is left behind. National parks and most protected areas provide accommodation for visitors to stay in overnight in the form of campsites. This results in huge numbers of people being attracted into the park to take part in outdoor recreation in the summer months. [caption id="attachment_92" align="alignright" width="230"] Great Smoky Mountains National Park[/caption] The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the United States attracts 11 million visitors every year. The sheer numbers involved means that there is going to be...