My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

This topic is for sponsored discussions. If you'd like to run one with us, please email [email protected].

MNHQ have commented on this thread

Sponsored threads

Share your ideas for family adventures and getting your DCs active this summer with Route 125 and Toyota RAV4 - £200 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

86 replies

KatieBMumsnet · 15/07/2013 15:52

To celebrate National Geographic's 125th anniversary, Toyota have partnered with them to create Route 125. Here's what Toyota says about the initiative "Route 125 is the ultimate family guide to exciting activities, days out and places to explore all over the UK. Route 125 will follow National Geographic Emerging Explorer Dan Raven-Ellison and his 10 year-old son Seb as they travel the length of the UK in a Toyota RAV4 (after school and on weekends/holidays) completing 125 adventures throughout the year.
These range from delightful little discoveries to adrenalin pumping escapades, things you might never have thought of doing, far afield or close to home. There's an adventure for every family. Toyota is challenging families throughout the UK to get involved, get outdoors and get adventurous!"

With this in mind, the Route 125 team at Toyota would like to know what adventures Mumsnetters get up to with their DCs to encourage them to get outdoors. So please tell us your favourite places for family activities / adventures in your local area or even further afield, and inspire other MN families to get involved!
We'd also love you to upload any images to this thread you may have of your DCs getting involved in a family adventure or even just enjoying the outdoors.

Whatever your thoughts on adventures for the whole family, please share them on this thread. Everyone who adds their comments will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 Love2Shop voucher. Please note, your comments and photos may be used on Toyota's pages on MN and possibly elsewhere.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

PS you can find out more about the Route 125 and follow Dan and Seb on their adventures across the UK by reading their blog or with #Route125 on Twitter.

OP posts:
Report
CMOTDibbler · 15/07/2013 16:01

My ds is easily persuaded that anything is an adventure tbh, and we spend a lot of time outdoors generally.

He particularly likes at the moment to do a 'triathlon' or 'tetrathlon' at the weekend - so we do a bit of a run, cycle, and then go swimming or horse riding, swimming, running and shooting (nerf gun). Things we do anyway, but calling it that makes it more grownup and exciting apparently.

I've also found that taking food with us makes things more of an adventure, so a cycle expedition which stops for a picnic means a 10 mile cycle is no problem.

This weeks adventure is going to the Game Fair, so he'll get to fish/shoot/do archery/tree stuff and all sorts of other things - its a brilliant way to try outdoor things and many of the childrens activities are free

Report
worldgonecrazy · 15/07/2013 16:43

We have an annual safari to find local asparagus. It's the adventure that tells us that summer is here.

But we spend most weekends travelling all over the country anyway.

Report
ditsygem · 15/07/2013 17:00

My DS is only 8 months, so our adventures outside are usually paddling pool based, crawling across grass, and investigating new sensations like rocks and leaves.
The national trust properties are amazing for families and Belton House near us is perfect for relaxing in the hot weather and exploring the outdoors.

Report
ThePskettiIncident · 15/07/2013 17:48

Outdoors is always the easiest and best day out for my toddler. He is extremely exuberant and loves nothing than running around in the sea or open gardens and fields.

We have an rhs membership so it's always a great day out for him with plenty of space to run in a safe environment.

The beaches are great too with a combination of sandcastle building, paddling and rock pooling.

Rainy day stomps in the woods are also well received.

Report
gleegeek · 15/07/2013 18:03

Route 125 sounds amazing!

I'm not a naturally active person (long term chronic health condition), so I'm always on the lookout for ways to get dd(9) out and about, which she can either do on her own or with dh or with me in a limited capacity.

She loves geocaching! We don't go for a walk anymore, we go on a treasure hunt. She cycles, swims - loves in the sea/streams - climbs trees, walks the dog. We have National Trust membership which means we can get out and about for free as often as we want. As a family we camp and dd has gone through Brownies and is about to start Guides, which are great organisations for encouraging the great outdoors.

Report
InMySpareTime · 15/07/2013 18:04

We have "crazy Wednesdays" in school holidays, where we invite DCs friends and neighbours' DCs to do mad science experiments etc.
We've found the optimal mento/cola combination for explosions, we've found the best ways to drop eggs out of upstairs windows without breaking them, we had a whole day of Olympics last summer.
During term time, DS goes out on his bike before school. He plans his route from an OS map beforehand and we time him, then he works out his average speed.

Report
BellaVida · 15/07/2013 18:07

Our best days out are the ones we don't plan. We choose a starting point then go where the mood takes us, dropping in at attractions and eateries along the way! It makes it much more exciting for the whole family, as it is a real adventure for everyone.

On our most recent adventure we saw steam engines, tried archery, stroked and groomed animals, had an improvised picnic in a field and fished and paddled in a stream.

Maybe it is because when we plan, we are more rushed, everyone's expectations are higher and you get the infamous 'are we nearly there yet'.

As a child I had some amazing adventures practically on my own doorstep and others around the world. They are all wonderful memories now and I want to do the same for my children.

Report
apatchylass · 15/07/2013 18:13

Route 125 looks brilliant - thanks for that!

We live near Oxshott Woods, so often cycle and walk in them, and DC used to make mud slides into the river when younger, and rope swings.
We set challenges, like climbing a steep hill (Box Hill) or a mountain.

We also love Go Ape style adventures, and go to any that have junior courses.

We're members of RHS Wisley, just off the A3, where DC can build dens in the children's area or climb trees down by the logging area. And nearby NT gardens at Claremont now have rowing boats on the lake - that's on our list for the summer.

DC also like fruit picking at Garson's Pick Your Own farm in Esher.

We use local lidos - Guildford or Hampton.

Where we are it's safe, so DC can now they are older, roam around a fair bit on their own, on biles, scooters, go-karts and skateboards.

There's lots of local team sports such as cricket and football but my DC and most of their friends aren't so keen on that - they prefer to be out exploring and building.

Report
stealthsquiggle · 15/07/2013 19:31

Adventures for my DC are things like being allowed to walk to the farm shop (about 1.5 miles on footpaths across fields) alone (10yo) or being let loose I my parents' bloody freezing outdoor unheated pool. We did buy DH a canoe for his birthday, though, so some family adventures are being planned with that.

Off to check out the website now...

Report
Catmint · 15/07/2013 19:38

The three if us have formed Den Club with badges & everything. I would tell you more, but the first rule of Den Club is, don't talk about Den Club.

(But we go into various woods and build dens and then play in them ).

Report
TheFutureMrsB · 15/07/2013 20:40

My children can be really lazy but my 6yr old loves to go for a walk around the ponds close to our home, he will make a real adventure out of it and make himself a little den in the tree's to eat his sandwiches! We always have to walk the long way home too as he insists on going to see the horses in the fields further down, but he enjoys it and we do it quite often.

He makes an adventure out of everything though, even the walk home from school!

Report
BikeRunSki · 15/07/2013 21:01

DS is 4 and really into cycling. DH and I are both mountain bikers and roadies and DS can now do 5 miles or so by himself and come back on a Tagalong type thing (we got a great one that attaches to the adult bike and can be clipped out of the way when you don't need it but is there for when the child's legs tire). DD is still small enough to go in the baby seat, so we are trying to make the most of this summer before she wants to be on a balance bike! We are enjoying taking DS out on canal paths, forest routes and Sustrans routes. He's also got really into it and goes to kiddy coaching sessions at DH's club and has found the local BMX track too! So basically, this summer is all about bikes, and all the different places we can ride them. And when he is feeling tired, DH will do anything for an ice cream or jelly babies. DD has also gone and got herself sponsored, as 18 months, and is trialling a Toddlebike. We have National Trust membership, which helps us find new places to ride and explore by foot.

Report
BikeRunSki · 15/07/2013 21:07

We have also just had our first family camping trip and DS (nearly 5) and DH are working up to an overnight bike trip.

Report
TiredFeet · 15/07/2013 21:34

DS is 2.5 and one of my favourite adventures since he first started toddling has been just to head out of the house and let him decide where we go and what we look at. when he was tiny this might mean just staring down gratings or looking at a cat. recently we went out and he led me down a little track and then we went off the track through some trees, climbed a fence and ended up in a wild field full of long grass, there was a little path through it but the grass was far higher than his head and he thought it was amazing!!

this last weekend we borrowed a friends boat (dh is a very experienced sailor) and let ds be the 'captain' and sail the boat and tell us where to go. he found it incredibly exciting! I'm also really impressed at how sensible he was and he listened to all our instructions and was very good about wearing his lifejacket etc.

Report
ouryve · 15/07/2013 21:44

We're not particularly into adventure, as such, but the boys love a good walk. We can't go and sit on the beach. We have to walk, and walk, and walk and walk... and then walk back again. We find lots of things to look at, on the way. We love the Northumberland coast for this, since there's not too many people to trip over!

Report
MaxinePeakedistrict · 15/07/2013 21:46

We're off on holiday and will be sailing and kayaking. dd isn't terribly sporty but these are done mainly sitting down! She also enjoys quad biking and segwaying for the same reason.

I hire her as my Under Gardener and she gets a pretty good workout weeding and hedge trimming in the fresh air. She's got a good camera so that gives bit of a focus when we're out for a rare country walk.

Report
FourGates · 15/07/2013 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AndHarry · 15/07/2013 22:03

Our two are 3yo and 8m so we spend a lot of time outside anyway burning off energy! Our favourite destinations at the moment are the splash parks in St Albans Verulamium Park and Stevenage Fairlands Valley Park (a bit more of a trek but the water is heated). They love running and crawling around and staying cool in the water. Anything involving water at the moment is a big hit, from playing in the paddling pool in the garden to going out in canoes on holiday. Top tip there is to have your own lifejackets as some centres don't have baby and toddler sizes.

Other favourites are 'going on a bear hunt' in Ashridge Forest and tackling the new forest play-trail at Dunstable Downs. DS will go anywhere if he's promised a picnic, which makes life very easy. He will also go anywhere that involves going on his scooter.

Report
AndHarry · 15/07/2013 22:04

P.S. There's no option to upload photos for me on this thread. It worked on the Mothercare thread on the same phone?

Report
sharond101 · 15/07/2013 22:10

My DS is only 13months but we spend most of our time outdoors and do lots of walking and cycling with him. We bought a Croozer, a trailer for DH's bike which DS sits in. He loves it. He also gets out in his trike every day and gets to walk around barefoot on the grass.

Report
MimsyBorogroves · 15/07/2013 22:43

We are not an active family particularly - sports do nothing for us (though I do like horse riding). DS1 (5) wants to learn to skateboard though.

For us, a dog is the thing that gets us out and about. I don't walk for fun, and nor do my boys, but a trudge around is livened up with a dog to chase, to throw toys for, to watch swim. Both my boys love chasing our dog and she loves it too.

We also want to take both boys swimming regularly so that we can start DS1 in lessons come September.

Report
Willemdefoeismine · 15/07/2013 22:53

Our summertime adventures involve BlackBerry picking and taking the bikes out to tide to where the biked take us.....

There's always room for an adventure any day..

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

MakeTeaNotWar · 16/07/2013 07:00

DD (3) loves imaginative play so we turn our small suburban garden into a jungle, a rainforest, a zoo and she loves to get out there and go bug hunting, picking flowers, messing about with water. We have a resident hedgehog who we leave bowls of water for and a bumble bee nest that we keep an eye on. We also have fairies, pixies etc. No persuading needed here, just a bit of imagination and encouragement

Report
cleoowen · 16/07/2013 09:01

We go to the water lido in street,Somerset. It's an,outdoor swimming pool with lots of shoots,slides and fountains. Fab.

Report
ShatnersBassoon · 16/07/2013 09:09

Luckily for us, our children are self-sufficient when it comes to play so there's no need for us to try to jazz it up with themes etc . They get annoyed with me if I'm in the garden with them and overhear their games Smile. At this time of year they're outside at every opportunity. An adventure for them is being sent to the corner shop for bread Grin.

One of their favourite days out is to the adventure playground at Chatsworth. It keeps them amused for hours so is really good value for money.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.