Outdoor fun Archives - Plutonium Sox

Natalie Ray January 25, 2019 Outdoor fun

Malvern Hills walks

Having the Malvern Hills on our doorstep is a privilege. Growing up in the area, I never appreciated how beautiful it was. Even as an adult, I’d walk and run on the Malvern Hills without really understanding how lucky I was. I think the turning point for me was when I started to notice the Malverns topping lists of walks with the wow factor and best places in the UK to see the sunrise. So with the advantage of years of exploring, here are my favourite Malvern Hills walks. Grab a map before you start and make use of your…

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Natalie Ray January 23, 2019 Outdoor fun

National Trust membership to combat Winter blues

What is it about Winter that makes it so miserable? Is it the dark nights and cold days, or is it the way we deal with it? This is only the second time in my memory when I haven’t found Winter completely joyless. The first was when I spent the start of the season in New Zealand and Australia, coming back in Mid-December. This year though, we’ve stayed put and still managed to enjoy the colder months. I’ve been wondering why that was, and I think it might be down to our National Trust membership. Getting outdoors with National Trust…

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Natalie Ray January 21, 2019 Outdoor fun

Murmuration of starlings UK

For the past few months, there have been some incredible photos on social media of the murmuration of starlings around the UK. So last weekend, I did some research to find out what the murmuration is all about and when and where to see it. What is the murmuration? Every day at sunset, the murmuration takes place as starlings come in to roost. Flocking together in their thousands, the birds perform a breathtaking aerial display. At first glance, a few starlings swoop around the sky. Then moment by moment, they are joined by more birds. Gathering momentum, they form a…

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Natalie Ray August 20, 2018 Outdoor fun

Cycling at Sutton Bank National Park Centre

A few weeks ago, we spent a couple of nights camping in Yorkshire. We enjoy cycling together as a family but sadly, it’s quite rare to find somewhere off road where the girls can ride safely. Locally, we cycle in the Forest of Dean but we were keen to try somewhere new, and Sutton Bank National Park Centre in Yorkshire looked ideal. About Sutton Bank National Park Centre Cycling is actively encouraged in Sutton Bank National Park. You can hire or even buy a bike there, or bring your own. We brought ours, but realised when we were there that Lia’s…

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Natalie Ray May 23, 2018 Outdoor fun

7 tips for family mountain bike adventures

This is a collaborative post. We’ve had a bit of a breakthrough over the past fortnight. After eight months of riding a bike, Lia has finally mastered starting and stopping. Being unable to do so didn’t stop her cycling, but it stopped me. I tended to run alongside her bike to help her rather than cycling myself. But now, we’re ready for proper cycling. So, here are my top tips for family mountain bike adventures. 1. Get the right bikes A good bike makes all the difference for a child who is learning to cycle. I personally swear by light…

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