Activities for the autumn and winter months
Geocaching
What about geocaching? This involves searching for a small waterproof container hidden in the countryside, cities, towns or villages. Inside each geocache, you’ll find a logbook to sign and maybe even a tiny treasure. There are tens of thousands of geocaches hidden all over the UK alone. There are plenty of opportunities to have adventures. All you need to get started is a GPS-enabled device (smartphone) and the free geocaching app. You’ll then be ready to begin the treasure hunt, so to speak. For more information on geocaching.com Remember to take something small with you to exchange or leave.
Public parks or gardens
Have a wander around a public park or garden near you. They might surprise you with how wonderful they can be.
Beachcombing
The beaches will be quieter in the autumn if you take a trip to the coast to hunt for fossils, driftwood or sea glass or explore the rock pools. This is also an excellent time to take the dog for a walk on the beach.
Go wild or open water swimming (not in winter)
Go wild or open water swimming outdoors in nature, rivers, lakes and oceans. The natural water temperature is good for our mental and physical well-being. You do need to be in good health. It’s free, and there are online sites that tell where the best places are. It can be dangerous, so check out here for safety tips and rules nationalwatersafety.org.uk/
Picnics not just for Summer
Everyone enjoys these cwtch moments of eating al fresco. For some reason, food always tastes better eaten outside. A picnic in the autumn just means different foods and drinks. Dressing warmer and taking some throws, possibly a hat and scarf. The advantages to an autumn picnic are fewer people and certainly fewer bugs. Dressed warm, it’s a little chilly; the children won’t care.
Camping chairs and a table or a waterproof ground sheet would be needed as the ground will probably be a little damp. Chilled summer drinks will be replaced with flasks of hot chocolate for the children, warm mulled Welsh cider or mulled red wine, and tea or coffee for the adults. The food will also be different, replacing light salads with heavier ones, pies or tarts and some cake.
Bird watching
Take yourself and the children on a bird-finding expedition equipped with a book or app to see who can stop and identify them; autumn is the best time.
Star gazing
Take yourself and the children on an exciting dark adventure; autumn is the start of the dark sky season; check out the stars and perhaps even glimpse the aurora borealis. The Brecon Beacons National Park was declared an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2012. The first in Wales. This area provides perfect conditions because of the absence of light pollution. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way and a multitude of other stars. Snowdonia National Park was the 10th site in the world to receive this status. Pembrokeshire National Park is considered a Dark Sky Discovery site. There are many sites around the British Isles.
Foraging
Going out into the countryside to pick blackberries is great fun, and at the end of the day, a blackberry and apple pie with custard is completely-cwtch. Hopefully, you’ll be able to pick enough to put some in the freezer. There is much more, but you must know what you are picking as it can make you sick. We all know what blackberries look like.
Board games
Unplug all your technology, take a breather, connect with your family or friends, and play a board game over a hearty bowl of soup and warm bread. In research, board games have proven to be good for us in many ways. Read more
Playing Cards
Invite friends for an evening of card playing with mulled wine or cider.
Movie marathon
Have a movie marathon event with your family or friends, munch snacks and cwtch under the throws.
Get as much daylight as possible
Get as much daylight as possible every day by taking a walk regularly; outdoors in the winter can be pretty stunning. It’s certainly stunning in the autumn when the leaves change to a great ray of colour.
Craft
Make some Christmas decorations with or without the children. There are plenty of ideas online your children will love to make that are also economical and eco-friendly. Or learn a new hobby.
Bikes rides
Take a bike ride with family or friends. Are you worried about the cost of bikes? Look out for some second-hand bikes on Gumtree, Preloved, house clearance, local auctions, police auctions etc.
Bake
Bake some cookies with the children; they always love doing that. The aroma of baking cookies is always cwtch.
Free museums
A trip to a museum is always enjoyable, especially when the weather isn’t too good. There are many free museums throughout the British Isles, so one should be near you. Some are the biggest and the best museums in the country are free.
Feed birds in winter
Get some bird feeders and watch the wildlife from the comfort of your home. Get the children to spot how many different birds and wildlife that come to feed in your garden. Hang up one to four bird feeders; fill one feeder with bird peanuts, one with mixed seeds for birds, and another with suet balls. Hang up fruit like apples and pears that have passed their sell-by date or leftover food like bacon rind. There are plenty of recipes online for making your own bird food.
