Britain\u2019s extensive network inland waterways \u2013 rivers, streams and canals \u2013 covers a whopping 4,700 miles, of which 2,700 are navigable. The organisation that looks after this network, the Canal & Rivers Trust, has a number of opportunities for volunteers to maintain its historic boats and also pilot some of them around a selection of national shows to help educate visitors about the traditional way of life of narrowboat families.<\/p>\n
To learn the ropes at sea, have a look at Maybe Sailing, which takes on volunteers to help crew as it teaches guests to sail its tall ships (this year sees trips in the Scottish islands and off the south coast, including the Scillies). Crewseekers also lists crewing opportunities and is worth monitoring for last-minute places on vessels small and large.<\/p>\n
Any trip that\u2019s challenging and pushes you out of your comfort zone for several days can be called an expedition. Before heading out on your own though, it\u2019s best to learn the basics. Mountain Leaders can be found across the country to help you realise your expedition goals \u2013 and some leaders who are still in training will even take you for free to build up their experience.<\/p>\n
Polaris Outdoor in Cornwall has two five-day options, including a paddleboarding Survival Adventure (from \u00a3550pp) which includes shelter building, coasteering, foraging, fossil hunting and fire building. Its five-day Sea Kayak Expedition (from 27 September, \u00a3575) features survival tuition and camping in secluded wild spots.<\/p>\n
In Cumbria, Wild Human has a six-day Woodlander course teaching survival skills, tracking, foraging, carving and wild camping (15-21 Aug, from \u00a3549); and Ray Mears\u2019s Woodlore company runs a week-long Fundamentals course in East Sussex teaching all of the above as well as shelter making, wilderness fishing, backcountry hygiene and natural navigation (4-10 July and 15-21 Aug, \u00a3650pp).<\/p>\n
Swap the Greek yassas<\/em> for a friendly \u201chello\u201d on an exploration of the Hebrides. While island hopping is most commonly associated with the Aegean, CalMac Ferries\u2019 west coast network allows for a Scottish equivalent. Its Hopscotch tickets are valid for 31 days and allow you to plot your own route between remote peninsulas and islands by car, campervan, bicycle or on foot.<\/p>\n Route 7 starts in Oban and takes in the colourful waterfront houses in Mull and the wildlife hotspot of the Ardnamurchan peninsula before heading on to Mallaig and then over the water to Skye. For surf and solitude, Route 19 combines the westernmost isles of the Inner Hebrides, including Coll and Tiree, which are perfect for stargazing by night and birdwatching during the day.For the ultimate voyage, Route 25 sails to the Outer Hebridean isle of Barra, from where you can explore this entire far-flung chain of islands and their Caribbean-esque white sand beaches, including the Uists, Harris (minke whales and basking sharks can be spotted from the boat) and Lewis (for neolithic sites), plus a stop to explore the fairy pools and Cuillin mountains on Skye.Save money by wild camping, which is legal in much of Scotland. Borrowing its moniker unashamedly from the US\u2019s famous road trip, Scotland\u2019s newest driving tour is the K66. Following a \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 66-mile loop around the Kintyre peninsula on the west coast, it utilises the A83 and B842 roads to bring visitors to often-overlooked Argyll. Aiming to inspire slow travel rather than a speedy hour\u2019s drive (cycling the route would slow things down nicely), it recommends that visitors allow at least a week to visit highlights such as the Ballochroy Standing Stones, Saddell Castle, Keil Caves, homely harbour towns, surf beaches and the Beinn An Tuirc distillery.<\/p>\n In addition to the main route there are six \u201cspurs\u201d to encourage further exploration of places such as the village of Tarbert (for amazing seafood), Claonaig, Carradale (for views of the Kilbrannan Sound and an iron age hillfort), Southend, Machrihanish (for its nature reserve and surfing beach) and, via ferry, the seven-mile-long Isle of Gigha, reputedly one of Scotland\u2019s sunniest spots.<\/p>\n Book hotels, B&Bs or campsites in advance at wildaboutargyll.co.uk. Over on the west side of the peninsula, Tarbert Holiday Park has glamping pods from \u00a350 a night for two. In the east, Peninver Sands is a caravan park with a few tent pitches (\u00a313-\u00a317 a night) Not just the preserve of the US, summer camps are big in Britain too, offering young people the opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and become ambassadors for sustainable living. Camp Kernow is one such initiative and every August it seeks volunteers for its environmental and adventure camp.<\/p>\n Living off-grid in tents, volunteers undertake a one-week training course before becoming an integral part of camp life. If you want to help out but are less keen on working with children, there are also volunteer maintenance positions behind the scenes, helping to keep the place running.<\/p>\n Residential volunteer opportunities in general have been reduced this year because of Covid \u2013 but those planning ahead could look at organisations such as the RSPB, which runs projects across the UK for those interested in birdlife. \u201cBring your own beliefs\u201d is the motto of the British Pilgrimage Trust (BPT), the charity responsible for resurrecting the Old Way, one of the country\u2019s most ancient pilgrimage routes. Taking inspiration from Spain\u2019s Camino de Santiago (which saw a record 360,000 peregrinos<\/em> walk the route in 2019), the BPT felt it was time to bring back the spiritual walks that Henry VIII made illegal in 1538. Based on Britain\u2019s oldest road map, the 1360 Bodleian Map, the 250-mile, three-week hike runs from Southampton to Canterbury, taking in the Solent coast, the South Downs, the Pevensey Levels and Romney Marsh.<\/p>\n Unlike the Camino, the Old Way is still a work in progress in terms of waymarking, pilgrim passports and compostela<\/em> documents for finishers, but that means fewer people and the satisfaction of knowing that you are one of just a handful of trailblazers re-establishing this ancient trail.<\/p>\n The BPT is working with churches, village halls and campsites to establish \u201csanctuary stops\u201d, which will be low-cost or free to stay in for pilgrims. Maps, downloadable GPX files and current accommodation options are available from its website, and feedback is encouraged. Although the original aim of the pilgrimage was to pay respect at Thomas Becket\u2019s shrine in Canterbury, today the emphasis is on heavenly scenery rather than religious fervour. New Zealand is the home of the quintessential campervan trip, but the UK\u2019s varied and compact landscape means this is also a great place for a van adventure \u2013 and it needn\u2019t cost a fortune. Camplify is the Airbnb of campervan, caravan and motorhome hire, with pickup locations across the UK, from \u00a3100-\u00a3150 day for a four-berth in summer (much cheaper out of season). This could be a good option for a team of friends \u2013 particularly if you take a tent, too.<\/p>\n The options for thrilling campervan road trips are many. Famous ones include Northern Ireland\u2019s Causeway Coastal Route, taking in Belfast, the Glens of Antrim, the Giants Causeway and Derry; in England there\u2019s the Atlantic Highway from Bath to Land\u2019s End, a 240-mile exploration of the dramatic West Country coast; and the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, taking in Victorian seaside towns, beautiful beaches, wildlife reserves with resident seal populations, and a host of water-based activities.<\/p>\n Following the runaway success of the (now overrun) North Coast 500 Route in Scotland, a quieter alternative is the South West Coast 300, whose highlights include Culzean Castle, Galloway Forest Park, Southerness lighthouse and the windswept Mull of Galloway. An overland trip to Africa or Asia on a converted bus with a group of strangers used to be a traveller\u2019s rite of passage. And this experience inspired a travel-mad Scot called Angus to launch his \u201cadventure hostel on wheels\u201d, a journey around his native land, beginning in Edinburgh, in a converted American school bus.<\/p>\n The seven-berth bus has lots of space, electricity, a dining and lounge area and kitchen. For less-favourable weather (this is Scotland after all) there\u2019s an awning that allows for outdoor cooking (all meals are included), and every night the bus stops at a campsite for hot showers and proper toilets (though there is an emergency loo on board). Along the way activities include mountain biking and hiking in the Cairngorms, kayaking in Loch Morlich and a hike on the Devil\u2019s Staircase in Glencoe. Train travel is usually expensive in the UK, but there are discounts and passes available if you know where to look. To explore the entire country, the Rail Rover\u2019s All Line Rover is the way to go, as it covers many train companies in England, Wales and Scotland.<\/p>\n The pass does work out more pricey than Interrailing, but it includes three classic rail experiences. First and foremost is the Caledonian Sleeper\u00a0between London and Scotland, including Fort William and Inverness in the Highlands, and a smattering of stops in between (book ahead as far as possible). The Night Riviera Sleeper with Great Western Railway from London Paddington weaves along the south-west coast before arriving at Penzance in Cornwall at dawn. And the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways wind their way through the 40 miles of Snowdonia national park powered by steam.<\/p>\n Bag a 14-day pass and you could easily fit in all three journeys as well as the Lake District coast, a meander to Pembrokeshire and a whistle-stop tour of Scotland\u2019s biggest cities. From Patagonia to the Pyrenees, mountains around the world offer hut-to-hut hiking routes, where you can explore an area safe in the knowledge there\u2019s a bed and hot meal waiting at the end of each day. While the UK doesn\u2019t have the same set-up, the YHA and Hostelling Scotland networks have dozens of rural hostels across the country that can be linked to form an affordable multi-day hiking trip. Many hostels now have comfortable rooms and on-site restaurants, so you can put your feet up with a glass of something at the end of the day. Lockdown restrictions are slowly being relaxed, with private rooms, camping, some smaller dorms and communal areas opening first \u2013 check ahead.<\/p>\n
\nP<\/em>asses start from \u00a342.20, or \u00a3202.95 <\/em>with a car, calmac.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\nGet your kicks on the Kintyre 66<\/h3>\n
\nwildaboutargyll.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\nVolunteer on a kids\u2019 summer camp in Cornwall<\/h3>\n
\nA<\/em>ccommodation<\/em>, food, travel expenses and <\/em>wifi are covered, campkernow.org.uk<\/em><\/p>\nWalk Britain\u2019s oldest pilgrim path<\/h3>\n
\nbritishpilgrimage.org\/old-way<\/em><\/p>\nCampervan road trip<\/h3>\n
\ncamplify.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\nAn overland adventure in Scotland<\/h3>\n
\nFive-day trip \u00a3495pp all-inclusive (accommodation, food and activities), next available trip 6 September but bespoke trips are possible, thebonniecamper.com<\/em><\/p>\n\u2018Interrail\u2019 around Britain<\/h3>\n
\nFrom \u00a3356 for a seven-day pass or \u00a3540 for the 14-day one (both with a <\/em>16-25 Railcard); a Two Together discount also applies \u2013 so works well if you\u2019re travelling with a friend, tickets.gwr.com<\/em><\/p>\nPlot a British hut-to-hut hill walk<\/h3>\n