So you’re keen to try something new and different this spring. You’re up for a Microadventure. Great!
“But now what?” I hear you ask. “What should I do?”
The good news is that you can do whatever you like on a microadventure. There are even fewer rules than Fight Club.
All I’md suggest is that you hang it on this loose framework:
Sleep outdoors. Don’t use a tent. Pack light. Plan simple. Seek wildness. Challenge yourself.
Those with an asterisk I reckon are the best ones for you to focus on.
- Sleep in your garden*
- Swim wild ‘“ in a river, lake or sea*
- Go solo*
- Go with a friend
- Go with a family member
- Tick off some themes: river, hill, mountain, beach, wood’¦*
- Take someone on their first microadventure*
- Take a child for their first microadventure*
- Do one on a work night*
- Make a cup of tea on a stove you have made yourself*
- Sleep by the sea (nobody in the UK lives more than 70 miles from the sea ‘“ video here)
- Sleep under a full moon
- Spot a shooting star
- Sleep out below 0 degrees Celsius*
- Put your own spin on the 12×12 challenge: 12 beaches, 12 Munros, 12 rude place names, 12 counties, 12 different friends’¦
- Get there by bike
- Get there on foot
- Paddle a river ‘“ by canoe or tractor inner tube
- Learn to identify a new bird or new tree each month
- Forage for your food, or at least pick some blackberries
- Do one on Mother’s Day / Father’s Day
- Go on your birthday
- Go with some random people you meet online via #microadventure. (Bristol, for example, have their own Microadventure Facebook Group.)
- Take a novice friend on their birthday
- Sleep out on a snowy night
- Sleep somewhere local but new to you
- Do something that is challenging to you but achievable today (e.g. a ride or walk to a bivvy spot which is hard but do-able right now)
- Something that requires you to plan, train or put some effort in in some way
- Lots more ideas for you here.
Some Other Useful Microadventure Posts
- What is a microadventure?
- Some microadventure ideas to try
- Your year of Microadventure
- Microadventure kit list
- What is a Bivvy Bag, and why do I need one?
- How to find a location for an overnight microadventure
- Sleeping Wild: is it legal? Is it safe?!
- Microadventure advice for women (written by women)
- 7-step solution to a microadventure. It’s as simple as this.
- Microadventure videos
Thank you to the many people who have kindly “bought me a coffee” for just £2.50 as encouragement to keep this blog going.
“Yes, I too would like to donate a couple of pounds to this site..!”
To join 33,000 wise, beautiful, heroic people who receive my occasional newsletter, simply add your email address here:
You can opt out of receiving the newsletter at any time and I will not pass your details on to any other party.
Now then.
Your ideas are quite stimulating. I have found that since becoming a contributor to the Geography project (www.geograph.org.uk ) that I am living a happier and healthier life, albeit at the expense of taking a camera everywhere.
If I am driving to Manchester for work, for instance, I will plan an hour’s break somewhere I have never been before to explore and document the wildlife, history, or architecture and no matter how carefully I plan, what I actually find and photograph is summat unexpected, so I end up researching that when I add my photos to the web site.
I now know so much more about wildflowers, geology, building techniques, history, art, water flow, commerce and people since becoming a geographist.
The project seeks to save images ‘representative’ of every 1Km square on the national grid. Some squares have a handful, some thousands. Because after ten years we are creeping up on our 5millionth photo. But there are still empty squares to grab, mostly in Ireland, so go out and mount an expedition!
We are slowly learning what ‘representative’ means, and have discovered that to document a place you need to be aware of change. We have photos of varying age and the story over time is fascinating.
For microadventures the site has tools for blogging, writing collaborative articles, creating maps of journeys called Geotrips, and a discussion forum.
One microadventure I am planning is to document a train journey as a geotrip. The site does not feature people much, so I will try to interview a few fellow travellers.
Lots of interesting ideas here – thank you.
[…] ein Microadventure durchführen, es fehlen Dir aber noch die Ideen dazu? Dann empfehle ich Dir diesen Artikel von Alastair […]
[…] is interesting that in both Alastair Humphrey’s Microadventure ideas and my own original list that bivvying in the garden was at the top of the list. It is surprising […]
[…] Ãœbrigens, schöne Tipps für Mikroabenteuer gibt auch Alastair Humphreys. Der abenteuerlustige Brite hat den Begriff (#microadventure) erfunden und liebt es, unter freiem Sternenhimmel zu schlafen. Zum Beispiel nur für eine Nacht zwischen zwei Bürotagen auf dem nächstgelegenen Hügel. Oder irgendwo am Wasser. Probiert es aus! Hier findet Ihr ein paar seiner Ideen. […]
[…] ein Microadventure durchführen, es fehlen Dir aber noch die Ideen dazu? Dann empfehle ich Dir diesen Artikel von Alastair […]
[…] love sharing our favourite finds, and the amazing ideas that Alistair has put together here will help you get started on your journey of microadventures. Make sure you share them with […]
Hi Alastair, I have just completed a series of micro adventures, all put together in a walk from my home in Halifax to Edinburgh, in memory of my 22 year old son who left this earth July 2019 in a climbing accident on Arthur’s Seat. My son loved an adventure, so we walked through wilderness, over moors, bog and gale force winds and rain (British Summer!) We slept in a one-person tent by rivers. We slept in barns and log cabins offered by the kindness of strangers. We stepped out and together we grew. By the time we reached Northumberland, I had damaged the tendons in my heels and had to stop. That too was an adventure.
I was introduced to you by an armchair fan of yours who I met on my travels. I am so glad he did!
Your site is inspirational and we will continue on our adventures forever.
With love
Janet and Murray. ❤️
Hi Janet, what a powerful story and experience. Well done. Your boy would be proud of you.
I have never heard the phrase “microadventure” but I love the idea! Great terminology to get the kids and family excited when enthusiasm is waning.
[…] Some microadventure ideas to try […]