Spending time in the great outdoors is one of the joys of living in or visiting the British countryside. When you’ve got kids in tow, it opens up a world of opportunities for fun family adventures.

Here are 7 ideas for making the most of the fresh air with your little ones.

Go on a Nature Walk

Let the kids take the lead on a leisurely stroll along country footpaths and trails. Give them a checklist of things to spot, like different birds, wildflowers, butterflies, interesting rocks or clouds. Bring a nature guidebook and see what you can identify. Stop frequently to admire finds, sketch, take photos or make leaf rubbings.

If you are fostering in Leicester, take a trip to Brocks Hill Country Park and spend the day there. There are woodlands, ponds, and more!

Visit a Farm

Farms make fantastic family day trips, especially during lambing or calving season. Children love seeing fields of crops, tractors and barns, and getting up close with cows, pigs, chickens and more. Many farms have play areas and special activities for kids like hayrides, corn mazes and feeding animals. Pick your own fruit farms are a tasty summer treat.

Go Cycling

Cycling is a fun way for families to explore the countryside while getting some exercise. Bring bikes, helmets and a picnic lunch to enjoy at a rest stop. Look for easy, traffic-free routes like converted railway lines. Child bike seats or trailers are great for younger kids. Stop at points of interest along the way like a river, castle or woods.

Pick a route that’s suitable for the age of your children, and plan plenty of rest stops.

Try Geocaching

Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt using GPS coordinates to find hidden caches. Download a geocaching app and let the kids lead the search. They’ll love uncovering small prizes and trinkets left in the boxes. It makes for an engaging adventure as you navigate through meadows, over stiles and behind hedgerows.

Have a Picnic

Packing up a lunch and having an al fresco family picnic is a quintessential countryside activity. Bring a blanket and eat in a green field or under the shade of a tree. Make it fun for kids by preparing finger foods they can pick at. Round it off with outdoor games like frisbee, catch, or kicking a ball around.

Visit a Playground

Rural playgrounds have super fun equipment like storey-high wooden towers, zip lines, and huge rope pyramids. Kids can burn off energy while parents relax on benches and soak up the pastoral views. Stop for ice creams afterwards.

Cook Outdoors

Kids love cooking and eating outdoors – it feels like an adventure. Have a campfire breakfast of bacon rolls, lunch over a disposable barbecue, or afternoon toasted marshmallows. Let them help prep ingredients and cook over the flames. Just be sure to bring hand sanitiser and clean up thoroughly.

Getting back to nature is a refreshing change of scene for kids accustomed to urban life. The British countryside offers a wealth of simple pleasures for families. With imagination and preparation for the weather, the possibilities for outdoor fun are endless.