Information On Recreation In Britain

Outdoor pursuits in Britain are a very popular pastime with walking, mountaineering, caving, climbing and cycling all easy to arrange. An activity need never be far away in Britain, unless of course you live in Cornwall and intend going walking on the Outer Hebrides. The British countryside is beautiful and varied and ranges from rolling hills and pleasant farmland to looming mountains and long coastal stretches - with this type of terrain, all kinds of walks are possible.

There are walking organisations in Britain, such as the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), that provide a network of cheap hostel-style accommodation and produce leaflets for organised trips and group walks. The YHA charges a nominal fee for annual membership.

Most of the land in Britain is privately owned so you just can't walk anywhere without first gaining permission from the landowner. However, right-of-way access paths for walkers stretch the length and breadth of the country and traverse some outstanding terrain. Sometimes you may get lucky and the path will lead you to open country where you can frolic anywhere. The Ordnance Survey publishes a series of maps for walkers.

Apart from the outdoor pursuits, Britain also has a wealth of sports and activities to offer visitors, including many sporting events for spectators. Football, cricket, rugby, golf and tennis, and so on were all invented in Britain and are still avidly followed and played by many enthusiasts.

Football is the most popular spectator sport and seeing a match for the first time, especially between the big premiership teams, is awesome! Cricket and tennis tournaments are played in the summer chiefly in, while rugby is particularly popular in both England and Wales. Betting on horse racing and motor racing is so a popular pastime throughout Britain. England also hosts world class rowing and sailing regattas, and are regarded as important social events.

If you're into your golf, there are courses in every corner of Britain, including some of the most famous in the world. The British Tourist Authority publishes an in-depth guide to 150 courses, containing information on fees and visitor availability called Golf Britain.