My favourite thing about caravan holidays is how low maintenance the actual caravan is. When I’m at home there are always chores to be done; laundry, gardening, weeding, walls that need a lick of paint, a carpet that needs a good scrub and the endless tidying that comes with family life. Of course, there’s a small amount of this at the caravan but it’s so much easier in a tiny space.
We can give the caravan a good clean and tidy in 30 minutes and then we’re free to enjoy the entire day with no chores or jobs! Anyone who has a ‘House jobs to-do list’ as long as their arm will understand the joy of this.
But, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find it’s so easy to waste those days. Once you’ve visited all the local tourist attractions and without any errands or chores to fill your day, caravan days can become a bit…dare I say it…boring.
This is why having a caravan is a great opportunity to try new sporting hobbies to make the most of that leisure time that can be so hard to find at home. Through sports we can improve our health and fitness, meet new people, learn new skills and create new memories with our loved ones.
Here are some sporting hobbies to try at your caravan. These are all easy to begin and suitable for all abilities and ages.
Hiking
Not to be confused with ‘going for a walk’ which is something my family find incredibly boring, but if I rebrand it as a ‘hike’ then everyone wants to get involved!
I use the AllTrails app to find hiking routes in my area. It always helps me find new things to see like waterfalls, beaches, views and swim spots. Our favourite hikes always involve an extravagant picnic with a great view and they have to involve a stop at the pub somewhere along the way!
Hiking can be as gentle or strenuous as you like and it’s a great way to slowly improve your strength and fitness. There’s also minimal equipment needed and it’s a great way to discover more of the local area. I also love solo hiking while listening to a good audiobook when I need a bit of time alone.
Paddleboarding
If you’re lucky enough to have a caravan near water, whether it’s a lake, river or the sea, then paddleboarding is a great summer hobby.
Paddleboarding has become a much more accessible sport with the rise of inflatable boards. They’re so easy to inflate and deflate, transport and store away so you don’t need to worry about roof racks or storage sheds. Aquaplanet are one of the biggest paddle board manufacturers in the UK with a great range of boards for all abilities so they’re worth checking out!
It’s a sport the whole family can enjoy, from small children simply jumping off the board into the sea or sporty family members paddling for miles along the coast.
Don’t forget that paddleboarding is great exercise too, and if you can’t quite balance on your feet then paddling on your knees is an even better workout for your core!
Surfing and bodyboarding
I was intimidated by the idea of surfing for years as I pictured enormous waves and pro-surfers skilfully riding them to shore. There’s no way I’m brave enough to do that!
In reality, surfing in the UK is usually a much gentler sport and it’s not all about the huge waves for adrenaline junkies. You can ride smaller waves and have just as much fun, and most seaside towns have surf schools to show you the ropes.
It’s a good idea to build your confidence with bodyboarding which is a much easier, entry-level version that kids and adults alike will love.
Golf
Golf has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past 10 years. It was amplified during the pandemic as people looked for socially distanced ways to socialise and exercise and it continues to grow each year.
If your caravan is near a golf course then it’s a good idea to start with a few lessons with the club pro before taking to the greens. You can usually hire clubs until you find the ones you like.
Golf has so many benefits. It can be played from childhood to old age, helps your accuracy, focus, concentration and fitness and it’s also a very sociable sport, so it ticks all the boxes!
Cricket or rounders
I didn’t expect to be regularly playing cricket and rounders in my late 30s but it’s something we do most evenings at the caravan thanks to the fields and beaches that surround us. Family team sports are great fun and it doesn’t matter about ability or fitness level. Send your older family members to be fielders while the younger ones do the hard work. It’s even better if you’ve got a dog who fetches the ball when it goes out of bounds!
Wild swimming
This is another sport that took off during the pandemic as we all searched for an outdoor endorphin boost.
I’ll be honest and admit I couldn’t get onboard with wild swimming in the UK until I invested in a good swimming wetsuit. This was a game changer for me and made it so much more enjoyable.
Swimming in cold water boosts your immune system, improves circulation, can reduce pain and inflammation, releases endorphins and is great for stress and anxiety. I also love that it’s easy to track my progress and see how much I improve with each swim.
You may have spotted mobile saunas popping up around many beaches and lakes this summer. The new trend is thanks to lots of research proving saunas have great health benefits and it’s great to combine a sauna session with a wild swim!
If you’re finding yourself with lots of leisure time at your caravan then why not try a new sport or two. It’ll help your physical and mental wellbeing and is great fun for the whole family!
