A report has revealed that more than a third of parents have been forced to cut how much they spend on their children. The cost of hobbies, extra curricular activities and sports clubs are the ones being reined in, according to the research by Capital One. But what will this mean for summer holiday entertainment? These days children expect to be taken on holiday and go out for fun-filled – and often expensive – days out. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are plenty of activities to keep the kids amused, but which won’t break the bank.
A guide to free – or cheaper – things to do with the kids
Park life
Many towns and cities offer free activities, such as tennis, nature walks and bug and beasty days in local parks. See you council website for information. You could also check out the Scottish Natural heritage initiative Simple Pleasures Easily Found, which offers all sorts of ideas for finding nature and free things to do in local environments, such as parks.
Another idea is to get together with other families and organise a game of rounders or cricket in your local park.
Sport for cheap
Buy your children a pedometer or a milometer for their bikes (a fairly cheap one-off purchase) and then challenge them to walk or cycle a certain number of miles each week of the holidays. You could have a distance chart drawn up and stuck on the fridge, and award prizes for the most miles. Adjust the mileages to suit children of different ages.
The FA Tesco Skills Programme will run free school holiday football sessions for youngsters, both boys and girls. These offer an introduction to playing football and for all abilities. Book up early though to avoid disappointment.
Tennis For Free offers 50 weeks of free coaching at various locations across the country. And it's available for children and adults so the whole family can dream of becoming the next Andy Murray!
Asda Active also hold events across the UK, with lots of family sports and fitness activities. You need to register to be sure of a place so book ahead.
Welsh children benefit from free swimming at weekends and during the holidays. But if you live elsewhere in the UK, check with your local council to see if there are any free kids swimming sessions at a nearby pool. You’ll often find there are free activities or events subsidised by the council.
Go to the beach
A trip to the seaside doesn’t have to cost the earth. There really is no need for mega ice cream, fish and chips and fairground rides. Show the kids how it used to be with bucket and spade fun. Take a kite, a picnic and add some of your own energy and enthusiasm and we bet you’ll find the kids love the back to basics fun day out. If it’s chilly, wear wellies and waterproof jackets and go looking in rock pools.
Nature’s way
It doesn’t cost any money to have fun in the wonderful outdoors world. Show kids how to take bark or leaf rubbings, look for five things beginning with “b”, collect odd shaped stones, or take home leaves to make a collage.
Bush camp – in the back garden
There are many cheap tents on the market, or build a den-like tent yourself, and show the kids how to get back to nature. You could cook lunch or tea on a camping stove. If you are looking for a cheaper holiday, then try camping for real. Living under canvas is much more comfortable than you’ll ever imagine, and although you will need to buy the basics to start with, you’ll have all this kit for future holidays.
But what about rainy days?
Oh, we know that it does rain in the summer holidays! Ideas to keep the kids amused on rainy days include checking out The National Trust’s rainy day page
Also look for cheaper cinema deals. According to the Capital One report, parent's spend around £50 a month on leisure activities such as this. But it's possible to cut the cost. Mobile phone customers with Orange, for example, can enjoy 2-for-1 on cinema outings on Wednesdays, and Vue cinemas offer tickets for £1.50 on Saturday and Sunday mornings throughout the school holidays on selected films.
Stay at home – and get out the arts and crafts stuff. Paper, coloured card, glitter, glue and a bit of imagination can create all sorts of amazing things. Toilet roll inners can become mini spaceships or an egg carton could be turned into a caterpillar. Switch on your Blue peter brain and sit down to help the kids out!
Do you have any ideas for free – or cheaper – activities this summer? We'd love to know...
So the big day was finally upon…. The day of the 3 Peak Challenge! And typically the weather took a turn for the worse after our mini heat wave the two weeks prior. The day before we set off the news was full of severe weather warnings for 60mph winds, and floods across the UK. Just our luck hey!
We had 7 of us taking part in the challenge, plus a guide and two drivers. The walkers were as follows:
Katie - a super fit sports fanatic. Sports: mountain biking, trail running, footy
Gemma – a PE teacher. Sports: mountain biking, running, hockey, footy
Sarah - works to promote sport in the community. Sports: recently completed a marathon, hockey, footy
Me (Rachael) – Works for Regatta. Sports: footy, plus trekking while travelling.
Jo - Sarah’s friend who we all met for the first time on the challenge. Sports: running, cycling, planning a marathon
Training
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve been fitter, last year I felt physically really good. I was trail running and I was playing footy twice a week and 5 aside too. This year there has been no trail running and the footy season finished 2 months ago. To be honest I was a little apprehensive about the challenge and whether I’d be able to keep up with the group.
We did 3 training walks before the event. Due to other commitments we weren’t the full team for each walk. However the important thing was that we were getting out and practicing, getting used to the gradient, our kit and our fitness levels.
Also as so much of the challenge is reliant on clear roads I had my fingers crossed for no bad traffic or caravans or tractors blocking our transit between the peaks.
We all went to Gwen’s for a hearty breakfast before setting off. It was a great way to start proceedings as we could all relax together and do a final kit check. Sarah (a.k.a lastminute.com) borrowed various bits off kit off us all. Thankfully Gemma and I had plenty to spare.
We left Manchester around 10am. It was a 7 hour journey including a few service station stops for comfort breaks and reinforcements. The first few hours we were all pretty chatty, I kept forgetting what we were about to do! As we passed the turn off for Blackpool we jokingly asked the driver to take us there instead for a night out on the town. Obviously the nerves were kicking in! By the time we arrived we felt pretty lethargic after so long on the minibus.
Peak 1: Ben Nevis
The challenge started at 5:20pm. We started off pretty fast, Katie was setting the pace so what did we expect! Despite the weather forecast conditions were good, there was no rain and visibility was okay. Quite a few of my friends had done Ben Nevis before and had warned me that I probably wouldn’t see much however the day we did it we had wonderful views of the lochs and surrounding mountains. To be honest though the first 30-40 minutes of the walk I was too out of breath and focused on fighting through the pain to look around. Once I was able to compose myself I was able to take in the view and enjoy it. It was the first time I’d done Ben Nevis. There was a lot of snow at the top, we needed our layers! The snow went up past our shins, we were glad of waterproof trousers!
Our guide had to turn back less than hour in due to pain in his knees, I think he’d hoped they’d hold out for the challenge however it was not to be. So we had to self-guide. Thankfully though the route is really clear, it’s basically just straight up, straight down. Also there were enough other people to follow. It would have helped though to have the guide chivvying us along to ensure we were on track timing wise.
We completed Ben Nevis in 5 hours 15 minutes. We were happy with this as 7 hours is the quoted time for ‘Joe Public’. We’d allowed 5 hours 30 minutes for it.
Drive: Ben Nevis to Scafell
I’m not sure if we underestimated the distance, we got lost, or whether it was the weather conditions but the long and short of it was the journey took 1.5 hours more than anticipated. It was so disappointing to wake up while we were at Gretna services at the time we should have been close to reaching the start of Scaffel Pike. By the time we arrived to start the walk we knew we couldn’t complete the challenge in under 24 hours.
As you can imagine we were all gutted, given the nature of the challenge every minute counts and 1.5 hours was far too big a time to try and claw back. We brushed ourselves down though, took deep breaths and begin our ascent of Scafell Pike with as much enthusiasm as we could muster so early in the morning!
Peak 2: Scafell Pike
We started Scafell Pike at 5:45am. Due to the epically long journey we didn’t need our head torches as the sun was fully up. We all snacked on the bus however energy levels were really low and this coupled with the awful weather conditions made Scafell Pike hell. None of us enjoyed it. The rain was heavy, the path slippy and visibility was poor. Also probably due to fatigue the ascent seemed to take forever. Katie was an absolute star, she helped Gwen who was struggling and contemplating turning back. I had a wobble two thirds up too. A pep talk from Katie and some food soon sorted me out!
The way down was difficult as we couldn’t pick up the pace as it was so slippery and parts of the path had become more like streams. Also as the terrain is so stoney you really have to concentrate on your step. This I found frustrating as you can’t get any momentum going. We completed Scafell in 4 hours 20 minutes. As we knew the challenge was out of our reach we didn’t push ourselves. We still went at a reasonable pace though.
We all managed to have some sleep on this journey as well as stock up on food. We were all carrying knocks and aches and pains. Even me who has never really had any injuries had really sore knees from the intense downhill on Scafell Pike. Some painkillers managed to do the trick though.
Peak 3: Snowdon
Snowdon was the easier of the 3 climbs. We went up and down the Pyg pass. We went at a decent pace but we did manage to have a chat among ourselves and with other walkers. None of the other ‘3 peakers’ had managed it in 24 hours either so that gave us some comfort. You really do need all the elements on your side, plus smooth journeys, and be fit and able enough to run or jog down the mountains.
When the cloud lifted the views on Snowdon were stunning, beautiful mountain ranges and crystal clear blue lakes. The views made it all worthwhile.
Homeward bound
We had a meal in Pete’s Eats in Llanberis afterwards. We had huge carb rich portions, just what we needed. A few of us ordered beer or cider. Gwen and I could barely drink ours though as it was over 6%! We didn’t realise this when we ordered it! Our awesome drivers bought us a bottle of Cava to celebrate completing the 3 Peaks which was really sweet of them.
Summary
They say hindsight is a great thing. If I was to do the challenge again I’d probably do the following:
Stay in Fort William the night before
Aim to do all 3 walks in less than 12.5 hours
Build in time for loo brakes and kit changes –20 minutes maximum across the whole challenge
Allow 11 hours and 10 minutes for the journeys
Jog down the mountains – weather and no injuries permitting
Get fitter!
So what next? I went through mixed emotions on the challenge of thinking I will never do any more challenges again to contemplating something epic. The way I felt depending on how tired I was! However now a week has passed I’m keen to take on some more challenges. The same group of people plus a few others are seriously considering the Yorkshire 3 Peak Challenge in August. Also I’m definitely going to go trekking in the Himalayas next April. For me I’ve always been driven by challenges, I like to have something to aim for.
Highs: Our walk times, especially Ben Nevis. Team bonding. The meal in Pete’s Eats when we finished.
Lows: The weather: for Scafell it restricted our speed as it was too dangerous to jog down, also it made the driving conditions difficult. Journey times.
Pain barrier moment: Scafell half way up
Must-haves: lots of changes of clothes, energy sweets, plenty of water
Most overused phrases: how much further to the top, why are we doing this? Who’s idea was this?
I really enjoyed the 3 Peaks. I’m proud that we did it within 2 hours of the 24 hours given the obstacles we faced. It’s great to have done it with a group of good friends and it’s not put us off doing anything else. Given the weather forecast we were lucky to have had good conditions on Ben Nevis and parts of Snowdon were okay too. Taking part in challenges is really rewarding and it’s a great way to bond with friends (or colleagues) and of course raise money for your chosen charity.
Walking is good for you. We all know this, don't we? But how good is it? And what does walking really do for our health and well-being? Here we bring you seven reasons to get outdoors and go for a walk, espeically when the sunn is shining.
Stay young: The American Journal of Public health revealed in a study that walking regularly maintains aerobic power as we age. Two groups of 15 middle-aged men were studied for 23 years. Those that walked outdoors three to four times a week maintained their aerobic power, losing only 12% during that quarter of a century, compared to non-exercisers who lost their aerobic power by 41%.
Keep your heart strong: Walking for 30 minutes each day means you’re 40% less likely to develop heart disease. That’s according to a study published in the US Journal The Physician.
Blow your nose at cold: Walkers experience on average half as many colds as people who slouch on the couch. A study found that people who walk briskly for 45 minutes each day, five days a week helped to boost their immune system and increase the natural cold killer cells.
Look good: It’s not just about keeping your weight down. Of course, walking burns lots of calories and this means that walkers look and are in better shape than non-walkers. A study at the University of Pennsylvania also found that exercise improves the skin’s durability while also adding muscle beneath the skin to reduce wrinkles and bags. It’s a good ides to wear sun cream when you’re outside because that will affect your skin in the long-term but simply being outdoors and exercising will make you look so much better, and, dare we say it, younger!
Stronger bones: When you exercise, you don't just build muscle and endurance. You also build and maintain the amount and thickness of your bones. As we become older, bones can thin and some people suffer from osteoporosis, especially women. To prevent the onset of this disease it’s advised that we maintain good levels of weight bearing exercise, and that includes walking!
Keep the doctor away: Research reveals that people who walk three to nine miles per week cut their likelihood of requiring diabetes medicine by 23%. And just one weekly walk of between four and five miles is enough to reduce the need for cholesterol medication by a third, and blood pressure medication by 28%.
Young of mind: Research shows that walking can boost the connectivity within brain circuits, keeping your mind younger even as you age. "Patterns of connectivity decrease as we get older," said Dr. Arthur F. Kramer, who led the study team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "But we found as a function of aerobic fitness, the networks became more coherent."
Beat depression: Researchers in Scotland have found that walking can play an important role in fighting depression. Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear. A study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a "large effect" on depression.
Dads deserve a treat on their special Father’s Day – and if you want to see his face light up with a big grin why not choose to buy him outdoors clothing? Dressed in t-shirts and shorts or trousers made from modern, comfortable fabrics and wearing trail or walking shoes, you know you’ll be able to persuade him to get outdoors and enjoy some fun with you.
Regatta has a host of great men’s outdoor clothing made to suit a variety of activities, and designed to offer maximum comfort for summer days.
Here we pick a few of our favourite clothes for great Father’s Day gifts
Active dads
The Aventura t-shirt comes in five great colours. (We like the Pepper red, Greenery green and Oxford blue the best.) The t-shirt is lightweight, and quick- drying with lots of technical zing. It’s perfect for running around playing football or riding a bike with his favourite sons and daughters.
For hardwearing, all-action legwear go for the Regatta Action shorts, because you know how much dad loves the rough and tumble of playing outdoors.
Ad-Phase sandals are ideal for active dads. They can be worn on dry land and in the water for all-round action. The shockcord fastening makes it super quick and easy to adjust this footwear.
If he prefers a full-on shoe that is comfy and practical choose Agility footwear. This is a technical softshell trail shoe made with a Speed Fit last. It’s perfect for trail running with lots of grip. Plus it has a waterproof membrane.
Smart but casual dad
Some dads like clothing that looks good enough to wear to the pub, but also practical enough for a walk or cycle beforehand. If this is your dad, then choose Regatta’s Breezeway shirt, with a contemporary check design and made from Coolweave cotton
Latice shorts are lightweight and quick drying, so they are also perfect for active fun with kids – and whatever the weather. Or trousers than can be worn long or as shorts mean that smart but casual dad can chose to be smart or casual according to where he’s going and the weather. We like Lattice Zip-offs
We reckon that the best shoes for Smart But Casual Dad are Crossland Lows. They feature a waterproof breathable liner and modern styling, so they are great for outdoors wear and popping on when going to the pub or a barbecue.
Loveable but indecisive dad
Lattice double zip off trousers give your dad a lot of choice. He can wear long trousers, three-quarter lengths or shorts. Whatever his mood and the change in weather he has trousers that will make up their mind for him!
He might also like a fleece and a waterproof jacket to stow in a rucksack, so that he can take all his clothing with him and make a decsion about what he wears according to how he feels and the weather!
And if dad always likes a pair of socks as a gift…
Family walks, dog walks, walks to the shops, walking around the supermarket, pub walks… whatever kind of walking it is that you enjoy or do, it’s useful to have a versatile pair of walking shoes.
Why choose walking shoes
There are times when a full-on walking boot just isn’t quite right. Walking boots do offer improved ankle support when walking hills and rocky terrain. But on country trails and paths, a walking shoe is the most appropriate form of footwear. This is especially true in the summer.
Walking shoes also suit occasions when you plan to do a bit of walking and a bit of something else. For example, a walk to the pub or a barbecue or a sport of gardening. If you fancy a day of easy-going walking, walking shoes are also ideal. In other words, walking shoes are very versatile.
How to choose the right walking shoes
Fit is vitally important. Try the shoes on with the socks you plan to wear and ensure they feel ultra comfortable. Tie up the laces, walk about a bit and they should still feel as though they are made for you.
Comfort and joy: Breathable uppers are good if you get hot, sweaty feet. A padded tongue offers extra comfiness. These days most shoes come with a cushioned footbed for even more comfort. (See, it’s all about comfort!)
Built to last: Take a look at the outside of the walking shoes, too. You want a shoe that will last, so that when you’re out and about and kicking up stones the shoes can take the pace. Ideally, walking shoes should come with rubberised toe and heel bumpers.
Sole time: Pick up the shoe and take a good look underneath. The sole of the shoe should be fit to cope with the terrain that you’re planning to walk. If your walking will be a mixture of trails and tarmacked paths you don’t want it to be too knobbly. Aggressive and knobbly soles are for mountain walking and running. But you still want soles that will offer grip and comfort for walking.
Our pick of the walking shoes for summer
For comfort, versatility and at a price that won't break the bank, the Regatta Wayfare is difficult to beat.
The Regatta Wayfare: The Wayfare comes in a male and female version. The main differences between men and women’s shoes are the narrower fit for women, the larger sizes for men and the choice of colours. There is nothing to stop you wearing a men’s shoe if you’re a woman and vice versa, it’s just a question of fit and preference.
Men’s Wayfare tested by Mr Stroller
Mr Stroller is named because of his preference for strolling, rather than full-on power walking. He most enjoys family walks along canal paths, a few countryside rambles (so long as they finish at a pub for a meal) and some gardening. Until now he’s been a fan of ordinary running trainers but he has found that his feet become too hot and sweaty on warm days. When walking on off-road paths that have puddles and stones, the trainers have not kept his feet dry.
So we gave him a pair of Regatta Wayfare’s to try. Here’s what he said: “The shoes feel immediately comfortable. I like the width fit and the padded tongue means the top of the shoes feel nice on the top part of my foot. The lacing system is good because I can tighten the shoes to feel just right, not too tight and not too loose.
“I sometimes have a problem with a narrow heel and wide shoes at the back, but the Wayfare seem to hug my ankle. This is good because I know they won’t rub and give me blisters.
"Having worn trainers for so long, I was a bit worried about how I would adapt to a pair of walking shoes but I like them! They feel more robust that sports trainers and when we went out for a family walk my feet didn’t sweat as much as the normally do. I don’t like mud and puddles as a rule but I tested the Wayfare shoes in a few puddles just to make sure they kept my feet dry. Which they did!
“I was also asked to try the shoes on grassy banks and slopes to make sure I didn’t slip in them. These are much, much better than sports trainers because they felt so grippy.
“The other good thing about the Wayfares is that they look smarter than sports trainers so I can see myself wearing them to more things, such as barbecues or even to the shops. The black Wayfares look the smartest to me, but I also like the look of the walnut colour.
“I’m quite surprised I haven’t thought about wearing walking shoes for walking! I like these enough to say I’m a convert!”
