Outdoor Sports That Will Rekindle Your Love for Nature

Nature is something that many of us have grown up with, whether it is playing in the woods making dams and building bivouacs, or planting fresh fruit and vegetables to be harvested for the kitchen table. However, in recent years, with the advent of the internet and a globally connected society, many people and youngsters are eschewing a life in nature for a more prosaic one in front of a television or glued to a mobile phone. This has had a detrimental effect on many people’s well being as they are cooped up indoors suffering from a lack of exercise, and eating themselves to death. 

 

One great way of rekindling your love for nature is to take up an outdoor sport as you will reap the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and companionship with your friends. In this article, we are going to take a look at the best outdoor sports that allow you to get back in tune with nature, so read on to find out more.

Running

What better sport is there that makes you feel more in tune with nature and more alive than outdoor running? With virtually no barriers to entry other than a decent pair of running shoes, running can be both an urban and a rural activity that allows you to connect with nature. Whether you are lucky enough to run in the woods or a country park, or you settle for a late-night urban landscape, you can reconnect with nature. In the cities, you can look out for urban foxes and nesting raptors, whereas in the countryside, there are thousands of examples of wonderful flora and fauna to look out for. So, if you are looking to get outdoors to see more wildlife, then running should be high on your list of options. 

Golf

Golf is one of those sports that used to be seen as being for the upper classes due to the stuffiness surrounding many clubs, however, in the last decades, this has all changed as it is now accessible to men and women from all walks of life. The great thing about golf is that it offers you the chance to exercise, meet new people, and take advantage of the technological advances that the 21st century has brought. No longer do you have to guess how far the pin is from your ball as professionals from opticsaddict.com/golf-rangefinder/ advise that rangefinders are now available that use GPS or laser technology to measure distances. Technology also comes into play with the development of new irons and drivers that allow you to hit farther and straighter than ever before. If you are looking to combine nature with new technology, then golf is the sport for you.

Horse Riding

Many people like speed, and one of the best ways of enjoying this feeling outdoors, without being cooped up in a vehicle, is to learn to ride a horse. Horses have extremely high cruising speeds, as evidenced by extremely popular horse racing, but this doesn’t need to be the be-all and end-all as many people take up the sport just to enjoy nature and all the benefits that it brings. Although it is expensive many shared ownership schemes bring the costs down, and it can be incredibly sociable if you take part in hunts, or just join a riding club for a trot on a crispy winter’s morning. Being at one with nature is unavoidable when astride a horse, so consider this as an option when you are looking for a new outdoor sport.

Swimming

The majority of people who enjoy swimming do so from the warmth of an indoor heated swimming pool, but there are increasing numbers of people who take part in outdoor swimming all year round. You have various options from purpose-built lidos to rivers and lakes, but whichever you choose there is nothing like the sensation of an early morning dip while the birds are singing, and the sun rises to kick start your day. You will leave the water as fresh as a daisy, ready to get on with whatever challenges life brings you.

 

As we have discovered, many different sports allow you to rekindle your love of nature. Running and swimming are both low-cost options that can provide great exercise, whereas golf and horse riding requires a little more money, yet can be extremely sociable and offer great competitive rewards. Whatever you choose, make sure that you keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, and then you will not miss out on any of the glorious displays of nature that we are lucky enough to witness on our beautiful planet.