Outdoor activities

Couple cycling on the Downs

Getting outside into nature and the open air is invigorating. It is an important method for escaping the stresses of daily life and taking care of your wellbeing, as well as providing numerous physical health benefits. Social interaction is also proven to enhance your health.

We have listed below different activities to encourage you to get outside and keep active.

Walking

Arun Healthy Walks are back! The Walking For Health website is an initiative by the British Heart Foundation and Natural England to help people across the nation lead a more active lifestyle through walking. They offer FREE volunteer-led walks to get you visiting some of Arun District's natural surroundings. To sign up, please email Freedom Leisure or call Littlehampton Wave reception on 01903 725451.

Chichester District Council have arranged the HeartSmart walks programme, which are trained volunteer-led walks. Six of these walks are taking place in the Arun area, giving the perfect opportunity for our residents to keep their heart healthy and come and meet other people they might like to walk with.

Full details of the HeartSmart walks and details of how to book can be found on the Chichester District Council website. The walks can only be booked 7 days in advance so, as places are limited, don't delay! For more information, email the Health Development Team or call 01243 521041.

If you would prefer to explore the British countryside in your own time, then try one of the many free walks on offer on the Ramblers website.

If you have children, you might need to be a bit creative to get them outdoors. The National Trust offer a wide range of activities for you to incorporate into your family outing, from wildlife identification games to advice on nature photography. See the National Trust website for lots of fun activities that families can enjoy outdoors as well as tips to get kids out on a walk

Another way to spice up your walk for the kids is to follow an Art Trail. A local chainsaw artist has designed wooden sculptures that you can tick off as you discover them on the walk. See the Arun District Council website for more information about the Bersted Park Art Trail

We have teamed up with our Community Parks department to create a summer scavenger hunt (PDF 1,603KB - new window). The aim is to find as many items as possible and tick them off as you go. This is a great activity for the whole family to get involved in, or as a friendly competition for the kids to practice their identification skills. We have included a list of parks for you to visit too. See our new beach-themed scavenger hunt (PDF - opens in new window - 1.18MB).

The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) website offers plenty of ideas about how you can get active and enjoy the wonders our local landscape has to offer, including walking trails, places to hire bikes, wildlife identification resources and  a wealth of information about the history and biodiversity of the park. 

The Walk this Way... South Downs Women's Walking Group website also offer membership (for a small fee) for ladies of Arun to join a fun and friendly walking group in the South Downs area. 

MenWalkTalk is a charity that supports Men's Mental Wellbeing by organising walks to encourage more men to get outdoors, open up and forge new friendships with other men in the community. You can join them for a walk by visiting the MenWalkTalk website.

Water Sports

For the open-water swimming-lovers out there, Littlehampton Sea Swimmers organise safe sea swimming sessions for beginners and less-confident swimmers.

Running

Running is a very popular method of getting active and outdoors. Starting out can be intimidating if you do not run often, which is why it is worth trying out the NHS Couch to 5K running plan, which is designed to help you succeed in running 5K in just 9 weeks.

Once you have mastered this, why not attend one of Arun's Park Runs? These weekly runs take place in either Bognor or Littlehampton

If you have been bitten by the running bug then you could join a running club. There is Arunners in Littlehampton and Bognor Tone Zone Runners in Bognor Regis. 

Cycling

There are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore the Arun area by bike. We are fortunate to have designated cycle routes along Littlehampton and Bognor seafronts. Please see the Sussex by the Sea website for more information on cycle routes. 

Fancy yourself the next Geraint Thomas? Then why not visit one of our local cycle clubs' websites? There is Bognor Regis Cycling Club, Arun-Adur Cycling Club and Bognor & Chichester Cyclists Touring Club to name just a few. 

Team Sports

There are many different sports clubs in and around the Arun area. For example, we have quite a few local cricket clubs you can try, see the Play Cricket website for Arundel, Bognor Regis, Clymping, East Preston, Littlehampton and Ferring Cricket Club's website and Angmering Cricket Club's website.

The BBC Sport Get Inspired website has a directory of different club sports and activities in the local area for you to try. 

More details regarding Arun Wellbeing outdoor activity events are available on our Getting Active Outdoors homepage.

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