Stuck in traffic somewhere on the M6 near Birmingham en route to Snowdonia, I started pondering what the optimum distance is for a weekend of adventure. There’s a careful balance to be struck between the sheer awesomeness of the destination and how easy it is to actually get there.

Some of us are lucky enough to have natural playgrounds on our doorstep (mountains for the Northerners, waves for the Southerners), but many outdoor lovers will want to keep exploring all that Britain has to offer, no matter how far afield.

For a weekend, I tend to obey the 5 hour rule. Anywhere over 5 hrs drive just tips the balance of awesomeness vs travel stress. From London, this means that surf beaches of Cornwall and the peaks of the Lake District are just a stretch too far for 48 hrs of fun. Though perhaps with a little extra organisation and a day off work, this could be overcome?

Early booking on overnight trains will get you a berth on the Caledonian Sleeper (hello Scotland!) or the Riviera Express (hello South West!) at bargain prices. Or of course, sharing the drive with some like minded buddies or booking on a group trip, will allow you to snooze in the back whilst the scenery turns from suburban to wilderness.

I’d love to know how far you are prepared to go in the name of weekend adventure? Is it worth going the distance, or are are we in fact missing great spots that are right under our noses? Speaking of which, I have just discovered a mountain biking centre about 30 mins from my house. Now why didn’t I notice that before?…

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