Get Outdoors in Autumn: 5 Family Fun Activities

The nights may well be drawing in and the weather may be worsening, but there’s still lots of ways you can get outside and have fun with the kids.

In fact there’s something exciting about dusting off the big coat for the first time, wrapping up in your woolliest scarf, pulling on your boots or wellies and stepping outdoors into the fresh autumn air.

At B&M we've come up with 5 fun and family-friendly outdoor activities to get excited about this autumn…

Jump in puddles

We’re not quite sure why it’s so satisfying, but jumping from puddle to puddle on a drizzly day is a great way to have fun – and it’s free! As long as you’re armed with your trusty wellies and an umbrella, this simple activity brings smiles to ours and our children’s faces. Go on, jump in! (Just throw a stone in first to make sure they don’t go waist-deep!)

Go on a bike ride

One way to beat the cold snap is to keep moving. And with a bit of pedal-power you and the family can keep yourselves warm while getting some welcome exercise.

Below are some of the best family-friendly cycling routes in the UK, but you can just as easily spend a few hours in your local park:

• Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire – a circular trail with a purpose-built surface running through beautiful forest.
• Ashbourne, Derbyshire – a former railway line converted into a cycling path. Better yet the path is flat meaning the whole family can build up a head of steam.
• Hampton Court to Putney – for city-dwellers, glide through Richmond Park and try and spot deer along the way!
• Pollok Country Park, Glasgow – follow the Forth & Clyde cycle route through park, woodland and walled gardens.

For more great routes near you, check out the National Cycle Network.

B&M Top Tip: have you seen our perfect bike ride tips blog? It’ll give you great ideas on planning a family outing on two wheels.

Leaf rubbing (and conker rolling!)

This autumn activity gives you the best of both worlds. Grab your coat and wellies and take yourselves on an autumn forage. You’ll want to wait for a dry day so the leaves you pick aren’t too soggy, but once you’re happy with your leaves of orange, yellow and red it’s back to the warmth of your living room to get creative.

All you need is some white paper and colouring pencils or crayons! Place the paper over the leaf and start colouring for some beautiful drawings.

If you spot any conkers on your travels, why not fill a tray with paints and roll your conkers about in them? The result is a unique and colourful work of art!

Camp out in the garden

The cooler weather doesn’t mean the end of camping season. You can still have fun setting up the tent in your very own back garden. Think about it, you get the best of everything! Starry skies, fresh air and lots of space to play while your oven, kettle and central heating are just a few steps away!

B&M Top Tip: you can still grab your camping essentials at your local B&M store, this sleeping bag and Bestway Inflatable Double Bed will guarantee a good night’s sleep.

The best thing about camping in your own garden? You can simply jump in your own bed if it gets a bit too chilly!

Toast marshmallows (and tell ghost stories!)

While you’re camping you’ll want to make sure you keep warm. No one can resist the entrancing movements of a roaring fire, so stock up on charcoal and fire up the chimenea!

Even more irresistible are toasted marshmallows! Grab a Mega Marshmallows pack and some skewers and enjoy while you tell ghost stories.

B&M Top Tip: wherever you are, whatever you’re up to take some hot chocolate, tea, coffee or soup with you to keep the chill at bay. At B&M we have a great range of insulated drinking mugs and thermal food flasks!

Tell us what you’ve been up to this autumn! We’d love to hear from you, and you can share your favourite outdoor activities with the B&M community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!