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The Smaller Explorer

family travel and adventure

  • Adventure
    • Activity
      • Camping
      • Climbing
      • Cycling
      • Expedition
      • Festivals
      • Running
      • Walking
    • Environment
      • Beach
      • Mountains
      • Nature
      • Snow
      • Water
      • Woodland
  • Explore
    • Farms
    • Garden centres
    • Galleries
    • Museums
    • National Trust
    • Parks
  • Travel
    • Responsible travel
    • Overseas
    • UK
  • Seasons
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
    • Winter
  • Age ranges
    • Teeny
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Going solo
  • What’s on
  • Reviews
  • About
Category:

Climbing

Ideas and advice for how to go climbing as a family, and where to go.

Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family
ActivityAdventureClimbingEnvironmentTravelUKWalking

Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family

When I was thinking about adventure ideas and cool adventurous things parents could do, the one thing that kept coming back to me was how we really don’t need to travel far to experience adventure. The UK has so many dramatic to explore. This is good news for families, who generally don’t have the time or ability to disappear for months on end in the wilderness.

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January 4, 2019 1 comment
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Family-friendly mountain climb at Pen y Fan, Wales
AdventureAge rangesClimbingEnvironmentMountainsTeeny

Family-friendly mountain climb at Pen y Fan, Wales

Pen y Fan is Wales’ second largest mountain and the highest mountain in southern Britain, standing at 886m above sea level. It’s a popular National Trust location, with over 250,000 people tramping up to the peak each year. At the top you are rewarded with dramatic steep slopes and valley scenery and with the right conditions, you can see right across the four counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan and Somerset. We chose to climb Pen y Fan with our toddler and preschooler as part of our four-month challenge. Here’s how we go on.

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May 30, 2018 4 comments
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The secret Isle of Wight campsite you’ll want to visit
ActivityBeachCampingClimbingCyclingNational TrustPrimarySpringSunTeenyTravelUK

The secret Isle of Wight campsite you’ll want to visit

What a weekend. I feel like I’ve just come back from a week abroad. We took a spontaneous trip over to the Isle of Wight on Bank Holiday Saturday as the weather was so perfect. We found the perfect Isle of Wight campsite, went orienteering (aka ‘mountain climbing’ according to my son), splashed at the beach, ate ice cream, and went for a bike ride in the New Forest on the way home. I am now completely in love with the Isle of Wight. Why haven’t I been before?

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May 14, 2018 8 comments
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Adventure after parenthood: Catherine Edsell
ActivityAdventureAge rangesBeachClimbingExpeditionExploreInspirationMountainsNatureOverseasPrimaryTeenyTravelVolunteeringWalkingWaterWildlife

Adventure after parenthood: Catherine Edsell

Part of why I set up The Smaller Explorer was to connect with like-minded families. There’s nothing like chatting with others who have managed to do something amazing after having children. It’s so inspiring, and also gives me loads of ideas of what I could do in the future too, and how to do it.

This series hopes to inspire other families who want to get back out there after parenthood, but don’t quite know where to start, or if it’s possible. There was only one lady I could start with – Catherine Edsell.  Catherine is an adventurer, expedition leader, PADI divemaster, Reef Check trainer, yoga teacher, FRGS, TED talker, podcaster and mother of two daughters. Phew.

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May 9, 2018 1 comment
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Climbing with kids at Clip n’ Climb
AdventureClimbingPrimaryTeenyUK

Climbing with kids at Clip n’ Climb

Climbing with kids. What could go wrong?! As part of our adventure, we’re going climbing in May. We thought we’d first try finding an indoor climbing wall before tackling something outdoorsy. There are a few climbing walls around us that allow four year olds to climb including White Spider Climbing, the University of Surrey and High Sports. To find climbing walls near you try the BMC.

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May 1, 2018 4 comments
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UK adventure: 4 adventures in 4 months with a 4 year old
AdventureAge rangesCampingClimbingCyclingExploreMountainsNatureSummerSwimmingTeenyUKWalkingWater

UK adventure: 4 adventures in 4 months with a 4 year old

Finding UK adventures and having a go at different challenges when you have young children is not just achievable, it’s great fun and a good bonding experience too.

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April 17, 2018 7 comments
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About

About

for families who like to explore

The Smaller Explorer is a blog for adventurous families. I search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults (and maybe a bit of a break from the norm), plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

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About us

the smaller explorer is an online magazine for adventurous parents. We search out the best of what's out there that's fun for kids AND adults, plus provide lots of achievable ideas for exploring and having adventures in the UK and overseas.

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Family-friendly mountain climb at Pen y Fan, Wales

    May 30, 2018
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    The best walks in London

    February 10, 2019
  • 3

    Wild and remote places in the UK to explore with and without your family

    January 4, 2019

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