The Wild 100: Outside & active

The village of Church Stretton, just down the road from The Owl House, has been known as "Little Switzerland" since Victorian times, when locals would hike its hills in lieu of trips to the Alps. The Shropshire Way runs a short distance to the west, with a lovely stretch running from Bridges to the ragged rock of Bishop's Castle.

How do you get from your angular stilt pod on the edge of a Cornish quarry to the local surf break? Kud Truck, of course. When the owner has it running, you can bundle your boards into the American flatbed, hop in and rattle down through country lanes to the beach. It'll ferry you home too, where you can search out the hot tub in the woods.

The outdoors is a different place in the company of a sharp-eyed expert. Have you ever seen a bleeding tooth fungus? Can you spot a pinecone that's been chewed by a crossbill? They can, and they'll show you things that turn a walk in the woods into a tour of the natural world. The Saw Mill is a good base nearby.

Getting active outdoors doesn't have to mean thigh-burning cardio. Try a little green woodwork, making everything from a simple spatula to a rocking chair, although you might need a fairly long stay at Whittlers for the latter. Feeling the grain and gently shaping the wood is a deeply engaging, meditative experience.

It's rare to be able to take on a top-class biking trail and step straight onto the deck of your cabin at the end, but you can on the 1.2km downhill route at Beudy Banc. If that whets your appetite, head to the hills near Machynlleth, a few miles away, and take on the world-class Mach trails.

The waters at Fallow Treehouse will take your breath away twice. Once when you see the beauty of the setting in the Test Valley and again when you dive, or more likely edge slowly, into them. With a professional instructor on hand, you'll learn how to control your breathing and modify your stroke for open water, perhaps beginning a new lifelong passion.

If you've always fancied trying paddle boarding, but are worried about people seeing you fall in, then what you really need is a private lochan and some boards to borrow, which is exactly what Tiny Home Borders comes with. Fire up the outdoor bath before you start and you'll have a great place to warm up if you got a bit wet.

Wild swimming spots are often something you have to hike to, but sometimes all you want is to fall into the water on a hot day. At Myrtle, the River Wye runs right past the cabin, so you can wander down the bank and hop in whenever you choose. There's canoeing and kayaking on the river too, but why not just treat it like your own private pool in the garden.

Spend your days out in the fresh air with just a rod and the kingfishers for company from this secluded fisherman's cabin on the bank of the River Dart. Or if you're feeling more daring, head out onto the water with a paddleboard or just dive straight in for a wild swimming adventure.

You can learn a lot about yourself when you get out into nature, but you can learn a lot about other things too. Here are five great places where you can pick up new skills in between lazy moments of peaceful reflection.

Just below Snowdonia National Park sits the tiny town of Machynlleth, barely bigger than a village. What's less usual about this tiny town, is that it is home to the Dyfi Mountain Biking community. Here's our guide to the trails.

The good thing about embracing your inner child is that you know it’s in there somewhere. All you need to do is strip away years of being dull and sensible and throw yourself into the outdoors.

There’s nothing like the feeling of emerging from a river or the ocean with tingling skin and a clear mind, but be warned – wild swimming is seriously addictive.

The calmness and wellbeing birds bring are things I find immensely valuable in my life and that I feel everyone can benefit from.