In an age when most kids (and adults) seem to spend most of their spare time in front of the computer or the telly and when excersize equals playing xbox 360 or Nintendo WII, I thought I’d share a few words with you about the wonders of the great outdoors.

A few weeks ago my husband and I decided to hike around the Scottish highlands with only the bare necessities and a small tent, with the intention of staying outdoors 100% of that week. So, we set of with our backpacks heavy, our minds giddy with expectations, the weather forecast looking unusually good and our fingers crossed that it would stay that way.

Our first night the weather was so amazing we did not even bother putting our tents up, we slept under the starry sky after a nice meal and a bottle of wine (yes, I did say we brought the necessities!) and it was more romantic than the priciest hotel could ever be. The rest of the week followed suit, and kept on surprising us with all the things you can do when you don’t practise being a couch potoato! We did kayaking, horse riding, climbed 3 mountains (!), white water rafting and despite being rained on a few times and almost being blown off a hill once we spent every moment, awake or asleep, outdoors!

When the week was over and we had to return to the every day life and the telly we promised each other to do this every year – just the ruddy rose cheeked look on my husbands face was worth every uncomfortable or cold moment we experienced (being Scotland there was a few of course, but mainly good ones!). And we slept like babies when we finally got back in our own beds!

So next time you plan a holiday, consider skipping the hotel and get cosy with Mother Nature instead!