Things to do this bank holiday

With the weekend fast approaching we wanting to write a blog about the top things to do this August bank holiday. We therefore asked a few of our brands and ambassadors to provide us with an insight into how they'll be spending the bank holiday and their recommendations on things to do in their local area. 

Mel Piagesti, Nature Shop Director

Location: East Sussex

How will you spend the bank holiday weekend?

Our family will be taking our friend's camper van over to France for the long weekend. We'll be staying in a campsite near St Malo and we cant wait to do lots of swimming, family bike rides, hikes and beach trips.  

Do you have any recommendations for things to do in your local area?

In Sussex there are plenty of amazing places to visit. Our favourites are Petworth Park which is a 700 acre national park with deer, lakes and plenty of picnic spots, Devil's Dyke with lots a great hikes, or Brighton seafront for bike rides, rock hopping and swimming. 

Holly Budge, British Adventurer & Nature Shop ambassador

Location: Hampshire

How will you spend the bank holiday weekend?

I'll be having a relaxing weekend of hiking in the Hampshire countryside with my dogs! Heaven!

Do you have any recommendations for things to do in your local area?

I would recommend hiking on Butser Hill, on the South Downs. This was my training ground for Everest, straight up & down the hills with a weighted pack. Followed by a meal & a well earned pint in The Globe Alresford, a quintessential English pub, right next to a lake! Booking essential!

Daren Townsley, Patagonia Rep

Location: Thames Valley

How will you spend the bank holiday weekend?

The weekend will be very weather dependent as with any outdoor activity! If we have a south westerly wind I’ll windsurf on the south coast from Hayling Island.

Always worth having a backup option though as this time of year is not renowned for windy conditions, so I’ll also pack a fly rod in the car if it’s calm and go fishing for bass as they come in to feed on the rising tide at Chichester Harbour.

Do you have any recommendations for things to do in your local area?

I live on the edge of the Chiltern Hills in the Thames Valley. I’d certainly recommend walking around here through the chalk hills and valleys or road biking through the lanes. If you’re into rowing the Thames is certainly the place. You can even find some spots around here for outdoor swimming which I’d love to try!

Ben Dickens, Eco Companion

Location: Hertfordshire

How will you spend the bank holiday weekend?

Surprisingly it looks like we're going to get some nice weather in the UK at least over the South of England. So for me this means getting out in the countryside with the family and dog. I live in Hertfordshire which, although very close to London, is a actually a very rural county with some amazing places to visit, we're big fans of Heartwood Forrest, loads of open space and wild blackberries for little fingers to pick! There's some great wildlife spotting, deer, rabbits and kites all call Heartwood home.

Do you have any recommendations for things to do in your local area?

Apart from a visit to Heartwood Forrest there's some great country houses in Hertfordshire like Hatfield House and Knebworth. There's some great walk like the Chiltern way and some real history in St Albans with Roman ruins. Hertfordshire has great nature reserves such Broxbourne Woods National Nature reserve or the RSPB reserve at Rye Meads.

We'd love to see what you get up to this bank holiday. Tag us on social media using @natureshopuk and using the hashtag #lovenaturelivenature