November was my One Hour Outside challenge month, a personal and open-to-all quest to spend at least an hour outside every day, come rain or shine. Spending time outside has countless benefits for our mental and physical health. It boosts our mood, reduces stress, and even improves creativity. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty around us.
In my pre-amble to this annual challenge (ten years!), I always talk about how November probably isn’t the most inviting month to spend time outside. The days are short, the weather is wet, and it can be incredibly tempting to stay indoors. And boy was I right this year! It seemed to take a really long time for the November skies to sort themselves out. We had days and days (weeks) of heavy and dark grey cloud cover with no sign of the sun, with named storms and an awful lot of rain doing its best to keep the outside off limits.
But that’s what makes this challenge so rewarding in many ways. Pushing yourself to get outside, even when it’s not the easiest choice, can lead to some memorable and fulfilling experiences.
Did you manage it?
I managed to get outside all but two days, thanks to an unpleasant stomach bug, and found that the challenge – as always – served as a great motivator. Beyond a handful of days hiking or purposefully exploring more urban environments, the real win was the reminder to enjoy simple outdoor activities. Whether it was a lunchtime walk from my own front door, or running errands on foot, the goal was to make getting outside a regular habit, and I think I achieved that.
A Quick Side Note
You may have noticed I’ve taken a bit more than a month off from the blog, with no publishing or even drafting since late October. My intention this year (see my Bucket List reset) was to publish twice a week on average, but clearly, that hasn’t happened. Not recently, anyway.
My excuse this time?! November has been a funny old month with ridiculous weather, an incredibly busy work schedule, some sad family news, annoying health issues, and real extremes in my mood. I never fail to find this time of year both a slog and a blast, but this year it feels even more so than usual. And so, I decided to step back from the online world and concentrate on getting One Hour Outside each day rather than writing about it. You know, practicing what I preach.
On Lunchtime Walks and Running Errands
More often than not, short walks are my outdoor activity of choice. And I can’t stress enough in this roundup how important those daily walks, whether leisurely wanders, brisk bimbles around the block, or purposeful marches to run errands, are. These might seem mundane ways to spend time outside, but without a doubt, they are the things that count the most for me.
Looking at my journal for November, I can see that of the 30 days (28 if you take out the two days I spent in bed), I’ve noted a combination of ‘lunchtime walk’, ‘around work’, ‘top up shop’ or ‘through town’ on 20 days. Which is quite a big percentage of the month. That’s pretty-standard in my life, I reckon. Yes, some days I walk for miles along countryside trails, or visit a Christmas market and walk for hours through a more urban environment, but most of the time, I get outside by making it part of the routine of life, not planning a specific activity.
Getting outside for our physical and mental wellbeing is not about big adventures, although big adventures can play a part. Rather, it is much more about those intentional yet snatched moments during our normal daily life. It really is about the everyday, every day.
As you can see, for me, this is making an effort to go out for a walk, even when I’m at my busiest. For you, it might be taking the dog for a walk, drinking your morning cuppa in your garden, ending your working day with a walk, following your running plan, or something else similar. Understood? Great. Now let’s talk about a some of the less every day One Hour Outsides I had in November…
Walk Around Stroud
One of the handful of non-errands-running One Hour Outside plans I made for November was walking the WAS Way (“Walk Around Stroud”). This 10-mile waymarked loop goes around the parish borders of Stroud town, crossing all five of the famous Five Valleys – Frome (Golden/Chalford), Nailsworth, Ruscombe, Painwick and Slad.
This was a properly good walking day out – boots on, sandwiches in my pack, exploring the new-to-me. Mainly on footpaths and country lanes, there was a little bit of everything along the route – river valleys, canal tow paths, high commons grazed by cattle and sheep, textile mills and related industry, steep slopes with big views, pretty autumnal-looking woodland, and little communities made of Cotswold Stone.
This will likely be the subject of a short adventure journal post sometime soon, so I won’t bore you with the details here. But I wanted to say it’s a good walk, well put together by the creators, and one I’d recommend to others looking for a countryside walk with an urban flavour in Gloucestershire. The waymarking is great in the countryside sections, but you’ll definitely want a map for the built-up areas. You’ll find the route here in OS Maps (start here if you don’t already have a subscription).
Hayles Fruit Farm Loop
I mentioned in my September Currently Loving post that I recently discovered the quite lovely Hayles Fruit Farm, a local family-owned farm in the Cotswolds that presses delicious apple juice from their own apples. What I didn’t say then, was how this farm sits just about on the Cotswold Way and Winchcombe Way, which means it’s possible to hike a very pretty loop from the farm, and reward yourself with lunch in the café afterwards. Which I highly recommend.
One Sunday in November, my husband and I did just that. This five-mile hike curated by AA Walks starts and finishes at the café (give or take 100m), offering heaps of interest for something that will take you just a couple of hours.
AA Walks themes the route around Thomas Cromwell, who was responsible for the closure of monasteries during Henry VIII’s Dissolution. Hailes Abbey was one of the most powerful Cistercian monasteries in the country in its day (now an English Heritage property), and it is said that Cromwell stood atop Beckberry Camp to order its destruction in 1539.
I’ve walked all these paths before (featured in my Cotswold Way and Winchcombe Way adventure journals), and it was a real treat to return to them. Especially that perfectly placed bench at the top of the hill. While that climb up through Thrift Wood Farm is not to be underestimated, and the descent after Beckbury Camp is pretty sharp, it’s a very doable hike, and one which made for a rather perfect Sunday outing.
And yes, Hailes Abbey and Hayles Fruit Farm are spelt differently, despite being just a few metres from each other. I don’t know.
Four Times on Cleeve Hill
It won’t be a surprise that I was on Cleeve Hill four times in November, that’s an average monthly statistic, I’d say. I just love it up there, it’s become my happy place since I moved to this part of the country a few years ago. Sometimes I will walk for miles up there, other times I will simply take a flask of tea and find a bench with a view.
The weather is always a little bit more intense up on the hill than it is down in the valley, so it has been possible to watch the November skies turn from heavy and grey to open and wintery over the course of the last four weeks. My visits in November included the contrast of a pre-work walk on a very blustery morning without any views, and a lovely walk with my work family towards the end of the month for which we had far reaching views and a hint of cloud inversion.
Interestingly, the view of and from Cleeve Common has changed through the month of November. One of the three communication masts which sit to one end of the Common has been removed. The structure was deemed to be unsafe, and so it was taken down rather than being left to fall. I mean, this seems incredibly sensible to me! The other two masts remain, so it’s still possible to point out Cleeve Hill from miles away, and to use the masts as useful navigation aids when the cloud comes in.
If you’ve not visited Cleeve Hill and want a walk that takes it all in, this one is my favourite. I also recommend Cleeve Common Trust’s History and Archaeology Walk.
Birmingham Christmas Market
Visiting the Birmingham Christmas Market on Saturday was a rather delightful last One Hour Outside of November. The Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham features, in the main, traditional German treats, handmade crafts, and unique gifts. The market, long running and renowned for its festive atmosphere, sprawling stalls, and traditional decor, provided an opportunity to embrace the upcoming time of year. With what felt like a million other people, of course!
I mean, it really was incredibly busy. We got to Birmingham by train, which at least meant we didn’t have to fight with the traffic, but I admit the crowds did get a bit overwhelming in places. It was still a good outdoors-focused day out, though – the twinkling lights, (loud) festive music, market stalls and fair rides did create a nice atmosphere. Oh, and the apple doughnut that was my Christmas market sweet treat of choice comes highly recommended!
We weren’t confined to the market, of course. Birmingham is a pretty good place for an urban wander on any day of the year. We meandered over to the library, along the canal tow path, and enjoyed taking in the atmosphere of the bustling city.
Some Christmas markets, such as the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre that we thoroughly enjoyed on Sunday (1 December…), are only on for a long weekend. But the one in Birmingham is on until Christmas Eve, in case you want a One Hour Outside idea in the run up to Christmas.
Not Just for November
While November’s One Hour Outside challenge may have come to an end, the spirit of the month is something that can – and must – continue all year round. The beauty is that One Hour Outside doesn’t need to be confined to a single month. Whether it’s the brisk days of winter or the warm evenings of summer, spending a little bit of time outside each day can be incredibly beneficial. Some days might be harder than others, especially when the weather (or your to do list, or your health) isn’t cooperating, but those moments outside offer a much-needed literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air that can make a real difference.
I invite you to continue with the One Hour Outside habit in December and beyond. Embrace the change of seasons and the unique experiences each one brings. Make One Hour Outside a part of your daily routine and discover the benefits of connecting with nature and enjoying the great outdoors. Dare I suggest we make a commitment now to make 2025 a year of daily outdoor adventures, no matter how big or small they may be?!
One Hour Outside February Photo Challenge
If you need the little extra motivation a concentrated challenge provides, my One Hour Outside photo challenge is set to return early next year. Throughout February, use my daily photo prompt to inspire some time spent outside. An opportunity to look at the world around you a little differently to normal – through your camera lens. From winter landscapes to fleeting moments of wildlife, every day offers a new opportunity to appreciate and document the world around us.
I’ll publish the photo challenge themes early in the New Year (you’ll find the 2024 list here if you want some inspiration before then). Please do consider subscribing so you get the list as soon as it’s available.
