‘I’d never head out without one’: 10 hiking essentials

From waterproof trousers to a compass, flasks to spare socks, here’s all the kit you need to keep you dry, safe and hydrated

How a digital detox day could help people take control of downtime

Offline Club’s first global event on Sunday will begin with tips on how to be phone-free for 24 hours every week

‘Plus-size people face a lot of barriers’: the campaigners helping larger walkers to enjoy the great outdoors

From being properly kitted out to planning a walking route up Mam Tor, our writer finds her feet and her tribe in the Peak District

How paddleboarding conquered Britain: the delights and dangers of the nation’s fastest-growing sport

It is calming and meditative – but more and more paddleboarders are needing to be rescued. Here is how to enjoy the water while staying safe

Bagging a Munro gets easier as volunteers fund repairs to mountain paths

Scottish Highlands campaign has raised two-thirds of £300,000 target for footpaths on An Teallach. But more is needed to protect people and environment

Country diary: Cherry blossom has given way to apple blossom

St Dominic, Tamar Valley: Few insects are about, but we hope the variable and staggered blossoming times will help pollination

From hiking to birdwatching to early nights – gen Z are coming for my hobbies, and they’re much better at them

I love the idea that the countryside is full of happy young people in Gore-Tex, finding community in beautiful places

A moment that changed me: I was divorced, broke and alone – but I turned my life around with a list

I decided to try everything I had ever wanted to do: standup comedy, speaking Spanish, running, swimming and sailing. On the other side of fear, I learned, lay all the best experiences

All gain, no pain: how to avoid injuries from running, skiing, swimming, cycling, football, rugby, yoga …

One minute you’re pushing your body to its limits, the next you’ve gone too far and you’re stretched out with an icepack. Sports pros explain how to escape pains, sprains, tears and swellings

I’ve always loved new hobbies and horses – then, two years ago, my equine dream came true

My obsession with trying new activities finally led me to my greatest passion – horse riding – when the last lockdown lifted