I loved writing this list – it’s a powerful reminder of just how much adventure surrounds us. My adventure radar has been on alert and buzzing over the last few weeks. We have brought what’s trending in the adventure space, what’s new, and a few curveballs to mix it up.
We can immerse ourselves in stories, ideas and trips from behind the wheel, curled up on the sofa, in the supermarket aisle, halfway up a hill, or swimming in the sea. I think you could easily inject something adventurous every single day of your life– I think I might try that as a challenge! I will find some AQ’s to join me!
Adventure sparks curiosity, opens doors, and presents opportunities. For me, it is closely tied to my activist journey because when you fall in love with the natural world, it becomes impossible not to care about protecting it.
May is bursting with opportunities to move, explore, and connect. From epic challenges (like walking the UK coastline) to simple local pleasures (like blossom-spotting or planning a wild weekend), there’s something for everyone. Whether your adventures are near or far, solo or shared, this month has something to inspire you to get you outside.
It is time to set your own Adventure Mission from the ideas below:
Here’s my Adventure Mission from the last 4 weeks:
1. Attended the Kelp Summit at the University of Brighton @sussexkelp. I spent the day learning about the seaweed, sea beds and seals! What more could a girl want?
2. I watched The Big Sea at my local cinema. If you own a wetsuit, you must see this—it’s eye-opening, and you can’t help but feel you are part of the problem!
3. Returned to swimming after breaking a bone in my leg – the recovery phase is now in full swing.
4. Planning my trip to Jersey on a sea swimming retreat – I think for me it will be more ‘swimbling’ and less swimming!
5. Helping the Brighton Surfers Against Sewage Crew organise the Paddle Out Protest
Here are some events happening in the next few weeks which caught my eye:
- Become an Activist: Saturday, May 17 for the National @SurfersAgainstSewage Paddle Out Protest. This is a UK-wide protest against sewage pollution. I will be helping out in Brighton Protest! Come and say hello! Across the UK, there are over 35 protests.
- Adventure Queen Camp Out: 16 to 18 May: AQ will be at Shay gate farm campsite near Colne, Lancashire. There are still tickets available.
- Arran Mountain Festival, Arran, Scotland: 16 to 19 May. The Isle of Arran Mountain Festival is Scotland’s premier hillwalking and mountaineering festival, and an opportunity to explore the beautiful Isle of Arran. Top Tip: Be super organised with your travel!
Other things to watch out for over the coming year include:
Swim:
Level Water: New events: Jesus Green 12 hour swim and the Hurly Burly in North Wales – not for the faint hearted!
Travel:
- Black Girls Hike UK: They have places on their trips to Africa and Costa Rica this summer.
- Gutsy Girls: They have places on their summer trips to Croatia and Sardinia.
Watch:
- TEDx Talk Belinda Kirk: Just released. One of the most significant challenges young people face today is a lack of confidence in themselves and the world. Adventure can help. Experiences such as camping under the stars or learning to cycle or surf for the first time can significantly transform self-esteem, confidence, and resilience. In this brand-new TEDx talk, Belinda shares her own story of rebuilding from childhood trauma through the power of adventures, offering simple and actionable ways for kids and adults to get started.
- Documentary: The Big Sea: If you own and wetsuit, then you must watch this film. This film will open your eyes. Surfing is killing it. This $10 billion global industry, built on a clean, green dream, has never been more popular. But surfing has a dirty secret… and people are dying. The Big Sea is an exploration of the toxic nature of wetsuits, the human and environmental cost of Neoprene production and surfing’s links to Cancer Alley. More viewings are being released all the time.
- MountainsonStage: The UK Tour kicks off April 29th. Four beautiful films from the mountains—if you are into climbing and kayaking, then this is for you! Screenings at Mountains on Stage will kick off April 7 in 250 cities worldwide.
Follow:
- @Raynor Winn: The Salt Path has just come out in the cinemas. I loved this book – I picked it up and read it cover to cover in one go! It’s an epic story of love, homelessness, resilience and nature. It is beautifully written- you may need some tissues. I expect the path they followed will be super busy this summer!
- Lucy Barnard and Wombat – Follow Lucy in the pursuit of becoming the first woman to walk the length of the Earth from Ushuaia Argentina, to Barrow Alaska
- @headrightout Zoe and her husband Mike are also planning to walk 7,300 miles around the coast of mainland Great Britain. It will take them approximately two years, and they will carry everything they need. Along the way, they are aiming for a Guinness World Record! One to watch!
Read:
- Hot off the Press: Zoe Langley-Wathen launched her book on 630 Miles Braver – Midlifing on the South West Coast Path. It is on my bedside table as my next read.
- Hot off the Press: @EmmaSimpson Breaking Waves. I was lucky enough to meet Emma at #TheBigSwim in Brighton, she had just finished her book launch at Sea Lanes. This book is filled with a very deep and brave story of Emma’s ups and downs and how swimming has been a force of calm and healing. You might also need your tissues!
Photography:
This one is random, but I bet someone reading this has the most fabulous photo taken on a hike, that they can enter for the competition. Festival of Farmland Biodiversity: The National Biodiversity Data Centre is hosting a month-long Festival of Farmland Biodiversity during May 2025. Lots to read about – but most importantly, you can enter the Hedgerow Photo Competition.
Festivals:
- Armchair Festival, the UK’s best celebration of Adventure Travel, will take place from July 24th to 27th, 2025, at Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, Cornwall. This year, they have a new Royal Geographical Society Explore Skills Stage. Topics covered will include wild camping, route planning, navigation, bike packing, storytelling, and travel health planning. The festival is in its fifth year, and more activities are added all the time. Keep an eye on their socials.
- Frontier Sapien Film Festival: Starts in September. I have been to the Brighton Festival for the last few years and love sitting under the night sky watching adventure films from around the world. Early bird tickets are now on sale for Leeds, Poole, Reading and Warrington
Listen to:
- Podcast: Be Braver: This is a brand-new podcast with only a few episodes released. It’s all about being braver; what stops us and why we should push ourselves outside our comfort zone (one of my favourite topics) My favourite so far is the episode with Mike Bates. He has many stories to tell and shares his adventures in a natural and humble way. I love his story of dolphins and barnacles in the Atlantic Ocean and his driving force for being the fastest man to finish the Talisker Whiskey Challenge.
- Podcast: Tough Girl Challenges: My go-to Podcast with host Sarah Williams. Sarah has a massive back catalogue of podcasts, so whatever your interest, you can search and listen to what floats your boat. I have just listened to the episode with Sophie Etheridge: Breaking Barriers in Open Water – World Record English Channel Swim, Ultra Challenges & Disability Advocacy. @sophie_adaptive_athlete – I recently met Sophie for a catch-up in Brighton – she told me about her epic 29 hours swim!!! The Newest Episodes are:
- 24th Apr – Dee Anna: From Survivor to Disabled Adventuress – Finding Strength in Nature. Dee Anna Disabled Adventuress with AuDHD and Journalist
- 29th Apr – Rahema Mamodo: Mum of 3, Finding Running Later in Life – From Couch to Ultra, Inspiring Women to Break Barriers. @rahema_m
Also keep an eye out for:
- The Wild Weekend: New weekend from Land and Wave: 5/7th September for a Wild Weekend 2 days of guided adventure. Wild Swims, Guided Hikes and Forest Skills.
- National Trust sites: Beautiful spaces perfect for a picnic or afternoon tea! It is Bluebell time – be quick, they don’t hang about.
- The Adventure Conference:This November (details not out yet) it’s a great place to meet other adventure practitioners, business and campaigners. Check out their Research: Adventure Mind – NEW! The Benefits of Adventure for Children A clear, concise summary of evidence written by leading #AdventureMind academics and practitioners for use by parents/carers, educators, therapists and policy makers. This makes for interesting reading backed by academic research.
- Rebel Badge:Think Duke of Edinburgh for grown-ups. Pick your badge and work towards it. Check out their new badges: Big Rebel Bake Off, Back to the Future, Rebel Monopoly, and my favourite is the World Book Day Badge.
- Adventure Shenanigans Patches: If you were a Girl Guide, you would love these patches. They are high-quality, woven sew-on badges for the Open-Water Swimming and Outdoor Adventure communities. They are always releasing new badges and have lots to choose from. The latest badges are Just Married, Tub Club, Sauna, and Swim. The badge I have my eye on is Swimble Shenanigans: Swimming with a side of Bonkers.
Upcoming trends:
- Forestry runs on Strava
- Bakery Tourism
- Lido Swims
Summary
Let us know about your Adventure Mission or tell us about an activity that we can include in our next blogpost.
Happy Adventuring and have fun recharging your adventure batteries!
#adventurelife #pinknicky #adventurepodcast #adventurefestivals #saunalife #adventurefilm #microadventures #outdooradventure #empowerwomen
Bio
Nicky Chisholm aka PinkNicky is a seasoned Project Manager with a passion for the adventure and outdoor industry. I specialise in:
- Fundraising strategies
- Brand Ambassador programs
- Bold marketing campaigns for expeditions and charity events
- Eye-catching PR stunts
I bring energy, creativity, and grit to every project. I run a blog dedicated to empowering women, empty nesters, and adventurous souls to embrace life’s next chapter with enthusiasm and spirit. I am a brand ambassador for Adventure Mind and Surfers against Sewage and have recently completed a cross-country ski expedition in Finland.
With years of hands-on adventure experience from wingwalking, searching for parrots in the Amazon, running in Greenland or living off gird in Northern Sweden.
Adventure isn’t just my job—it’s in my DNA.
Every year I run The Big Swim, a swimming event that celebrates International Women’s Day – this year we had 1000 swimmers! I am now planning for 2026.
Fun facts: Nicky loves her camper van Daisy, Digestive biscuits and dancing at festivals. She recently fractured her leg on an expedition in Finland and was rescued by a reindeer herder! And was last seen disappearing into the eerie arctic sunset!
Nicky’s details:
Nicky Chisholm aka #PinkNicky
Mob: 07920 482380
Email: nickyc@pinknicky.com