11. ANCIENT ADVENTURES: Go on a fossil hunt

In the spring of this year I went up to Whitby to phpotograph the coast and try out a camp site for an article I was writing for Coast Magazine. I ended up with some time to spare so decided to take a walk on the reef at Sandsend with Bob the dog. I have surfed over the reef many times but never taken a close look at it with the eyes of a fossil hunter. On this occasion, however, I was in no hurry to get to the waves so I took my time and padded over the near perfect reef to see what treasures lie embedded within it. As you can see, I struck gold with this ammonite.

10. A SWIMMING ADVENTURE: Tidal Pools

I love swimming. And I particularly enjoy swimming outdoors, whether that's in a pool, a river, the sea, or the subject of this adventure, a tidal sea pool. In case you didn't know, tidal pools are open air seawater pools that are refilled by the tide every day. Each tide brings fresh seawater to the pool in much the same way as a rock pool. In fact, many of those that remain are little more than glorified or enhanced rock pools and the feeling of swimming in them is similar. They are cool (unless the sun has been beating down on it all day), sometimes murky but always an adventure.

9. WALKING ADVENTURES: Lydford Gorge.

If you are going to go for a walk, at least make a little bit of adventure out of it. That's what I say. It doesn't have to mean you have to hike across Exmoor or go Coast to Coast like a Wainright, just that it's nice, sometimes, to walk in places where you can inject a little excitement into the Sunday stroll.

8. MUSICAL ADVENTURES: Eden Sessions

This might not sound like much of an adventure but it is. We've all been to gigs and festivals, ok, but a gig at The Eden Project is really something. To me it feels like an adventure in another world. Standing in a China clay pit, surrounded by beautiful plants and watching a band perform on stage with the biomes as a backdrop belongs to somewhere else. It's a beautiful spectacle and a little bit frightening, but no less wonderful.

7. ANYWHERE ADVENTURES: walk along a river bed

Remember that? Walking along a river bed in the summer, looking for sticklebacks, going home feeling grubby but happy? Didn't we all do that? For me it's one of those memories that I shall always associate with being a child: mucking about by the River Chess, walking over fallen trees, being late home for tea, getting told off, feeling guilty but pleased inside.

6. LAZY ADVENTURES: Hooning about in a jet powered kayak

Right. Let's get one thing straight. It was pester power that made me do it. The idea of exploring the coast in a kayak is just brilliant, but the idea of doing it in a 'jet powered kayak' just seemd crass. So when the kids hassled us so much that it was starting to get annoying during a nice day on the beach at O'Carroll's Cove in Kerry recently, we gave in.

5. ANIMAL ADVENTURES: Ride a horse along the beach

Some days you simply have to do what you’ve always dreamed of. For many people the idea of cantering along a beach (on a horse) is one of the most romantic notions that a human soul can possess. Having done it a few times over the years in Devon, Scotland and Pembrokeshire, I can safely say that it is a huge amount of fun, if a little scary. Especially if you have lied and said you can ride. Then they give you the good horse. Better to play it down and ask for 'Dobbin', unless you are happy enough on four hooves, in which case, go for it and ask for something a little faster.