What will make me fitter without me having to enjoy exercise?
Ways to get fit that are not the gym
The most reliable way to get fitter is to do something you would do anyway that happens to be demanding. These are the activities in the catalogue with a real physical load whose point is something else — a game, a landscape, a competition — so the training is a side effect rather than the objective.
406 activities in the catalogue, 42 written up so far.
derivative work: Jesfr ( talk ) Track_and_field_stadium.jpg : Eija / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 1.0
Athletics
Track and field as an organised club sport — running, jumping and throwing under one roof, and open to adults at every level.
£25–£100 to start · indoors or out · very demanding
Pacopac / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bikepacking
Multi-day riding with everything you need strapped to the bike — camping, navigation and cycling combined into one problem.
£300–£1,000 to start · outdoors · very demanding
Mobilus In Mobili / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Bouldering
Climbing short, hard problems close to the ground, with mats instead of ropes — the lowest-friction way into climbing.
£25–£100 to start · indoors or out · very demanding
Bodybuilding
SportTraining and eating for how the body looks rather than what it lifts — the largest gym pursuit there is, and the worst served.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
Calisthenics
SportStrength training with your own body as the load — pull-ups, dips, handstands, and the long ladder of steps between them.
Free or near-free to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
Campervan conversion
CraftHobbyTurning a panel van into somewhere you can sleep, cook and sit out the rain — carpentry, wiring and plumbing in a space that moves.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Cycling
SportRiding a bicycle for transport, fitness or pleasure — the parent of a large family of quite different sports.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Downhill mountain biking
SportRiding gravity tracks at uplift-served bike parks — what the sport actually is, what it costs, and why this page covers everything except how to ride it.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Fastpacking
SportCovering multi-day routes on foot at running pace, carrying everything — between thru-hiking and trail running, and served by neither.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Fell running
SportRacing up and down open hillside on unmarked routes — a navigation sport with running attached, where GPS is banned outright.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Half marathon
SportRacing 21.0975km on the road — far enough to need preparing for, short enough to run rather than survive.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Historical European martial arts
SportHobbyReconstructing longsword and other historical fighting from surviving manuals — a martial art with a reading list and no unbroken lineage.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
Horse riding
SportHobbyLearning to ride — the routes in, what it honestly costs, and the horsemanship that comes with it, from a page that stops short of the horse’s care.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Indoor climbing
SportRoped climbing on an artificial wall — the route into the sport for almost everybody who now does it outdoors.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
Indoor cycling
SportStructured training and virtual racing on a smart trainer — a season of its own rather than a wet-weather substitute.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
Indoor rowing
SportTraining and racing on the ergometer — a measurable sport in its own right, not a substitute for a boat.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
Karate
SportA striking art of forms, partner drills and graded belts — taught in several distinct styles that disagree more than beginners expect.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
Kayaking
SportPaddling a closed boat — four different sports sharing a paddle, and why sorting out which water you want comes before choosing a boat.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Knifemaking
CraftMaking a blade from steel — the two routes in, what heat treatment actually does, the grinder that is the real hazard, and where UK law sits for a maker.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
Marathon running
SportRacing 42.195km on the road — an ordinary distance to train for and a genuinely hard one to finish well.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Mountaineering
SportClimbing mountains where rock, snow, ice and weather all have to be managed at once — reached through walking and scrambling rather than started from scratch.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Narrowboat restoration
HobbyCraftBringing a canal boat back — the survey that decides everything, the steel, the systems, and the safety regime that says whether the work passed.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
Olympic weightlifting
SportThe snatch and the clean and jerk — a technique sport rather than a strength sport, what a session actually looks like, and why the coach is the whole thing.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
Orienteering
SportHobbyNavigating between control points on a detailed map, at whatever speed suits you, against the clock.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Packrafting
SportCarrying a boat in your rucksack so a walk can cross or follow water — what the boat is for, how it differs from kayaking, and where the risk actually sits.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Padel
SportA doubles racket sport played in a glass-walled court where the walls are part of the game.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
Recumbent cycling
SportHobbyRiding seated and reclined, on two wheels or three — usually taken up to stay cycling rather than to go faster.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Road cycling
SportRiding drop-bar bikes on tarmac, solo, in clubs or in races — the discipline where distance and pace become the point.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Running
SportCovering ground on foot — the cheapest sport there is, and the parent of a very large family of disciplines.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Sauna building
CraftHobbyBuilding a garden sauna — the stove decision, the regulations nobody mentions, and the bench geometry that makes it work.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Scrambling
SportAscending steep ground where hands are needed but ropes usually are not — the middle ground between hillwalking and climbing.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Shed building
CraftHobbyBuilding a garden workshop or store from scratch — the permitted development limits, the base, and the damp.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Ski touring
SportClimbing under your own power on skis and descending away from lifts — mountaineering with a fast way down, and the avalanche knowledge that makes it possible.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Smallholding
HobbyWorking a few acres with livestock and crops — the scale between a garden and a farm, and the registrations nobody mentions.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Thru-hiking
SportHobbyWalking a long trail end to end in one continuous push — a logistics and attrition problem far more than a walking one.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Trail running
SportOff-road running on unpredictable ground — what actually changes from the road, how the sport divides by surface, and where the boundary with fell running sits.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Treehouse building
CraftHobbyBuilding a structure carried by a living tree — where the tree, not the timber, sets every rule.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Triathlon
SportSwim, bike and run in one race, with the transitions counting too — an endurance sport where the hardest part is usually the water.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
Upholstery
CraftStripping a chair back to its frame and rebuilding it — webbing, springs, stuffing, fabric, and a great many tacks.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
Wild camping
SportHobbySleeping out in open country away from any campsite — legally straightforward in Scotland, considerably less so almost everywhere else in Britain.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Wild swimming
SportHobbySwimming in rivers, lakes and sea — enormously rewarding, and the one hobby here that regularly kills people who get it wrong.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Wing foiling
SportHolding a handheld inflatable wing while riding a hydrofoil board — the newest wind sport, and the one with the steepest first fortnight.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
Also matching, not yet written up
These meet the same criteria and are in the catalogue; we have not written them up in depth.
3x3 basketball
SportHalf-court basketball to a single hoop, with a shot clock, a twelve-minute game and Olympic status.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Acrobatic gymnastics
SportBalance and dynamic routines performed in pairs and groups, where partners are the apparatus.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Acroyoga
HobbySportPartner acrobatics with a base, a flyer and a spotter, practised in jams rather than performed.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Adult ballet
HobbySportClassical ballet technique taught to adults, beginners included.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Adult gymnastics
SportRecreational gymnastics classes for adults, which most clubs now run and nobody advertises.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Adventure racing
SportMulti-discipline team racing over long distances, navigating throughout.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Aerial hoop
SportCircus performance on a suspended steel ring, taught in classes and genuinely strenuous.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Aerial silks
SportClimbing, wrapping and dropping on suspended fabric. Upper-body strength is the barrier.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Aid climbing
SportAscending by placing and standing in gear rather than by free movement, on big walls and steep rock.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Allotment gardening
HobbyGrowing on a rented plot, with waiting lists, site rules and a social world of its own.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Alpine ski racing
SportGate racing in slalom through downhill, with masters categories that adults genuinely enter.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Amateur sumo
SportSumo practised as an amateur weight-class sport, with a small but real international circuit.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
American football
SportEleven a side, heavily coached, with a substantial playbook to learn.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Aquathlon
SportSwim then run, with no bike — the cheapest way into multisport racing.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Arm wrestling
SportA table sport of hand control and specific tendon strength, with a real club and league structure.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Armour making
CraftRaising and dishing plate armour for reenactment and historical combat, from patterns taken off the body.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Artistic cycling
SportGymnastic routines performed on a fixed-gear indoor bicycle, judged like floor gymnastics.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Artistic swimming
SportChoreographed routines in water, judged on execution and difficulty, with adult and masters entry routes.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Australian rules football
SportAn oval-ball running game with no offside, now with established amateur leagues across Britain.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Backyard ultra
SportA last-runner-standing format: a fixed loop every hour until only one entrant remains.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Badminton
SportThe fastest racket sport, played indoors with a shuttlecock.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ballroom dancing
HobbySportPartner dancing through a graded syllabus of standard and Latin styles.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bandy
SportAn eleven-a-side stick-and-ball sport played on a football-sized sheet of ice.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Basketball
SportFive a side on a hard court, or three-on-three on any playground.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Beach tennis
SportVolley-only racket sport played over a high net on sand.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Beach volleyball
SportTwo a side on sand, where the surface does most of the damage.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bharatanatyam
HobbyA South Indian classical dance of fixed positions, rhythmic footwork and codified hand gesture.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Biathlon
SportCross-country skiing interrupted by rifle shooting at a racing heart rate.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bike polo
SportThree-a-side polo on bikes in a hard court, with home-made mallets and an urban club culture.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bike trials
SportRiding a bike over obstacles without dabbing, judged on balance rather than speed.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bikejoring
SportBeing towed on a bike by one or two harnessed dogs, on forest track rather than road.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Blacksmithing
CraftHeating steel in a forge and shaping it on an anvil with a hammer.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Blind football
SportFive-a-side football with a ball containing bearings, played blindfolded with a sighted guide.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
BMX
SportRacing and freestyle on small-wheeled bikes, at tracks and skateparks.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
BMX freestyle
SportTricks on a small strong bike, in a park, on street or on a ramp.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bodyboarding
SportRiding waves lying on a short foam board, with fins.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bodysurfing
SportRiding waves on the body with swim fins and at most a handplane, the cheapest surfing there is.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bothying
HobbyWalking to and staying in unlocked mountain shelters, maintained by volunteers and run on an etiquette.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bottle digging
HobbyExcavating Victorian household tips for glass and stoneware bottles, with landowner permission.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Boxing
SportPunching only, in weight classes, with an enormous fitness base underneath.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
SportGround grappling and submissions, with full-resistance sparring from early on.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Breakdancing
SportHobbyToprock, footwork, power moves and freezes, battled one against one and now an Olympic sport.
Under £25 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Broomball
SportA team game on ice played in shoes rather than skates, with brooms and a ball.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Bus and coach restoration
HobbyRestoring and running preserved buses, usually through a group rather than alone.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Camogie
SportThe women’s stick-and-ball code of the Gaelic games, with its own association and rules.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canicross
SportRunning attached to your dog by a bungee line and harness.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoe camping
HobbySportMulti-day journeys by open canoe, carrying camp in the boat rather than on your back.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canoe polo
SportFive-a-side ball game played in kayaks, with contact.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Canyoning
SportDescending a river gorge by scrambling, abseiling, sliding and jumping.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Capoeira
SportBrazilian art blending acrobatic movement, music and play in a roda.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cave diving
SportDiving flooded cave systems on guideline, with no direct route to the surface at any point.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cave photography
HobbyPhotographing underground, where every light source must be carried and placed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cave surveying
HobbyMeasuring and drawing cave passage to a grade standard, which is how new systems get recorded at all.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Caving
SportHobbyExploring cave systems underground, often wet, tight and dark.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Chainsaw carving
CraftCarving figures and furniture from log with saws of several sizes, finished with grinders and torch.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Chair bodging
CraftTurning chair legs and stretchers on a pole lathe in the wood, the itinerant half of chairmaking.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Chair making
CraftThe hardest thing in furniture: angles in three planes and joints that carry a person.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Charcoal burning
CraftProducing charcoal from coppiced wood in a ring kiln, a multi-day woodland operation.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cheerleading
SportCompetitive stunting, tumbling and pyramids performed to music, now a sport rather than a sideline.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Chess boxing
SportAlternating rounds of speed chess and boxing, won by checkmate, knockout or the clock.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cider making
HobbyCraftPressing and fermenting apples, usually with far more fruit than expected.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Circus skills
HobbySportAerial hoop, silks, trapeze, acro and hand balancing, taught in classes.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Classic car restoration
HobbyBringing an old car back to running, usable or concours condition.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Club motorcycle racing
SportCircuit racing on closed tracks through a club licence, which is the amateur route into road racing.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coast path walking
HobbySportWalking long coastal routes in stages, with tide, cliff and weather planning that inland routes lack.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coastal rowing
SportRowing stable open boats on the sea, in crews, often in community clubs.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coasteering
SportTraversing a rocky coastline by climbing, swimming and jumping into the sea.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cob building
CraftBuilding walls from subsoil, straw and water — the oldest earth technique in Britain.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Combat archery
SportTeam archery with foam-tipped arrows, run as a venue-booked group activity.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Combined events
SportDecathlon and heptathlon — scoring across ten or seven disciplines over two days.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Community archaeology
HobbyExcavating and recording with a local group under professional supervision.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Competitive diving
SportSpringboard and platform diving, judged on entry and execution, learned from dry land upwards.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Competitive sheep shearing
SportHobbyShearing against the clock and on quality, judged in graded competition classes.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Competitive wood chopping
SportTimed axe and saw events — underhand, standing block, and crosscut sawing.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Conservation volunteering
HobbyPractical habitat work with a local group — scrub clearance, coppicing, surveys.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Contemporary dance
HobbyModern technique and improvisation, taught in open classes.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coopering
CraftMaking barrels from shaped staves held only by hoops and their own geometry.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coppersmithing
CraftRaising vessels from copper sheet by hammering, with annealing between each stage.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Coppicing
CraftHobbyCutting broadleaf trees to the base on a rotation and using the regrowth.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
County topping
SportHobbyReaching the highest point of every county, which takes you to hills nobody else visits.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross country running
SportWinter league racing over mud and grass, the oldest and cheapest competitive running in Britain.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross triathlon
SportSwim, mountain bike and trail run — triathlon moved off the road entirely.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross-country ski touring
SportTravelling on skis over rolling country rather than descending pistes.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cross-country skiing
SportTravelling over snow under your own power, classic or skating.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
CrossFit
SportConstantly varied high-intensity training in a coached class.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cycle speedway
SportShort oval racing on unbraked bikes with no gears, on a shale track, in a league.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cyclocross
SportShort, brutal winter racing on mud, sand and barriers you carry the bike over.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Cyr wheel
HobbySportA single large ring the performer rides and spins inside, learned at circus schools.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dartmoor letterboxing
HobbyThe original letterboxing tradition on Dartmoor, with hand-cut stamps and a long-standing code.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Deep water soloing
SportClimbing above deep water without ropes, where the fall is into the sea and the tide is the belay.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dinghy racing
SportRacing small sailing boats around courses, where tactics matter as much as speed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dinghy sailing
SportSailing small responsive boats where every mistake is immediate.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dirt jumping
SportRiding and building shaped earth jumps for tricks, on short hardtails, at self-maintained trails.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dodgeball
SportThrowing, dodging and catching foam balls, played seriously in leagues.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dog agility
SportGuiding a dog around an obstacle course at speed, on voice and body cues.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Doubles squash
SportSquash played four to a court, on a wider court where positioning replaces retrieving.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dragon boat racing
SportTwenty paddlers in one boat, to a drum, over short sprints.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dressage
SportRiding a horse through precise judged movements at a marked arena.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Drums
HobbyPlaying a kit — the instrument with the loudest practice problem.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dry slope skiing
SportSkiing on brush matting, which is how most British skiers actually learn.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dry stone walling
CraftBuilding walls from unmortared stone, each one chosen to lock the others in place.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Dry tooling
SportClimbing rock with ice axes and crampons, competed indoors and used to train for winter routes.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Duathlon
SportRun, bike, run — triathlon without the swim, and a common way in.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Endurance riding
SportLong-distance competitive riding with veterinary checks that decide as much as speed does.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Enduro motorcycling
SportLong off-road motorcycle competition over timed sections and liaison stages, on road-legal machines.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Enduro mountain biking
SportTimed descents linked by untimed climbs, the dominant modern MTB race format.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Épée fencing
SportWhole-body target, no right of way, and the fencing weapon closest to a duel in logic.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Equestrian vaulting
SportGymnastics performed on a cantering horse on the lunge, judged as a team or individual routine.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Eventing
SportDressage, cross-country and showjumping on one horse over one competition, at every level from unaffiliated up.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Fencing
SportSword sport in three weapons, decided by electrical scoring.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Field hockey
SportEleven a side with sticks on artificial turf.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Figure skating
SportJumps, spins and edge work, choreographed and judged.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Filipino stick fighting
SportStick and blade-based martial arts from the Philippines, drilled in flowing partner patterns.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Finswimming
SportRacing in a monofin or bifins, on the surface or below it, at very high speeds.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Fistball
SportA net sport where the ball may bounce once and is struck with fist or forearm only.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Five-a-side football
SportShort-sided football on a small pitch, usually one booked hour a week.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Flag football
SportAmerican football with belts and flags instead of tackling.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Flamenco
HobbySpanish dance, guitar and song as a single tradition, learned through palos and compás.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Floorball
SportIndoor stick hockey with light sticks and a perforated ball, huge in the Nordics and cheap to start.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Foil fencing
SportThe fencing weapon with right of way and a torso target, and the one most beginners start on.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Football
SportEleven a side, the most played team sport in the world.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Forge building
CraftBuilding a solid-fuel or gas forge and the shop around it, before any smithing happens.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Free-form dance
HobbyUnchoreographed movement practice in a facilitated group, with no steps to learn.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Freediving
SportDiving deep on a single breath, with formal training in safety and technique.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Freestyle skiing
SportPark, pipe and mogul skiing, judged on tricks and technique rather than time.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Frontenis
SportTwo players striking a ball against a front wall with strung rackets, from the Basque court tradition.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Furniture making
CraftDesigning and building furniture, from flat-pack alternatives to fine cabinetmaking.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Futsal
SportIndoor five-a-side on a hard court with a low-bounce ball and real rules.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gaelic football
SportFifteen a side, hand-passing and kicking towards an H-shaped goal.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gig rowing
SportRacing six-oared wooden pilot gigs off the south-west coast, a revived Cornish tradition.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Glassblowing
CraftShaping molten glass on a blowpipe, almost always learned and practised at a shared hot shop.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Glima
SportIcelandic folk wrestling fought upright on a fixed belt grip, with throws rather than groundwork.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Goalball
SportA Paralympic team sport played blindfolded with a bell ball, where everybody plays blind.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gorge walking
SportAscending a river gorge on foot, scrambling and swimming, usually with a guided group.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Grass track cycling
SportRacing on grass ovals at village sports days and dedicated meetings.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Gravel cycling
SportRiding unsurfaced lanes and tracks on a drop-bar bike built for them.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Green roof building
HobbyCraftPlanting a shed, garage or extension roof, which is a loading and drainage problem first.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Green woodworking
CraftWorking unseasoned wood with hand tools on a shave horse and pole lathe.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Grip sport
SportCompetitive gripping — grippers, pinch, thick bar and holds — with standardised implements and records.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hand balancing
SportHobbyHandstand training as a discipline in itself — line, wrist conditioning and slow strength.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Handball
SportSeven a side, indoors, throwing at a goal — fast and physical.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hang gliding
SportFlying a rigid-wing glider suspended in a harness beneath it.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hapkido
SportA Korean art combining strikes, joint locks and throws, closer to jujutsu than to taekwondo.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hay making
HobbyCutting, turning and gathering hay by hand or with vintage equipment.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hedgelaying
CraftPart-cutting and bending living stems to make a stock-proof hedge that keeps growing.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Heritage railway volunteering
HobbyRestoring and running preserved railways as a volunteer.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
High jump
SportA curved approach and a back-first bar clearance, learned almost entirely through drills.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Highball bouldering
SportBouldering high enough that a fall is serious, on pads and nerve.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Highland dancing
SportHobbySolo Scottish dancing on the balls of the feet, judged on technique at Highland games and championships.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Highland games
SportTraditional Scottish heavy events — hammer, stone, weights and the caber — with a season.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Highlining
SportWalking slackline rigged at height on a leash, with rigging redundancy as the entire safety system.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Historical reenactment
HobbyRecreating a period accurately — kit, craft, drill and living history.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Home foundry casting
CraftMelting and pouring aluminium or bronze into moulds you made yourself.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Horseball
SportA mounted team ball sport, part rugby and part basketball, played at a canter.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hurdle making
CraftWeaving hazel or cleaving ash into gate and wattle hurdles, worked green straight from the coppice.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hurdling
SportSprinting over barriers to a fixed rhythm, which is a technical event disguised as a running one.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hurling
SportAncient Irish stick-and-ball game, and one of the fastest field sports there is.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Hyrox
SportA standardised indoor fitness race — eight runs alternating with eight stations.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice carving
CraftCarving blocks of ice with chisel and chainsaw, largely a competitive and event craft.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice climbing
SportClimbing frozen waterfalls and winter gullies with axes and crampons.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice hockey
SportSix a side on ice, at considerable speed and expense.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ice swimming
SportSwimming in water near freezing, a governed sport distinct from ordinary cold-water dipping.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Indoor skydiving
SportBodyflight in a vertical wind tunnel, which is a real discipline rather than only a taster for the sky.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Inline hockey
SportFour-a-side hockey on skates on a hard floor, with no offside and no icing.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Irish dance
SportHobbyStep dancing in soft and hard shoes, with a competitive feis circuit and a strict body carriage.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Javelin throwing
SportThe most technical of the athletics throws, and the one where poor technique reliably injures shoulders.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Jazz dance
HobbyThe theatre dance vocabulary behind musicals — isolations, turns and travelling combinations.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Judo
SportThrows, holds and submissions from a jacket grip, on a mat.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Jujutsu
SportThe Japanese grappling and joint-locking tradition judo and aikido came out of, still taught in its own right.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kabaddi
SportA raiding and wrestling team sport played on breath, enormous in South Asia and growing in Britain.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Karting
SportRacing small open karts on short circuits, the usual entry to motorsport.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kayak surfing
SportRiding breaking waves in a short surf kayak or waveski, judged in competition on the same waves as surfers.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Keelboat racing
SportClub and one-design racing in ballasted boats, sailed as a crew with defined roles.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kendo
SportJapanese sword sport in armour, with bamboo shinai and full-voice strikes.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kickboxing
SportStriking with hands and feet, widely taught as a fitness class as well as a sport.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kiln building
CraftBuilding a wood, gas or raku kiln, which is a refractory and combustion problem.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kit car building
HobbyCraftAssembling a car from a manufactured kit and a donor vehicle, ending in a road-legal registration process.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kitesurfing
SportRiding a board pulled by a steerable power kite.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Korfball
SportA mixed-gender court sport with a high basket and no dribbling.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Krav maga
SportA self-defence system taught as scenario drills rather than as a graded competitive sport.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Kung fu
SportThe Chinese martial arts as a family — forms, conditioning and application across many named styles.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Lacrosse
SportCarrying and passing a ball in a netted stick, at speed.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Landboarding
SportRiding a large skateboard pulled by a power kite on open ground.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Lifeboat volunteering
HobbyCrewing or shore-supporting a volunteer lifeboat station, on call and trained to a service standard.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Lime plastering
CraftWorking with lime mortars and plasters on old buildings, where modern cement causes damage.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Lindy hop
HobbyThe original swing partner dance, danced to live big band tempo with an eight-count base.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Log building
CraftScribe-fitting whole logs into a structure, a Scandinavian and North American tradition.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Long-distance walking
SportHobbyWalking a named trail over days or weeks, carrying or forwarding your kit.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Longboard surfing
SportSurfing on boards over nine feet, where trim, noseriding and small waves are the point.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Marathon swimming
SportLong-distance open water racing and channel crossings, ratified by observers rather than timed on a scoreboard.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Masters athletics
SportAge-banded track and field from thirty-five upwards, with its own records and championships.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Masters swimming
SportStructured adult squad swimming with age-group competition, open to anyone over about twenty-five.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Metal spinning
CraftForming sheet metal over a mandrel on a lathe with hand tools, one of the few chipless metal processes.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Military vehicle restoration
HobbyCraftRestoring and showing ex-service vehicles, with an unusual amount of documentary research attached.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mine exploration
SportHobbyVisiting disused mines with the appropriate club, training and permission.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mixed martial arts
SportStriking and grappling combined under one rule set.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Morris dancing
HobbyEnglish traditional dance performed in sides, with live music and a season.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Motocross
SportOff-road motorcycle racing over jumps and ruts on a closed circuit, with strong youth and club structures.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Motorcycle trials
SportRiding a lightweight bike over obstacles without putting a foot down, scored on balance rather than speed.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mountain biking
SportRiding off-road trails, from forest singletrack to alpine descents.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mountain marathon
SportA two-day self-supported navigation race over mountain terrain, carrying camp between stages.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mountain rescue volunteering
HobbyServing on a volunteer rescue team, with years of training before a first callout and a pager after it.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mountainboarding
SportRiding an off-road board with pneumatic tyres down tracks and dedicated parks.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Mounted games
SportFast relay races on ponies with batons, poles and vaulting mounts, run by clubs across all ages.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Muay Thai
SportThai boxing using fists, elbows, knees and shins.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Munro bagging
HobbySportWorking through the 282 Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet, which takes most people decades.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Naginata
SportThe Japanese polearm art, practised as form and as armoured competitive striking.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Netball
SportSeven a side, no dribbling, positions that limit where you may go.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Night orienteering
SportOrienteering after dark by headtorch, where map reading and route choice change completely.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Nordic tour skating
SportSkating frozen lakes and fens on long blades, judging the ice as you go.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Obstacle course racing
SportTrail racing broken up by walls, water, carries and mud.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Offshore yacht racing
SportRacing yachts overnight and across open water, with watch systems, weather routeing and safety qualifications.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
One-wall handball
SportStriking a small ball against a single wall with a gloved hand, from an urban street tradition.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Open canoe touring
SportHobbyJourneying by open canoe on rivers and lochs, camping as you go.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Outdoor bouldering
SportBouldering on real rock, where pad placement, spotting and reading the landing are the new skills.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Outdoor gym training
SportTraining on free public outdoor gym equipment, which is a genuinely different problem from indoor kit.
Free or near-free to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Outrigger canoeing
SportPaddling a stabilised ocean canoe, individually or in crews, over long open-water distances.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Para swimming
SportCompetitive swimming within a functional classification system, from club galas upwards.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Paramotoring
SportHobbyPowered paragliding with a motor on your back, launched on foot from a field.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Parkour
SportMoving through built environment efficiently, taught in gyms before it is done outdoors.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Parkrun
SportA free, timed, weekly 5k in a local park — the usual on-ramp into running.
Free or near-free to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pattern welding
CraftForge-welding layered steels into a patterned billet, usually for blades.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pattern-welded steel
CraftForge-welding layered steels into patterned billets for blades and jewellery.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Peak bagging
HobbySportWorking through a defined list of summits — Munros, Wainwrights, county tops.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pelota vasca
SportThe Basque family of court games played with hand, basket or racket against a fronton wall.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pencak silat
SportThe Indonesian and Malay martial art, taught as combat, as form and as cultural performance.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Penny farthing riding
SportHobbyRiding and racing the ordinary bicycle, a small revival with its own clubs.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Permaculture
HobbyDesigning growing systems that work with ecology rather than against it.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pig keeping
HobbyRaising a few pigs, usually on a rotation of ground, at smallholding scale.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pizza oven building
CraftHobbyBuilding a wood-fired masonry oven, from the base and dome to the curing fires.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pole fitness
SportStrength and technique on a vertical pole, with competitive and fitness branches.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Pole vaulting
SportClearing a bar with a flexing pole, and the athletics event with the steepest coaching requirement.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Polo
SportA mounted stick-and-ball team game on ponies, with a real amateur and university entry route.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Powerlifting
SportSquat, bench and deadlift, contested on total weight moved.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Quadball
SportThe full-contact mixed-gender field sport adapted from fiction and since separated from it.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Race walking
SportCompetitive walking under strict rules about contact and knee lock.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Racketball
SportPlayed on a squash court with a shorter racket and a bouncier ball.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Racquetball
SportFast indoor court game with a hollow rubber ball and no tin, played off every wall.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Radio direction finding
SportHobbyLocating hidden transmitters on foot with a directional aerial — orienteering with radio.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Recreational tree climbing
SportClimbing standing trees on rope, using arborist technique for its own sake.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rhythmic gymnastics
SportApparatus work with hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon and rope, judged on difficulty and artistry.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rogaining
SportLong-format team navigation events, scoring controls over many hours.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Roller derby
SportA full-contact team sport on quad skates, with a distinctive volunteer-run club culture.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Roller skating
SportQuad skating in rinks and parks, revived hard and with a strong social scene.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Roundnet
SportFour players around a small trampoline net, spiking a ball off it.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rowing
SportSweep or sculling on flat water, individually or in a crew.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rucking
SportWalking distance with a weighted pack, borrowed from military training.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rugby league
SportThirteen a side, six tackles, and far fewer stoppages.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Rugby union
SportFifteen a side, contested at every breakdown.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sabre fencing
SportThe fastest fencing weapon, scored on cuts as well as thrusts, with right-of-way rules.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Salsa dancing
HobbySocial Latin partner dancing, learned in classes and danced at socials.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sambo
SportThe Soviet grappling sport, close to judo with leg locks and its own combat variant.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sand sculpture
CraftHobbyCarving compacted sand, from beach work to competitive festival sculpture.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Savate
SportFrench kickboxing fought in shoes, with a distinct emphasis on precision and footwork.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Score orienteering
SportNavigation events scored by controls visited within a time limit.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sculling
SportRowing with two oars, solo or in small boats, on rivers and lakes.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Scything
HobbyCraftMowing grass with a hand scythe, revived for meadow management and competition.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sea kayaking
SportKayaking on open coast, where tide and weather planning matter more than paddling.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Search and rescue dog handling
HobbyTraining and working a search dog to national assessment standard, which takes years with one dog.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sepak takraw
SportVolleyball played with the feet and head over a net, with a rattan ball and overhead kicks.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sheep keeping
HobbyKeeping a small flock, often of a rare or primitive breed, on a few acres.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sheepdog training
SportTraining and trialling working collies on livestock.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Shepherd’s hut building
CraftBuilding a small wheeled timber hut, a revived form now used as a garden room.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Shinty
SportThe Highland stick-and-ball game, played in the air as much as on the ground.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Shot put
SportPutting a heavy metal ball from a circle, by glide or rotation, on strength and sequencing.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Showjumping
SportRiding a horse over a course of fences against the clock and the faults.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sitting volleyball
SportVolleyball played seated on a smaller court with a lower net, at club and Paralympic level.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skateboarding
SportStreet and park riding, now an Olympic sport with a large adult beginner population.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skeleton and luge
SportSliding a track head-first or feet-first, entered in Britain through a talent and taster route.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ski jumping
SportJumping from a graded hill to a measured distance, scored on distance and style together.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ski mountaineering racing
SportTimed racing up and down mountains on light touring kit, with transitions as a discipline of their own.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skiing
SportDescending snow on two skis, on piste or off it.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skijoring
SportBeing pulled on skis by dogs or a horse, which is two sports learned at once.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Skimboarding
SportRunning onto a thin board on wet sand and skimming out to meet a wave at the shore break.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Slacklining
SportBalancing on flat webbing between two anchors. Cheap, portable, and harder than it looks.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Small boat restoration
CraftHobbyRestoring clinker dinghies and small craft, which is joinery, caulking and paint over years.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowboarding
SportDescending snow sideways on a single board.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowkiting
SportCrossing snow on skis or a board under a traction kite, which can climb as well as descend.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Snowshoeing
SportWalking over deep snow on frames that keep you on the surface.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Spearfishing
SportHobbyHunting fish on breath-hold with a speargun or pole spear, under species and season rules.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Speed badminton
SportBadminton without a net, played outdoors with a heavier shuttle that ignores wind.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Speed climbing
SportRacing a standardised route against the clock, now an Olympic discipline.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Speed skating
SportRacing on long or short track blades.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Speedway
SportFour riders, four laps, no brakes, on shale — the most accessible motorcycle racing to watch and the hardest to enter.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Splitboarding
SportTouring on a snowboard that separates into skis for the climb and reassembles for the descent.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sport climbing
SportLead climbing on routes protected by pre-placed bolts.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sports officiating
SportHobbyRefereeing or umpiring at grassroots level, which is a qualification, a skill and a shortage everywhere.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sprinting
SportThe short track events, where start, acceleration and mechanics matter more than fitness.
£25–£100 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Squash
SportA punishing enclosed-court game where both players share the whole space.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stair climbing
SportTower running as a sport, with a race circuit and no need for good weather.
Under £25 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stationary engine restoration
HobbyCraftRestoring and running open-crank petrol and diesel engines, and taking them to rallies to run all weekend.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Steam road vehicle restoration
HobbyRestoring and driving traction engines, steam rollers and steam wagons.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stone carving
CraftCutting stone with chisel and mallet, from letter-cutting to figurative sculpture.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stonemasonry
CraftCutting and shaping building stone to a template — banker work rather than sculpture.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Straw bale building
CraftBuilding insulated walls from bales, rendered in lime, usually as a group build.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Street dance
HobbySportThe social club styles — hip hop, house, popping and locking — taught in classes and danced in cyphers.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Strongman
SportLifting, carrying and dragging awkward heavy objects against the clock.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Stunt scootering
SportPark and street riding on a stunt scooter, a discipline in its own right rather than a children’s version of BMX.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Sumo
SportAmateur sumo, where the whole contest is decided by leverage, timing and a very short burst of power.
Under £25 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surf lifesaving
SportA competitive sport built from beach rescue skills — swims, board races, runs and rescue drills.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surf ski paddling
SportPaddling a long sit-on-top ocean racing kayak, in open water and downwind runs.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Surfing
SportRiding breaking waves standing on a board.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Swimming
SportPool swimming for fitness, technique or competition.
Under £25 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Swimrun
SportAlternating swimming and trail running in the same kit, usually in pairs.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Swing dancing
HobbyLindy hop, balboa and charleston, danced to live and recorded jazz.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Taekwondo
SportKorean striking art built around fast, high kicking.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Taiko drumming
HobbySportJapanese ensemble drumming, physically demanding and as much choreography as music.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tap dancing
HobbyRhythm made with the feet — as much a percussion instrument as a dance.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tchoukball
SportA non-contact indoor team sport where the ball is rebounded off angled frames at either end.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Technical diving
SportDiving beyond recreational limits on mixed gas with planned decompression and redundant equipment.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Telemark skiing
SportSkiing on a free heel with a lunging turn, harder than it looks and defended fiercely by its adherents.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tennis
SportThe full-size racket game, played on hard, clay or grass courts.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Teqball
SportFootball played over a curved table, no hands, no contact, and unusually easy on the joints.
Under £25 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Thatching
CraftRoofing in straw or reed, a heritage building trade with a small amateur and volunteer route in.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Timber framing
CraftCutting large joinery in structural timber, for barns, frames and garden buildings.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Time trialling
SportRacing alone against the clock over a set distance.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Touch rugby
SportRugby without contact — mixed, fast, and the usual way adults start.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Track cycling
SportFixed-gear racing on a banked velodrome, no brakes.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Traction engine restoration
HobbyCraftRestoring full-size steam road engines, under boiler inspection regimes and usually as a syndicate.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tractor restoration
HobbyCraftRestoring vintage agricultural machinery, with a rally circuit and a parts culture of its own.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Traditional climbing
SportClimbing while placing and removing your own protection as you go.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Traditional folk wrestling
SportRegional jacket and belt wrestling styles kept alive at fairs and festivals across Europe.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Trail mountain biking
SportRiding singletrack for its own sake, on natural and built trails.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Trail riding
SportHobbyRiding off-road motorcycles on green lanes and enduro trails.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Trail ultrarunning
SportRunning beyond marathon distance off-road, with its own pacing and nutrition problems.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Trampolining
SportA gymnastic sport with graded skills, coached at clubs and requiring a proper rig.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Trig point bagging
HobbySportVisiting Ordnance Survey trig pillars, a walking hobby with a well-defined list.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Tug of war
SportA governed international sport with weight classes, technique and a national championship.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ultimate
SportSeven a side, no referees, disputes settled by the players themselves.
Under £25 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ultra-distance cycling
SportSelf-supported races of several hundred to several thousand kilometres, ridden with almost no sleep.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Ultrarunning
SportRacing beyond marathon distance, where eating and pacing decide the result.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater hockey
SportA six-a-side sport played on the bottom of a pool with short sticks and a weighted puck.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater photography
HobbyPhotographing below the surface, where light, housing and buoyancy control matter more than the camera.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Underwater rugby
SportA three-dimensional pool sport played on the bottom with a negatively buoyant ball, on breath-hold.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Unicycle hockey
SportFive-a-side hockey played on unicycles, with an established league structure.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Unicycling
HobbySportRiding one wheel — for transport, trials, or the sheer difficulty of it.
£100–£300 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Vegetable growing
HobbyGrowing food on a plot, allotment or in beds, to a yearly rhythm.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Via ferrata
SportClimbing a fixed cable and ladder route clipped in with a shock-absorbing lanyard.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Volleyball
SportSix a side over a high net, three touches at a time.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wainwright bagging
HobbySportWalking the 214 Lakeland fells of Wainwright’s guides, the most followed list in England.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wakeboarding
SportRiding a board towed behind a boat or on a cable park.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Water polo
SportSeven a side in deep water, treading water for the whole game.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Water skiing
SportSkiing on water behind a boat, on one ski or two.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wattle and daub
CraftBuilding infill panels from woven hazel and earth render, on heritage buildings and garden structures.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wheelchair basketball
SportA fast Paralympic team sport played in sport chairs, open to disabled and non-disabled players.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wheelchair fencing
SportFencing from frames fixed to the piste, with the full weapon set and no footwork.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wheelchair rugby
SportA full-contact indoor team sport in purpose-built chairs, classified by functional ability.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wheelchair tennis
SportTennis with a two-bounce rule, on a full court and integrated into mainstream competition.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wheelwrighting
CraftMaking wooden wheels, one of the most demanding and least practised of the traditional trades.
Over £1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
White water kayaking
SportPaddling rapids, where reading water is the whole skill.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Whitewater rafting
SportDescending rapids in a crewed inflatable raft, paddled to commands from a guide at the stern.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wild water racing
SportRacing long unstable kayaks down whitewater against the clock rather than through gates.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wildlife pond building
HobbyCraftDigging and planting a pond for wildlife, the single most effective garden intervention there is.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Willow growing and preparation
CraftHobbyGrowing, cutting and grading your own willow for basketry, which changes the craft entirely.
£25–£100 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Windsor chairmaking
CraftBuilding stick chairs from green wood with a shave horse, drawknife and a pole lathe.
£300–£1,000 to startIndoors or outdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Windsurfing
SportStanding on a board holding a rig, steering by moving the sail.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter camping
HobbySportCamping in cold conditions, where the margin for equipment and judgement errors narrows sharply.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter climbing
SportMixed snow, turf and ice climbing on axes and crampons, graded separately from summer rock.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Winter hillwalking
SportHillwalking in snow and ice, which is a different sport wearing the same boots.
£300–£1,000 to startOutdoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wooden boat building
CraftBuilding small craft in wood — dinghies, canoes and kayaks — over months or years.
Over £1,000 to startIndoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wreck diving
SportHobbyDiving shipwrecks for their archaeology and marine life, with distinct training for going inside.
Over £1,000 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wrestling
SportFreestyle and Greco-Roman grappling for control and pins.
£100–£300 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Wushu
SportThe modern competitive codification of Chinese martial arts, judged on form, difficulty and execution.
£25–£100 to startIndoorsVery demanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
Yamadori collecting
HobbyCraftCollecting stunted wild trees for bonsai, under permission and with a long recovery period.
£100–£300 to startOutdoorsDemanding
In the catalogue, not written up yet
This is one hand-picked cut through the catalogue. If your constraints are more specific than a single question, the hobby finder takes several at once and shows you why each suggestion matched.