Grown ups just wanna have fun not boring exercise

If exercise is fun, then it stands to reason that we're more likely to keep at it. It seems that the problem with many keep-fit activities is that they are just too dull and repetitive. As well as a lack of time, another big reason for adults shunning exercise is "it's too boring".

But if you think a little outside the boundaries of "normal" exercise, such as going to the gym, running and swimming, it's possible to see a range of opportunities for fun and engaging fitness activities.

For example, have you thought about climbing? Whether indoors or outdoors, climbing is great for strength and toning and also offers advantages of flexibility and cardiovascular benefits. Climbing is more of a "leisure pursuit" and also involves chatting while sorting out belays and next climbs, and breaks for nice cake and coffee. Trying new routes and challenges keeps this sport interesting.

Mountain biking is also high on the fun factor, and great for body toning and cardiovascular fitness. The challenges are there to suit a wide range of people, ages and aspirations. Again, chat and coffee stops are all part of the culture – and you'll rarely repeat the same trail or bunny hop twice so it's very unlikely to become boring.

Outdoor adventure pursuits, including canyoning, gorge walking, surfing, white water rafting and coasteering can be enjoyed on a regular basis. This sports are high on adrenaline and also require you to be physically active. There is no chance of being bored taking part in adventure activities and you'll find yourself pleasantly physically and mentally tired by the end of a session.

Hill and mountain walking: Walking is one of the most accessible, and cheapest, forms of exercise. Walking to the shops or walking your kids to school might become a bit boring, but heading to Scotland's hills and mountains for a walk is completely different. A day in the hills offers physical and mental challenges and will leave you feeling de-stressed and high in spirits. Walking is also a great muscle toner and calorie burner.

Next time you imagine that keep-fit is boring, try thinking of a new activity.

Water way to enjoy yourself!

With summer now warming Scotland's great outdoors, and a wealth of long weekends and holidays, now is the time to book a water-based adventure. Whatever your experience or aspirations, Scotland's rivers, lochs and coast offer numerous opportunities for lots of fun. Here we bring you a guide to great water-based outdoor activities for a range of people:

For families:

You only need a sense of adventure and the ability to swim to enjoy the great family adventure activity of Gorge Walking . Wearing a wetsuit and buoyancy aid, participants take to water-filled gorges and have the chance to really let themselves go! Gorge walking can involve a whole range of ways of traversing the gorge, including sliding down rapids, swimming in frothy water, whizzing down flumes and leaping from big rocks into deep pools.

For couples and friends

Canyoning is brilliant fun especially if you're looking for an activity that is more on the adrenaline side of bonkers. Ideal for couples, groups of friends, hens or stags and families with older children, canyoning involves traversing and descending the natural landscape, heading along rivers and down water-filled gorges. Thanks to expert leaders you'll learn how to climb, abseil, swim, jump and swirl around in deep ravines set amid fabulous Scottish scenery. With Highway 2 Adventure, canyon adventurers will experience the thrill of a 75ft abseil into the foot of a gorge followed by an exciting swim down water into a jump pool.

For shore huggers

View Scotland's coast in a new and up-close way thanks to the adventure activity of coasteeering. This sport sees adventurers navigating their way along sections of Scotland's shoreline, using a combination of swimming, scrambling, rock climbing, sea level traversing and jumping. It's fun, exciting, thrilling and a great way to take in the shoreline.

What water-based activity will you choose to do in Scotland this summer?

Spring into outdoors action with your family

Spring is here! Most children are off school – or are about to break up for their Easter holidays – so how about planning a great quality day out in Scotland? Scotland's great outdoors is the ideal environment for enjoying some family time together and there is little to beat a few fun and adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Research has shown that families that take part in fun activities together tend to communicate more and with greater effectiveness. They are also more likely to have fitter and healthier lifestyles. And if parents want to set a good and healthy example to their children, then getting out and about in the fresh air is one of the best ways to go.

A day in the outdoors could be as simple as a walk and a picnic. Cycling is another great activity for families as it is highly accessible for a wide range of ages and abilities. Why not check out Glentrek for some great walking ideas in the Angus Glens?

If you are looking for an activity that is a little different and offers a lot of fun and adventure then why not try one of Highway 2 Adventure's sessions based in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland? There is something for everyone, regardless of your fitness and adrenaline-seeking ideas.

Gorge walking is perfect for families with younger children (aged over 12). Your kids do need to be able to swim confidently but it is possible to tailor each activity to suit the family.

Mountain biking is another great activity for children of all ages, and grown-ups of all fitness levels. Highway 2 Adventure can guide you to the perfect mountain biking location for you. Will you choose self-guided, guided or perhaps a skills based session?

Or how about taking on the challenge of climbing and abseiling? No prior experience is required and the activity can be extremely rewarding when you realise how high you've managed to climb after just a couple of hour's of instruction. A lot of the fun is in the descent, too.

For families with older and more confident children, then canyoning and coasteering make a thrilling choice.

Whatever your outdoor aspirations, let Highway 2 Adventure show you how to have a day of fun with your family.

Find out more about ... Gorge walking in Scotland

If you thought that the gorgeous gorges and rivers of Angus, Perthsire and Aberdeenshire were just for looking at then you will not have found out about the fun of gorge walking. Certainly these picturesque locations set in the heart of some of Scotland’s best scenery make great eye candy for visitors but they also provide the ideal setting for the great water-based activity of gorge walking.

Gorge walking is an adventure pursuit that sees participants ­ – dressed warmly in wetsuits ­– walking and swimming through rivers and down waterfalls.

Getting wet is all part of the entertainment with this activity that is ideal for children and adults.

The idea is to walk, swim and traverse from A to B along a gorge chosen by the experts at Highway2Adventure for its safety and range of natural features. Once in the water you can expect to slide down water rapids and over huge rocks, swim in washing-machine style frothy water, whizz down water flumes, jump from rocks into deep pools and generally enjoy an adventure with a difference.

Gorge walking is ideal for anyone aged over 12. It's important that you can swim and that you have a bit of confidence in the water. Apart from this the instructors at Highway2Adventure will show you all you need to know, such as how to jump off rocks safely.

Many families enjoy gorge walking but it would also suit a group for a birthday, a stag or hen celebration or a corporate day out.