*Collaborative post*
Finding a family holiday during the teenage years can feel like an uphill battle. Passive beach trips can be boring, or historical city breaks aren’t yet appreciated. It may sound counterintuitive at first, but a physically challenging multi-day hike may be the solution to get you all working together, as a family, towards a common goal.
Why a challenge resonates
Adolescence is an important period of development, and it’s marked by a search for identity and autonomy. Teenagers possess significant physical and mental energy that often lacks a constructive channel; perhaps they used to play football every lunch break in primary school, but lost the habit when moving into secondary school.
A substantial undertaking, like conquering a long-distance trail, can provide a tangible sense of achievement. This “epic” experience, which can be sold as their Everest, can be their north star in developing purpose and a goal. Lots of modern goals are either educationally-based, which they may have grown to resent, or capitalist (e.g., learning to earn more money in the future), which is both distant and quite abstract. Tackling a mountain is not.
The UK’s wild calling
The UK offers some great options for a local, cheaper holiday. Scotland’s iconic West Highland Way spans 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, so this is something of a 7-8 day challenge. To make these stops easier, using an agency like Orbis Ways can cut down on operational drama (e.g., not finding the right hotel), and help focus on just one goal (completing the trek).
The challenge may be in the distance, but along the way is an appreciation for nature. No teenager can deny the intimidating stature of Glen Coe’s valley – it is epic.
For a shorter, intense burst, the National Three Peaks Challenge is a great option. This scales Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours. It demands meticulous planning and good fitness, but it’s condensed into just a weekend. Otherwise, consider sections of the Pennine Way or Wainwright’s Coast to Coast.
Practical expedition planning
Success is going to be important – try not to be too ambitious. It needs to be epic, but you’ll also need to be prepared. This can be communicated as a mission that requires some level of training, and this comes in the form of learning to understand OS maps, researching appropriate gear (perhaps even giving them a budget), along with a reasonable level of fitness. It can start out as just a trip, but end up being an obsession with planning it, and learning about the world.
Character-building memories
Beyond the physical accomplishment, there will be a memorable reward upon completion. It’s a healthy distraction from school, and a moment of boosting self-esteem, no matter how their education is going. It can prove that with raw effort, things can be achieved. And, some things take time to plan.
The other set of benefits is going to be a natural break from their phone. There will be lots of quality time spent with one another, and real-life skills and problem solving will be learnt, such as navigation, planning for weather changes, and knowing how to manage health and fatigue.
Getting in touch with nature
A challenging outdoor adventure may not be easy to pitch initially, but it can quickly become something a teenager is consumed by in the best way possible. Transformative at most, and a digital detox at the very least, we think it’s a great, affordable answer to how to go on holiday with a teenager.