Despite the allure of televised sporting events such as the 2022-23 college basketball season – which has seen sports fans across the country obsessively perfecting March Madness picks – sheltering from the cold weather indoors isn’t the only thing that has been occupying our time lately!
In fact, despite the allure of TV sport and the successive bouts of cold weather that have been battering the UK, interest in the great outdoors is at an all-time high.
Interestingly, recent surveys have shown that this renewed interest in outdoor recreation has been driven by our experiences during the pandemic. With many of us forced to socialise outside for prolonged periods of time, activities such as hill-walking, cycling and even sea-swimming surged in popularity. These societal changes have helped to create a renewed appreciation for outdoors activities.
But for the many residents of the greater Hertfordshire region, and for the denizens of Bushey in particular, what outdoor activities do they have on the menu when they want to stay relatively local?
Hartsbourne Country Club
Hartsbourne Country Club is a solid option for anyone living near Bushey looking to spend some time in the great outdoors.
Established in 1927, Hartsbourne Country Club provides one of the South-East’s premier golfing experiences. Despite being almost a hundred years old, the Hartsbourne Country Club still manages to exceed the highest standards of excellence. The combination of pristine fairways and top-tier drinking and dining options makes it the perfect venue to spend an afternoon.
For those of you looking to play golf in the area, we can’t recommend the Hartsbourne Country Club highly enough.
Bushey Rose Garden
Bushey Rose Garden has become one of Bushey’s most popular attractions since it was restored in 2010, thanks to generous funding from Hertsmere Borough Council, the Heritage lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund.
Since its restoration was finalised, the Bushey Rose Garden offers visitors a unique opportunity to take a glimpse into Bushey’s Victorian past. The Gardens have been expertly recreated, with many of the original architectural features now restored to their former glory.
The Bushey Rose Garden offers a place of peace and calm from the hustle and bustle of nearby Watford. So, if you are looking to experience the peace and serenity of mother nature in all of its beautiful glory, we can think of few better locations to do it in than the Bushey Rose Garden!
Cassiobury Park
For those of you looking to get some gentle exercise in and to clear your head for a few hours, there are few places we would rather be on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon than Cassiobury Park.
Cassiobury Park is Watford’s main public park and just a stone’s throw from Bushey. It was first created in 1909, when the forward-thinking Watford Borough Council purchased part of the estate from the then Earls of Essex.
Cassiobury Park stretches over 190 acres and in the western part of the park features a 62-acre nature reserve managed by the Middlesex Wildlife trust, making it the perfect location for all the nature lovers and bird watchers out there!
In addition to enjoying the quiet tranquillity of the nature reserve, visitors to the park can take part in the weekly timed park runs that take place on Saturday mornings. These runs have become a staple of the Bushey and greater Watford social calendar in recent years. And regardless of how competitive you want to be, there are few things we enjoy more than indulging in a coffee and sweet treat after a challenging run on a Saturday morning!
The Snow Centre
Although it isn’t actually in Bushey, it is so close we couldn’t help including it in the list of the best outdoor activities open to residents of the area.
Although it is technically indoors, given that it is fully covered, the Snow Centre is the perfect spot for those of you wanting to recreate the French Alps closer to home.
The Snow Centre is one of the UK’s leading indoor winter sports centres and is incredibly popular with beginners and pros alike. It features a 160-metre main slope, as well as multiple smaller slopes for learning on. It is maintained to the highest spec possible and provides a skiing experience that is unmatched anywhere in the UK.
So, if the recent bout of cold weather and snow has you pining for some Alpine fun, we can heartily recommend you giving the Snow Centre a try!
Photo credit: Friends of Bushey Rose Garden
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