The world is steadily reopening and while many things have changed, lots of things have stayed the same. Perhaps this is a moment to appreciate them in different ways, to find the extraordinary within them.
Certainly, for disabled people and in particular, those with sensory impairments, who have been cautiously protecting themselves for so long, the excitement of experiencing activities and places that appeal to their other senses will have been greatly missed.
The reintroduction of experiences based around the senses: touch, taste, vision, hearing and smell – and especially where several senses meet, in say, a garden that provides visual spectacle and heady fragrance, are a treat that everyone can enjoy.
Sunrise
There is clearly something hopeful and refreshing about a sunrise, and now that the clocks have gone forward there is a good window to enjoy it at a reasonable hour. A good place to start for would-be sunrise chasers is Mam Tor in Derbyshire’s Peak District with widescreen views across the Hope Valley, sometimes with clouds hovering below.
From the National Trust Mam Nick car park, it is around 30-45 minutes’ walk to the top of the ridge, via a marked, stone pathway (along which are steps). nationaltrust.org.uk/kinder-edale-and-the-dark-peak/trails/mam-tor-circular-walk
Coastal sounds
This can take on several guises. The National Trust once surveyed members asking what their favourite coastal sound was. A sizeable 35 per cent answered – specifically – that it was gentle waves breaking on the sandy beach at Trwyn Llanbedrog in Gwynedd.
Elsewhere, you might experience a greater volume of sound and drama, such as at the Atlantic cliffs of Lizard Point in Cornwall, another National Trust protected coastline – or on Brighton’s shingle beach.
Naturally, the rhythm of any coastal waves is likely to be augmented by sounds of herring gulls, and oyster catchers. walescoastpath.gov.uk, nationaltrust.org.uk/lizard-point, visitbrighton.com
A stroll in the woods
Most woodland will reward visitors with sights and sounds of wind rustling through leaves both in the canopy and as you kick through fallen leaves, as well as birdsong.
Those exploring the world through touch will savour the textures of tree bark, delicate ferns and soft lichens. Many forests have their own distinct characteristics or personality, best experienced shortly after rainfall when the damp air activates the flora – petrichor, the earthy scent when rain hits the ground.
Falkirk’s Callendar Wood – which is at least 500 years old – has a number of accessible routes, woodlandtrust.org.uk. Ramblers lists useful information on walking easy access routes, ramblers.org.uk
Foraging
Start small and simple with familiar fruits such as blackberries and apples and then move on after research, to finding spots where wild fennel, wild garlic and cobnuts grow. Caution and sense will tell you that foraging for mushrooms should always be done in the company of an expert.
Forage for a selection of edible seaweeds including sea lettuce, Japanese wireweed, dabberlocks, sugar kelp, dulse, and bladderwrack along the causeway at St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall, eatweeds.co.uk
The Woodland Trust lists common wild food ripe for foraging by month: in April, it’s the time of garlic mustard, wild garlic and mallow leaves, woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/things-to-do/foraging
Fishing
Not every fishing trip will end in a big catch – besides stories of “the one that got away” are far more interesting. Irrespective of the contents of the keepnet, the experience of near silence and watchfulness is well worth it.
Water can produce a variety of sounds and sights depending on the variables of weather and the seasons – and will often again be partnered by those of wildlife, even in unlikely urban settings such as canals.
The River Spey salmon and sea trout fishing season runs from February to September, fishadviser.co.uk
Gardens
Scent is the most potently evocative of all our senses, transporting us back in our minds to places we’ve been to. Herb gardens can take you around the world via the colours and scents of lavender from the south of France, oregano from Italy and curry leaves from India.
The Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland is widely admired, dilstonphysicgarden.com
Jekka’s Herbetum in Alveston near Bristol displays an extensive collection of culinary and medicinal herbs, jekkas.com/pages/jekkas-herbetum
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A blast of cold air against the face, that takes the breath away can be quite an experience. Taking the steps to the top of The Monument in London or the Scott Monument in Edinburgh are fantastic experiences that also deliver magnificent vistas, themonument.org.uk, edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Murmurations
The natural spectacle of thousands of individual birds flying around as a swiftly flickering and rolling cloud is mesmerising, as is the sound of beating wings and squeaking calls. The mystery behind how and why these dawn and dusk gatherings take place is only just beginning to be understood.
Two of the most well-known places to witness starling murmurations between November and March are found at the West Pier, Brighton and at Albert Bridge, Belfast but they can be seen around the country, from Somerset to Scotland. westpier.co.uk, visitbelfast.com, starlingsintheuk.co.uk
Birdwatching and bird-listening
It’s easy to understand why people want to “spot” birds. Their brilliant plumages and at times, quirky habits and rituals are fascinating – but don’t overlook that their calls and songs, even when the birds aren’t visible, are no less intriguing. Identifying birds by their calls is about as close as humans get to talking with animals.