Plan for the whole group, not the average one

The best outdoor trips are the ones nobody has to sit out. A mixed-ability group — a wheelchair user, a grandparent with a dodgy hip, a teenager with asthma, a toddler in a carrier — doesn't need a different kind of adventure. It needs a bit more thought beforehand, so that the day unfolds comfortably for everyone. That work happens at home, over a cup of tea, with a map and a phone. Do it well and the outdoor part feels effortless.

The principle is simple: research the surfaces, the distances and the facilities, then build the day around the least mobile member of the group. Everyone else can always walk further, climb higher or loop back. Nobody can magic a step-free toilet out of a hedgerow.

Choose surfaces before you choose scenery

Path surface matters more than the view. Firm, well-drained routes work for wheels, walking frames and tired legs alike. Look for:

• Compacted stone or tarmac all-ability trails in country parks, forest centres and nature reserves.
• Former railway lines and canal towpaths, which tend to be wide, gentle and relatively flat.
• Boardwalks through wetland and woodland, usually with level access at both ends.

Be wary of descriptions that sound harmless but aren't. "Gentle slope" can mean ten per cent, which is exhausting to push up and unnerving to come down. "Mown grass path" turns to mud after rain. Sand, shingle, loose gravel and tree roots are the usual culprits. Check the gradient, the width between gates and whether there are steps, stiles or kissing gates — some are passable with a RADAR key, many are not.

Campgrounds and festivals: ask specific questions

When booking a campsite, phone rather than rely on a listing. Ask about hardstanding or level grass pitches close to the facilities block, accessible wet rooms with grab rails and a wheel-in shower, and whether the route from pitch to toilet is lit and firm underfoot at night. Larger sites, visitor centres and some service stations now have Changing Places facilities with a hoist and an adult-sized changing bench — genuinely transformative, and worth planning a route around.

For festivals, accessible camping is usually separate, flatter and closer to the arena, but it is limited, so book the moment tickets go on sale. Ask about:

• Blue badge parking and the distance from car to pitch, and whether buggies can help with kit.
• Viewing platforms with a companion ticket and a designated steward.
• Ground conditions inside the arena — matting or woodchip over mud makes an enormous difference.
• A fridge for medication, a quiet area for sensory needs, and ear defenders for children.

Shorter loops, shared basecamps

A one- to two-kilometre loop that takes forty minutes is a proper adventure. Plan a route that returns to the same spot, so that faster walkers can add an extra circuit while others rest at a picnic bench. Look for benches every few hundred metres, a café with step-free entry, and a meeting point that is obvious and sheltered.

An out-and-back route is often kinder than a circuit: anyone can turn around at any time without missing the group. If the group splits, agree a time and place to reconvene — the car park, the visitor centre, the bench by the pond. Give everyone the same information, including children, and keep phones charged.

Evenings that everyone can join

Dusk is when the outdoors gets interesting, and most evening activities need very little walking. Bat walks, moth trapping, stargazing and simple night walks work beautifully for mixed-ability groups because you stop, sit and listen rather than cover ground.

• Stargazing from a flat car park or picnic area. Bring a red-light torch, a flask and something warm to sit on. If you use a telescope, check the eyepiece height can be adjusted for someone seated.
• Bat detecting at a pond or woodland edge. A hand-held detector turns an invisible world audible, and it works just as well from a wheelchair as from a standing position.
• A short lantern walk along a known, wide, level path — never a new route in the dark. Head torches for everyone, plus spare batteries.
• Campfire or fire bowl back at the pitch, with a chair that has arms, so it's easier to get up from.

Check the site's lighting before you go. Some places are pitch black, which is wonderful for stars and awkward for a midnight trip to the loo. A small rechargeable lantern per tent solves it.

Small kit details, big difference

Pack a sit mat, a lightweight camp chair with arms, spare layers and a bothy bag for sudden showers. For powered chairs, bring the charger and check whether the site has a hook-up you can use. A basic puncture kit, a spare inner tube and a pump are worth their weight for both wheelchairs and bicycles. Insect repellent and high-factor sun cream matter even in a British summer, and a printed list of nearest accessible toilets and pharmacies gives everyone peace of mind.

Finally, build in a slower pace than you think you need. The aim is not to cover the most ground, but to come home with the whole group still speaking to each other — and already planning the next evening out.