Our Sporting Life
Hiking, Adventure and Sports Magazine
Proud Sponsors of the Saddleworth 3Ds U9 Whites
We’re over the moon to sponsor the kit for an under 9s football team this season. The Saddleworth 3Ds U9s Whites are playing their football in the East Manchester Junior Football League!
Good luck, 3Ds!
Our Hiking Life – Hiking Blog
Hiking. From gentle flat trails to mountain ridges, getting out on foot can be the most relaxing or the most exhilarating way to experience the scenery around you. We love a good hike. And in our hiking blog, we share trails, reviews, hints and tips on all things hiking.
The Magical Benefits of the Outdoors for Autistic Children
My 5 year old is autistic. Amongst the many things he loves, being outdoors is probably the one he loves most. And this works incredibly well for me personally as I love it too. But the more I learn in my bid to help Liam thrive, the more I am led to believe that there really is a pinch of magic in being outside for autistic children in particular.
How Hiking Has Become One of the UK’s Most Participated-In “Sports”
In the UK, we’re immensely proud of our sporting culture. The Three Lions have become a powerhouse in world football again. Our football pyramid is
21 Gift Ideas for Hikers 2025 – Under £10, £20, £50 and Big Budget
Knowing what to buy for the hiker in your life who seems to have everything already is no mean feat. But we’ve got you covered with 21 hiking gift ideas in 4 budget ranges – under £10, under £20, under £50 and big budget indulgence!
Microspikes vs Crampons: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Actually Need?
Microspikes and crampons – what are the differences? And more to the point, which ones do you actually need if you’re planning to head out hiking this winter?
Hiking in the mountains: how to choose a route
Mountain tourism is one of the most popular forms of active recreation, attracting thousands of people every year. For many, hiking is not only a
Glencoe Lochan Trail – A Gorgeous Family Friendly Walk in Glencoe
Glencoe Lochan was something of an unplanned little wander for me. And I’m so glad I went. The spectacular scenery and incredible effort to rewards ratio had be wandering why I’d never been before. So let me share it with you.
Ben A’an – The Little Hill with BIG Mountain Views
Ben A’an’s BIG Views I was on my way back from a longer hiking weekend when I took a little hike up Ban A’an, a
Health, Memory and Mood: How Hiking Helps Adults Over 50 Stay Active
Hiking offers proven mental and physical benefits for people over fifty. Explore how regular trails improve heart, joints and focus.
Cloud Inversions on Yr Wyddfa, Garnedd Ugain and Crib Goch
I hiked up Crib Goch and Garnedd Ugain in the hunt for cloud inversions last week. And I got rather lucky! This is one solo hike that will live long in the memory.
5 Unusual Sports to Try in 2026
Ditch the treadmill. Discover 5 weird and wonderful sports exploding in the UK this year, from Octopush to Padel. Can’t decide? Use our free Sport Generator tool.
10 Benefits of Team Sports for Kids: Why Every Child Should Experience Them
The benefits of team sports for children go further than you might think. Let’s dive in and take a look at some of them.
The Thrill of the Unexpected Win – From Sport Upsets to Lucky Bonuses
Sports history is filled with magical moments. Times when the impossible became possible, like when Leicester City were 5000-1 to win the Premier League in
World Cup 2026: Egypt Eager to Put Past Disappointment Behind Them
Egypt’s 3-0 win over Djibouti in in October secured their place at the 2026 World Cup. The Pharaohs put the disappointment of failing to qualify
Most Impactful Summer 2025 Premier League Signings so Far
Every summer transfer window brings a lot of excitement to the EPL, and the one behind us was exceptionally eventful. From the current champions Liverpool
Top 10 Highest Paid NBA Players In World History
Discover our breakdown of the top 10 highest-paid NBA players in world history. See where they play, how their lifetime earnings stack up, and why the numbers keep rising.
Tactics, Teamwork and Timing: Skills That Win Airsoft Matches
Airsoft draws in players for different reasons. For some, it’s the energy of the game. For others, it’s the challenge of strategy. What sets successful
Building Sports Skills in Regular Life
To be the best you can be in any sport, you need practice. While we all know this in theory, actually getting the amount of
The 10 Best Olympians in History
Which athletes have achieved the most during the Summer Olympic Games? Here are some of the greatest Olympians in history – our list considers their
Our Writers and Editors
It’s really important to us that our content is created by people who know and love their topics. So we source contributions from external experts as well as having our own in house writers who cover their own areas of expertise. If ever we’re offering up health or fitness advice, we want to know it’s coming from someone qualified to give it. So we work with doctors and personal trainers as well. Some of our writers and listed below.
Stacey MacNaught
Hiker & football lover
Stacey is a keen hiker and mountain ridge walker. She runs a women’s over 30s football team and recently took up rugby (with a questionable degree of skill).
Christopher Czermak
Tennis player & coach
Christopher is an enthusiastic tennis player and qualified coach. He’s been playing since the age of 6 and now shares his love of the sport with other aspiring players.
Dr Andres Maldonado
Doctor
Andres Maldonado is a a doctor currently located in Venezuela and working at the country’s International Unit of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery. He writes for us on anything health related.
Melanie Gilder
personal trainer
Melanie Gilder is a qualified personal trainer and dance teacher who specialises in female fitness. She works with clients to achieve improved fitness as well as weight loss. She writes for us on fitness tips and advice
Football. From 6 year olds running around on a Sunday morning to the mighty England women’s team selling out stadiums, football has a special place in our hearts. Here’s where we share articles, features and news on football.
Our Statistics and Research
The Best Hiking Brands (After 5+ Years of Buying too Much Hiking Gear)
What are the best hiking brands available to buy in the UK? Well based on several years of hiking and spending thousands upon thousands on hiking kit (some good, some bad, some ugly), here’s my take on the best hiking gear brands you can get your hands on.
8 Scientifically Backed Benefits of Cold Water Therapy – With a Bit of Personal Experience Too
Three weeks ago I took the plunge (no pun intended) and started using a cold water dipping pod thing to take a cold water plunge every morning. I was driven by the science and here’s what I’ve found to be the biggest benefits so far.
Boxing Statistics UK – How Popular Is Boxing In 2024?
We polled 2,000 people in the UK to ask them about their participation in boxing! We rounded up this data and other data to pull together the most important boxing participation statistics for the UK in 2024! Let’s dive right in.
Golf Statistics: How Popular Is Golf In The UK In 2024?
How popular is golf in the UK in 2024? To find out, we polled 2,000 adults in the UK about their sporting preferences. We’ve crunched the numbers and here’s everything you need to know about how many people are playing and who are the most likely to engage in golf.
Running Statistics UK – How Popular Is Running In 2025?
How popular is running in the UK in 2025? We polled 2,000 people and collated some other facts and figures to find out.
Hiking and Walking Statistics UK: How Popular is hiking in the UK in 2024?
Hiking (or even just getting out for a quick walk) has a whole host of benefits for both mental and physical health. And for many of us, it’s also just fun. But how popular is hiking in the UK in 2024? And where are the most popular hiking spots in the country?
Women’s and Girl’s Football Statistics UK
The momentum behind women’s football is phenomenal. But how many women play football? How many played as children? And what are the audience sizes like? We take a look in our 2024 round up of women’s and girl’s football statistics.
21 Mind Blowing Stats and Facts About the Six Nations Rugby
It’s upon us again – the Six Nations Championship is one of the highlights of the rugby union calendar. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy will battle it out in 2024. And to get set for the competition, here are 21 mind blowing statistics and facts about the 6 Nations.
Everything You Need to Know About Under 10s Football in England
There are specific rules, set out by the Football Association, that must be followed when playing football at under 10s level. “Mini Soccer” is played by all children up to the age of 10. All you need to know about the sport for children at this age is set out below – from how many players on a team to the size of the pitch, goals and even the size of the ball that is used.
Everything You Need to Know About Under 9s Football in England
Football at under 9s in England follows the laws of Mini Soccer. These laws entail the maximum playing time for children, how many players can play in a match and even the size of the ball that should be used. If you want to get your child involved in Football and they are in this age group, here is all you need to know.
Everything You Need to Know About Under 8s Football in England
Under 8s football adheres to the FA laws of “Mini Soccer,” which determine the age of players, time limits on games and other things too. Got a child going into under 8s football or considering it? Here’s everything you need to know about football at this level in England.
Everything You Need to Know About Under 7s Football in England
Under 7s football follows the laws of “Mini Soccer,” which determine the age of players, time limits on games and other things too. Find out everything you need to know about getting started with U7s football in England.
American Football Statistics: UK Popularity 2022
American Football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, but exactly how popular is it over the pond in the UK?
Karate Statistics: How Popular Is Karate In The UK In 2022?
Karate is a Japanese martial art which is popular in many countries around the world. It is a popular martial art in the UK too
Skateboarding Statistics: How Popular Is Skateboarding In The UK In 2021?
Although many people may not think skateboarding is a sport, it was actually approved to be a sport in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This
Squash Statistics UK: How Popular is Squash in the UK in 2021?
Squash is a fast-paced racquet sport where players compete against each other by hitting the ball against the wall to rebound towards their opponent. These
Badminton Statistics: How Popular Is Badminton In The UK in 2021?
Commonly, badminton is played in singles or doubles while players hit the shuttlecock over the net. It’s played in the Summer Olympics and needs a
Gymnastics Statistics: How Popular Is Gymnastics In The UK In 2021?
Gymnastics is popular around the world. People perform the sport in many countries and events, such as the Olympic Games. But how popular is gymnastics
Skiing Statistics UK 2021: How Popular is Skiing in the UK?
Skiing is an exhilarating sport where people can travel at fast speeds down icy slopes. While the UK may not be well known for Skiing,
Swimming Statistics: How Popular is Swimming in the UK in 2021?
Swimming is one of the most popular methods to stay active in the UK, with large numbers of the population engaging in the sport. This