Inspired by @fruit_thief s story combined with my continuing penniless situation I’m starting a thread about mini adventures. Let’s assume we’re time-rich* and money-poor.
Finishing work and a long run home is something I recommend and probably at the beginning of the “mini adventure” continuum, I’m sure there are more adventurous ideas out there - no cost and a bit unusual are the only parameters…ideas?
*
Nice idea for a thread
My adventures have been pretty limited by work and family but a few years back flew from Bristol to Glasgow for a (failed) solo attempt at the West Highland Way.
I did it in trail shoes with no cushioning, under trained, hadn’t planned for the first 60km from the airport to be on road and hard path.
Made it to Rowardennon YHA but the next day could barely walk after the unaccustomed leg-beasting.
Ended up limping as far as Inversomething and catching the bus to Glencoe. Pootled up a hill, caught the bus back to Glasgow, flew home.
Learned a lesson though.
Just waiting for Spooner: “well, I cycled half way around the world. And the the next year I did it again, but faster”
When we lived in Eastbourne we would do the occasional MTB ride over the South Downs ending at Shoreham - about 90K over the Downs. Then bike to train station and get the train back home.
Nice easy’ish day out although not much flat and some killer hills. 'Cept the one day we did it on the hottest day of that year - about 30C. Got not quite as far as the top of Ditchling Beacon and I ran out of liquid and bonked - big time. I just couldn’t move and stood straddled over the top tube for about 10 mins before I found the energy to carry on - luckily there was an ice cream van at the Beacon so I swallowed as much sugar product as I could and headed to Brighton train station to get the train home with tail between my legs - and sunburt to add to the misery.
If you can find routes like that - hard work out and easy trip home - they are cracking little adventures
You wanna try running it (the full route) 
who’d be so stupid to do that?? 
I mentioned a few I had in mind last year when I did about 25K on the Teesdale Way and as it happens I’ve been in planning to do a bit more, possibly as early as this weekend. Bus to Barnard Castle and run back to Darlington. But currently a slight diversion at Whorlton bridge which is a 200 year old historic monument that they’re rebuilding bit by bit.
The first section from Dufton towards Barny needs a bit more thought to get to the start given the small matter of the Pennines being in the way and roads are a long way round.
Also just checked if the Moorsbus is restarting this year, no real updates on that yet as I’ve got my eye on a route directly across the Moors as well.
Hopefully they can be achieved without a call to mountain rescue!
I’m a big fan of train out and run/ride back type adventures. Cheap and easy. Part of the fun being in the planning phase.
Probs will do one this year as my event, as I’m unlikely to be racing.
I ran to my wife’s sisters house once for a barbecue - they live in Crosby (north Liverpool). It was dull as along the East Lancs road and a bit “edgy” at parts of the Liverpool end
Good burgers though
I did and it didn’t end well. But this year, this year will be very different 
possibly, maybe
Most people would want to run away from Darlington, not towards it
Am sat in the Birks, lake district and we were without power yesterday, and so i took a random run/walk around the vicinity…stunning countryside…slipped over a lot (without breaking ribs this time) and enjoyed all the benefits of a cold shower after…
You didn’t fancy an ice swim then 
never fancy that…
but got some of that sliding down the slopes…
After I’d done LCW a couple of years ago I had good fitness a lot of the summer left and not much desire to race.
I did a few bike trips to new parkruns, either up early on a Saturday morning, up to 2 hour ride, parkrun, 2-3 hours back. Or 1 or 2 mini bikepacking trips, Friday evening ride to a campsite, camp, run, pack-up, ride home.
Really low key, and in most cases minimal impact of the weekend.
Keeping it local rather my mad little Spanish bike hit and runs - My 58 mile runs to Edinburgh on the towpath. Fuelled by fish and chips and packet of biscuits the night before
I was unable to run with a rucksack so ingeniously strapped a water bottle to my arm etc
Re - fueling stop at a gas station just before Falkirk. I think I did it 6 times in all during 2012.
I always ran the first leg to Falkirk way too fast 
for a double marathon. Unbelievable I used to do it. 
Always felt strange running down Princes Street. Couple of pints of Stella and a train home 
Another occasion ran 20 odd miles from my parents house to mate’s house in Northampton for NY eve. Got twatted then ran back the next day.
I’m a little put off by the price of trains north of The River , im thinking of routes that take you partly home so its only a tenner to get back. Hastings is okay for example. Cycle down, f&c and train home, did that a few years back. Maybe add a swim next time but means carrying a lock and towel…
I’d like to do an overnighter but wife wouldn’t believe me.
We did train to London and rode home and was super cheap. Something like this.
Eta just read your comment again. We did ride over night and got back at about 3pm.
We did a couple of night rides, where we left London at midnight and rode to the coast for breakfast, before getting the train home.
I’m not sure whose idea it was, but we did both of them in November, so it was freezing cold and the first time it absolutely tipped it down towards the end, so I remember descending Beachy Head towards Eastbourne in torrential rain, in the dark, with no brakes 
Popular one up here is C2C2C, either same day or over two days if you dare stay at Maryport or somewhere
I’m a massive fan of the (Wainright’s) Coast 2 Coast, which I believe is about to become a National Trail. Finally. I’ve camp-hiked it in two weeks, run it in 4 days, and done sections. Tried to get the FKT/record self supported last year but unsuccessful. Hoping to try again this year, IF I can get my running up.
