What is a microadventure?
A microadventure is a short, local moment outdoors with no big planning involved, often no longer than an hour.
No summit, no region, no guide. Just a deliberate step out the door, done regularly instead.
Where the term comes from
British adventurer Alastair Humphreys coined the term microadventure as a counterpoint to the classic idea of adventure: no months of buying gear, no expedition to the other side of the world, just a short, local outing that fits into an evening or a lunch break.
Some take it a step further and talk about a nanoadventure: a deliberate shift in perspective, a pause, a new way of noticing, often without even leaving the house. The core idea stays the same: start small, and keep going from there.
Why the principle works
Big plans often fail under their own weight: waiting for the one perfect, multi-day trip means rarely actually going out at all. A microadventure lowers the bar so far it nearly disappears, which makes it repeatable, week after week.
Structure without rigidity, invitation without pressure: a microadventure suggests a direction but demands nothing. Try it once, notice how it feels, and the next one tends to happen on its own.
How Glenby applies the principle
Glenby translates this principle into a daily template: one or two small tasks, matched to the season and your area, with honest photo proof instead of a recorded route. No pressure, no time limit, no countdown, just a recurring, doable reason to actually go outside.
That's not a random choice: according to a study of around 20,000 people in England (White et al., 2019), roughly 120 minutes a week in nature is already the threshold for noticeably better wellbeing, spread across several short moments rather than one long trip.
Frequently asked questions about the microadventure principle
Does a microadventure need special gear?
No, that's the core idea. A microadventure works with what you already have, sturdy shoes are usually enough. No investment is required before you can start.
How long does a microadventure take?
Usually between 15 minutes and an hour. It's designed to fit into a lunch break or an evening, not a whole day off.
Is a microadventure the same as a short walk?
Almost, with one difference: a microadventure has a small, concrete reason to look for, observe, or capture something, instead of just walking a loop. That reason turns the walk into a deliberate moment.
Does a microadventure have to happen in nature?
Usually yes, a forest, a park, a river, but the core idea also works in a city: a deliberate, short moment where you notice something differently than usual.
Your first microadventure is waiting
Glenby suggests one every day, free in the Base tier.