As adventure travel companies grapple with how best to deliver group holidays in a socially isolated world, it raises the argument that there has never been a better time for a self-guided trip.

The joy of an adventure is in part in the trip’s anticipation, of pouring through your resources and digging out that glimmer of an idea implanted on a previous journey. In finding maps and blogs and others’ experiences, you can learn much about the geography of the area which may develop your idea and enhance your trip. I love dreaming what each location may reveal, how each place may look, invariably and wonderfully I am surprised.

By going alone, you can choose to travel on lesser-used routes and paths which in a socially distanced world makes a lot a sense. Campsites, hotels and youth hostels that you have to walk into, as opposed to ones with easy access, are likely to be less busy. In U.K. campsites are already reporting that bookings are up 60% on last year so we can expect by midsummer there will be limited availability to stay overnight unless you travel to places where wild camping is deemed acceptable. National Parks need support, but they are fragile and already struggling under the pressure of the number of annual visitors and they are likely to be vastly overpopulated this summer, so seek out the path less travelled. Perhaps consider routes that take in other interests, be it history, nature or just a part of the U.K. you have never been to. Use the opportunity to discover new places.

Planning your trip is likely to be less predictable than taking part an organised tour, but with proper planning, it can be straight forward and more engaging. In my case, there are likely to be a few disasters, be it getting lost, or planning days that are far too long, but that is where the adventure begins. When we let go of the predictability of guided tours, we have the opportunity for experiences we didn’t foresee; these are always the most memorable days. Those are the experiences we seek in adventure, the ones that teach us something about life, or ourselves, things which can not be distilled, package, regurgitated in a classroom or learnt on some else’s adventure.

The motivations to seek adventure do vary; most look to have experiences outside the confines of their normal life. This summer choose the path less travelled, find landscapes that set your heart on fire, pick challenges that motivate you, research and plan your trip but most importantly go in search of your own experiences and let the adventure unfold.