Even those who love their jobs have spells when it all gets a bit too much.

While the 9 to 5 will never go away, it’s the rest of the time that can make all the difference.

So the Meek family set out to make the very most of the 5 to 9.

Teachers Tim and Kerry Meek have two daughters, Amy, 12, and Ella, 10.

And to ensure they could savour all possible family time, they set out to see what they could do outwith school and work.

The result is new book 50 Evening Adventures (Frances Lincoln £12.99) which is out on April 7.

It’s packed with simple, ordinary things you can do to spend time together during the working week, not just at the all-too-short weekends.

With the clocks having gone forward today and more light to enjoy, it’s the ideal time to make a start.

No matter which area of the country you live in, and whether you’re in a city, town, village or the countryside, the Meeks says there are great options.

If you’re close to a beach or can get a day at the seaside, there are few better places to explore.

Have a fossil hunt or just enjoy the sand between your toes. Late afternoons and early evenings are usually the quietest times anyway and take a pair of binoculars to spot wildlife or ships.

Local parks always have something to offer, be it somewhere to skate, bike or just walk.

Check out your nearest wood or forest and plan visits at different times of the year to see how the flora and fauna change. You’ll be surprised at how quickly youngsters pick up an interest in nature.

If you have family bikes take them – and just accept the fact that both they and the kids will get muddy. That’s part of the fun.

If you live in a town or city set out to explore a bit of the history you may have missed or check out local castles or ancient monuments.

Cemeteries can be fascinating windows to the past.

Look for the grave of the oldest person and work out whether lives were lost serving our country.

We’ve used the book as inspiration to come up with some of our thoughts across the page – but we know you’ll be able to come up with your own beauties.

Cemetery

There are few more fascinating final resting places than the Glasgow Necropolis. There are 50,000 people remembered over 37 acres, many in grand style. Although there are guided walking tours – including today – part of the fun is your own exploration.

Verdict: Excellent exploring

Beach

Kids never get tired of messing around in rock pools and the beauty of the tides is that you never know what you’ll discover. Dunure beach, in Ayrshire, is one where there’s lots to see. Crabs, starfish, jellyfish and shrimp are a few of the reasons to keep your eyes peeled.

Verdict: Sandy haven

Castle

Kelburn is far from your average castle, with the exterior walls plastered in a cartoon-packed mural. The Largs castle has been hailed worldwide for its urban art and there’s loads more to see inside as well as a secret forest to explore in the grounds.

Verdict: Painted beauty

Forest

The Forestry Commission have wonderful woodlands, with Skelbo, near Dornoch, just one. There’s endless variety for families, from chainsaw-carved woodland creatures on a trail and dipping for mini beasts in the pond to checking out the Iron Age broch.

Verdict: Tree-mendous

Park

Few cities can have somewhere like Holyrood Park right on their doorstep. It’s such a great place to just have a ramble and marvel at the volcanic cliff faces, mini lochs and ruins. And, of course, have all the family fun of scrambling up to the top of Arthur’s Seat.

Verdict: City highlight

Loch

Right in the heart of the Trossachs, Loch Katrine has been a relaxing playground since the Victorian times. You can hire bikes – or bring your own – to cycle around it and the old steamship Sir Walter Scott is still chugging up and down as it always has.

Verdict: Watery rave

Public Art

Check out some of our amazing public art installations. Few can be more spectacular or awe-inspiring than the Kelpies in Falkirk. But there’s lots more to do than just look, with cycling, an adventure zone play park and pedalo hire out on the lagoon.

Verdict: Awesome art

Nature Reserve

Kids love getting close to nature and the RSPB have more than 200 reserves across the UK. Loch Garten, Abernethy is just one. It’s famously the home of ospreys but you’ve also got a chance to see otters on the loch or perhaps have a red squirrel encounter among the pines.

Verdict: Bird’s eye view

Harbour

The book recommends getting a vantage point to look down and get a “bigger” picture view. And at Seahouses in Northumberland that gives you the chance to look out to the Farne islands too. Oh, and kids will love the three great chippies
just yards away!

Verdict: Farne-tastic

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