Best Activity Weekends

Cardiff is the capital and the largest city and county in Wales. In recent years it has grown in stature as a tourist destination. It was recently voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of the Guardian, listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards’ website Visit Britain and US travel guide Frommers listed it as one of the top 13 destinations worldwide for 2008. Cardiff is a beautiful developing city and an ideal destination to take a short break.

What Activities

Sailing, Canoeing, Power Boating, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Caving, Horse Riding, Cycling and loads more.

Where to go?

Cardiff Bay

http://www.cardiffbay.co.uk/

Cardiff Bay is Europe’s largest waterfront development and has a variety of leisure activities which are available both on and off the water. The bay is home to loads of attractions, shops, hotels and restaurants, so there’s plenty to do for everyone. A number of boat tours also depart from the bay and allow you to explore the coast of Southampton from the water. The website guides you to the services and attractions that are available in and around the bay.

The Brecon Beacons National Park

http://www.breconbeacons.org/

The Brecon Beacons is a beautiful National Park in Cardiff with a gorgeous landscape, canal paths, castles and plenty of family friendly attractions. There’s plenty to do for everyone with lots of old castles and museums to explore. Also, the vast landscape and several waterways provide a great adventure playground for all and several businesses run activity sessions throughout the national park. This is the perfect place to go if you want to explore the outdoors whilst having fun. The website provides you with information about things to do, accommodation and the environment in and around the Beacons making the planning of your trip a lot easier.

The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort

http://www.vale-hotel.com/

This is a luxury resort with a four star hotel, spa and golf academy. There are two 18 hole golf courses, several putting greens, top professional coaches, a pro shop and computer technology which allows you to use video analysis and swing check. The fantastic spa has the most up to date facilities and offers treatments for all over the body ranging from simple facials and manicures to full body massages and Electrolysis. The resort also has a health and racquets club with a state of the art gym with very latest computer-aided fitness equipment, a luxury 20 metre indoor pool fitness studios, plus squash and tennis courts, sauna, steam rooms and a whirlpool bath.

The Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre

http://www.adventurecardiff.com

At the Cardiff Adventure Centre both tourists and local residents can enjoy a variety of water based activities and adrenalin sports including power boating, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and sailing. They run several courses including a multi activity day which allows you to take part in a mixture of activities all in one day. The website gives you directions to the centre, lists the courses that they run, guides you through the booking process and provides an overview of the weather in the area. If you’re interested in taking part in outdoor activities, this could be a good place to visit.

Walk or Bike Wales

http://www.walkorbikewales.com/

Walk or Bike Wales offers high quality getaways in the Brecon Beacons and across the border in England.
Walk Offa’s Dyke, The Wye Valley, The Beacons Way, Pembrokshire Coast Path, visit the Black Mountains and the Llantony Valley.
Ride some of the fantastic road and mountain bike trails across the Brecon Beacons and Wales. Routes to suite all, the 4 Castle Ride, Lon Las Cymru Holyhead to Cardiff or Chepstow, The Sarn Helen Trail (longest off road route in Wales.

The Red Dragon Centre

http://www.thereddragoncentre.co.uk

Located in the middle of Cardiff Bay, the Red Dragon Centre offers a range of leisure and entertainment venues all in one place. Among the venues at the centre are an Odeon cinema, Hollywood Bowl and Casino, as well as a large number of bars and restaurants. The centre also has its own radio station, Doctor Who exhibition and Cadwaladers ice cream bar. The wide range of venues at the centre makes it a great place to visit for both adults and kids. This is the perfect place for family fun and would be a great place to spend the day.

Celtic Water Sports

http://celtic-watersports.co.uk/

Celtic Water Sports is a business which is based in Cardiff city. They provide loads of courses for several different activities and no previous experience is necessary to take part in any of their activities. They practice their activities in several locations throughout Wales, one of which is Neath Valley, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Many of the areas where the group practice are considered to be areas of outstanding natural beauty and are a great place to go to take in the beautiful scenery of Wales. The centre runs several activities such as Coasteering, river rafting, canoeing, kayaking and gorge scrambling. If you enjoy taking part in challenging water sports, this is the place to go.

Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre

http://www.bouldersclimbingcentre.co.uk

The Boulders Climbing Centre is located not far from Cardiff’s city centre and has a variety of facilities for both experienced climbers and newcomers to the sport. The centre has a number of climbing walls varying in difficulty and they also rent out climbing equipment to visitors. Competent climbers can visit the centre and climb alone under no supervision, but if you haven’t climbed before you can take a taster course to get you started and once you’ve learned the basics, you can take a number of other courses to improve your skills. So if you want to learn something new or practice climbing this would be a great place to go when you’re in Cardiff.

Barry Island Pleasure Park

http://www.barryislandpleasurepark.co.uk

Barry Island Pleasure Park is situated right on the Cardiff Seafront and is a great place to go if you’re planning on having a family day out. The park has a selection of places to eat, thriller rides, family rides and rides especially for the kids so whether you’re a thrill seeker wanting a challenge or you just want to have a family day out, the park has what you’re looking for. The park is only open at certain times of the year, from Easter through to the end of September depending on the weather so make sure that you check that it’s open on the day of your visit to avoid disappointment.

What You’ll need

You’ll need swimwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, you could bring your bike with you and go for a ride around the national park or the local area.

Other Useful Links

Visit Cardiff

http://www.visitcardiff.com

Visit Cardiff is the main tourist information site for the city and has an extensive amount of useful information for tourists visiting the city. The site has information about attractions, events, landmarks, where to stay and where to eat. It also has maps of the area, a business directory and information on how to get there. It has literally all of the information that a tourist would need to know when they’re planning a trip to Cardiff and will allow you to have a well planned, carefree break.

Itchy Cardiff

http://www.itchycardiff.co.uk/

Itchy Cardiff is a tourist site which keeps potential visitors to Cardiff posted about attractions, events, activities, culture and loads more that’s happening in the city. Tourists can visit this site and plan every aspect of their trip making their stay in Cardiff a lot more relaxed and care free. Itchy Cardiff is a useful resource and would prove to help make your trip to Cardiff a lot more enjoyable.

Edge of Wales Walk

Walking holidays in North Wales

A Walking Holiday in North Wales along the Llŷn Coastal Path, one of the great Celtic Trails, operated by local people offering a complete package of accommodation, local information, maps, gps, baggage transfer and transport. Enjoy the spectacular Welsh countryside on the 47 mile (75.6 km) coastal path along the Llŷn Peninsula leading to Bardsey Island or walk the whole way around the Llŷn from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, 95 miles in all.

More fun activities in & near Cardiff

Cycling in North Wales

Mountain Bike Holidays with Style

The ancient kingdom of Kernow is the furthest west you can go while remaining in England. Don’t know Kernow? It’s the old English name for today’s Cornwall, a ruggedly beautiful county in England’s Southwest. The county of Cornwall has the longest coast line in Britain, and its history is intimately tied up with the sea along that coast. Anywhere you go in Cornwall, you’ll see how today’s residents live off the sea as fishermen and so on, and also be reminded of the nautical heritage of Cornwall.

Along the coast, you’ll find smugglers’ inns, picturesque and tiny fishing villages, beaches galore placed along bays that once held a vast variety of oceanfaring schooners, gill netters, and small fishing vessels. Even today, fishing is important, but tourism is the bigger catch in today’s net. There’s much here to bring visitors back again and again: The rugged beauty of the cliffs along the north coast, tranquil coves and tree lined creeks on the south coast, and peaceful traditional farmland in between the two.

Cornwall mixes the new and the old as well. You’ll find cutting edge science such as the Eden Project in one spot, avant garde art in a gallery, or you’ll encounter a traditional working farms near ancient villages with Sunday Markets alive and well. Much of the old industry has passed, but there’s a real sense of enthusiasm for the future in Cornwall, with tourism and eco-friendly industries taking over to create a lovely English county to visit.

What activities

Sailing, Canoeing, Power Boating, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Caving, Horse Riding, Cycling and loads more.

Where to go in Cornwall

Gay Cornwall
Gay Cornwall – the complete online guide to bars, clubs, hotels, social groups, Cornwall Pride and loads more.

Kennack Diving – Learn to dive in Cornwall
Kennack Diving provides a 5 star PADI dive resort in beautiful Cornwall, where you can learn in clear and warm Gulf Stream waters.

Manually Edited Cornish Business Directory With Links, News, Weather and Information For Cornwall UK

What You’ll need

You’ll need swimwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Your best sailing clothes could come in handy, as well as a windbreaker as it’ll inevitable pick up during your visit.

Located in England’s West Country, Devon is a large county which is bordered by Cornwall in the west and Dorset and Somerset in the East. One of the things that make Devon unique is the two coastlines: One in the north of Devon, facing the Bristol Channel and Irish Sea, and one to the south, facing the English Channel towards north France.

Devon is home to the amazing moors at Dartmoor, the cities of Exeter, Darthmouth, and Torquay. All great destinations. Off the coast is the wonderful Lundy island. You’ll also be able to visit the Buckfast Abbey, home to the fortified drink Buckfast.

Devon is mainly rural, filled with villages, moors, farmlands, and plentiful opportunities for outdoor sports.

What activities

Sailing, Canoeing, Power Boating, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Caving, Horse Riding, Cycling and loads more.

Where to go in Devon

Surfing Croyde Bay

The UK’s professional surf centre offering tuition to all abilities and ages all year round.

North Devon Links

An indepth directory of links for travellers and residents in Devon. You can find all things Devon at North Devon UK

Torbay Surfing

Torquay’s, Paignton’s, Brixham’s, Bigbury’s & Bantham’s, Surfing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Kayaking & SUP Information Website.

Riviera English School

Not only can Riviera English School teach you English, but it’s also unique in owning its own yacht, so you’ll have opportunities to go out on the water on the beautiful Devon coast while learning. Based in Torquay, Devon, Riviera English school is a family owned business since 1996 and has taught thousands of students since – most enroling through recommendations from previous students.

Surfing Croyde Bay with Point Breaks

Learn to surf at some of the UK’s top surfing spots and improve your skills from beginner to competition level. Point Breaks is Croyde Bay’s premier multi-activity watersports school.

What You’ll need

You’ll need swimwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, you could bring your bike with you and go for a ride around the Devon forests.

More travel information

Devon Holiday Directory – Links to Devon holiday sites including accommodation (self catering, B&B and hotels), attractions, pub and restaurants, activities such as golf, riding and surfing, along with town and village information.

A vibrant, modern city, Southampton is a major port and one of the most popular leisure and culture destinations on the south coast of England. Located between Portsmouth and Bournemouth, Southampton is noted for being the home of the RMS Titanic, The Spitfire and more recently a number of the largest cruise ships in the world. Cosmopolitan and buzzing, yet the perfect getaway.

What Activities?

Snowboarding, Snowblading, Skiing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Crazy Golf/ Golf, White Water Rafting, Windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing, Power Boating, Roller Hockey and loads more.

Where to go

The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex

The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex is located at the heart of the Southampton city centre and has facilities to suit everyone. The diving pool has a moveable floor which means that the depth of the pool can be adjusted to host swimming, diving and aqua fit sessions and the fun pool has a waterfall, fountains, flume, whirlpool and many other water features to keep you entertained which includes a beach entrance which slopes into the water. The centre also has a 25 metre national sports course championship pool with eight lanes and lots of other sports facilities to suit your needs.

Ocean Village

Ocean Village is a marina and leisure development located on the River Itchen in Southampton. The SS Shieldhall, an old steamship and several smart yachts are moored in the marina right in front of Canutes Pavilion with its gourmet restaurants, designer boutiques and market halls. Ocean Village also has two cinemas, but the real attraction is sitting on the waterfront with a glass in your hand whilst taking in the beautiful scenery.

Woodmill Outdoor Centre and Canoe Shop

http://www.woodmill.co.uk/

Woodmill is located on the outskirts of Southampton and offers a variety of courses and several outdoor activities. These courses vary and range from professional courses in coaching to fun, one day taster sessions. The centre offers courses in loads of activities such as kayaking, climbing, abseiling and canoeing just to name a few and is a great family friendly environment. There are courses that are designed specifically for children and courses for the family so that everyone can take part together. Woodmill is the perfect place to go if you want to have some outdoor fun with or without the family and would prove to be well worth your visit.

Southampton Water Activities Centre

http://www.swac.co.uk

The Southampton Water Activities Centre is located on the River Itchen, adjacent to the Ocean Village Marina. The centre operates on the lower reaches of the river offering and other areas in Southampton offering a range of activities to schools, colleges and the local community. The centre has an extensive fleet of modern boats and does courses in loads of activities such as dinghy sailing, power boating, sailing and windsurfing. This would be a good place to go and get out onto the water whilst having lots of fun.

West Quay

http://www.west-quay.co.uk/

West Quay is a popular shopping destination in the Southampton city centre on the south coast. There are over 100 shops to choose from including big retail names like John Lewis and Marks and Spencer. So if you plan to do a bit or a lot of shopping in Southampton, this is definitely the place to go.

Southampton Sports Centre

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/leisure-centres/sportscentre/

The Sports Centre is set in 150 acres of lad and borders on the Municipal Golf Course. The centre offers a wide range of activities to take part in and is the perfect place for training, increasing your general fitness and taking part in competitive sports. Also, the football, tennis and netball courts provide the perfect place to go and have a match with friends. There is also an eight lane, international track which plays host to several athletic clubs and professional athletes that train at the facility and it is also open to casual users.

Southampton Alpine Centre

http://www.southampton-alpine-centre.co.uk

The Southampton Alpine Centre has three artificial slopes which are 110 metres, 90 metres and 30 metres in length and are serviced by two poma drag lifts. The centre offers skiing and snowboarding facilities and training ranging from instructor courses to short recreational courses. There is also a refreshments and functions chalet which is a great place to gather when you get too cold and is available for parties or group bookings. Also, a new ringo’s course will be opening this winter. Whatever you’re reasons for learning to ski or snowboard, the professional instructors and support staff, coupled with the fun atmosphere will make it a memorable experience.

Southampton Municipal Golf Course

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/leisure-centres/golfcourse/

The Southampton Golf Course has two separate layouts: an 18 hole course (Par 69, 6213 yards) and a 9 hole course (Par 33 2389 yards) which are open and available for recreational use all year round at a reasonable price. Other facilities include 2 putting greens, chipping area, shower and changing facilities and an 18 acre practi8ce ground for beginners. They also have a golf shop and a club house bar where you can buy equipment, souvenirs, hot food and refreshments. If you like golfing this would be a great place to go if you’re visiting Southampton.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need to bring swimwear and any Watersports gear you own with you. Also, if you’re into golf, it would be a good idea to bring your golfing equipment too. Also, bring some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty for other outdoor activities.

Other Useful Links

VR Southampton

http://www.vrsouthampton.co.uk

VR Southampton is a tourist site which provides visitors to Southampton with the information they’ll need to know when planning their trip. The site acts as a guide to accommodation, businesses and attractions in the area. It also provides a virtual tour, a gallery with panoramic views of the major attractions in the area and a weather outlook. This is a very useful site to visit if you’re planning a visit to Southampton.

Visit Southampton

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk

Visit Southampton has all of the latest information about what’s going on in the city. The site has information on how to travel to Southampton, places to stay, nightlife, restaurants, events, tours, attractions, shopping and cruises as well as maps, photographs and weather information. Visit Southampton is a great guide to the city and will prove to be very helpful if you’re planning to take a break there.

Southampton Online

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/tabs/visitors/

This is the official, government website for Southampton which provides local and tourist information about the city. The site provides information about accommodation, things to do and what’s going on in the area. There are also links to other useful websites and contact information for local businesses. Whether you’re visiting the city for a short break, a longer holiday or simply passing through, you will find some useful information on this site.

More travel resources

Willgoto travel directory – Travel directory and travel guide for all destinations in the world.

Located on the north Atlantic coast of Cornwall, Newquay is the unofficial surfing capital of Britain. With its secluded coves and family beaches, it is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, sunbathing. Also, the Newquay Harbour provides the perfect place to go fishing, with several great fishing businesses located there. Newquay is a beautiful seaside resort and there is always plenty to do, whether you like to take part in thrilling extreme sports or just want to have a nice relaxing time, Newquay has a lot to offer you.

What Activities?

Surfing, Abseiling, Rock Climbing, Zip Wire, Cliff Hanger, Mountain Biking, Junior Surfing, Coasteering, Horse Riding, Go-Karting, Golf and loads more.

Where To Go

The Adventure Centre – Lusty Glaze Beach

http://www.lustyglaze.co.uk

Lusty Glaze is a privately owned beach on the North coast of Cornwall which has its own leisure centre where you can take part in a variety of thrilling outdoor activities. Their water based activities include surfing and Coasteering and there land based activities range from abseiling and rock climbing to kite boarding and mountain biking. The Lusty Glaze beach is the perfect, secluded area to spend your holiday.

Hollywell Bay Fun Park – Hollywell Beach

http://www.hollywellbay.co.uk/

The Hollywell Bay Fun Park is located a short walk away from Cornwall’s Hollywell Beach and is well known as one of Newquay’s best attractions for action, thrills and family fun. They have a range of things to do including Formula One Go-Karts, Battle Boats, Turret Guns, Bumper Boats, Adventure Golf and loads more.

Porth Beach Tourist Park – Porth Beach

http://www.porthbeach.co.uk

Porth Beach Tourist Park is situated just 100 metres away from Cornwall’s Porth Beach and is surrounded by open countryside. Porth Beach is regarded as one of the safest places for swimming in the Newquay area and is perfect for families, with lots of room to play in and plenty of rock pools to explore. The Porth Beach Tourist Park is not only situated in this ideal location, it has a wide variety of fully equipped caravans, spacious camping pitches fantastic showering and washing facilities and its own children’s play park. Although the park is quiet and relaxing, it’s in easy reach of all of the amenities that Newquay has to offer.

Fistral Beach

Fistral Beach is a major surfing beach in Newquay which is about 750 metres in length and can produce some great waves. The British Surfing Association and Newquay Board Rider Club are located on the North end of the Bay and provide rental equipment and training packages for people who want to learn how to surf, also, the Cribbar, a reef situated just north of Fistral provides wave faces of up to 40 feet and there’s plenty to explore.

Newquay Harbour Boatsmen’s Association – Newquay Harbour

http://www.newquay-harbour.com

Newquay Harbour is a tidal area and very much a working location for fishing and touring boats. Newquay’s Boatsmen’s Association have the top two angling boats, the Mystique and the Che Sara. They offer half day, full day and evening trips at reasonable prices and are fully licensed and insured. The Harbour also offers Mackerel fishing and pleasure boat and speed boat trips where you can admire Newquay from the sea, looking at the wonderful coastline and beaches.

Watergate Bay – The Hotel and Extreme Academy

http://www.watergatebay.co.uk

Watergate Bay is a two mile long, sandy beach situated just north of Newquay. The beach is a popular location for Watersports, kite flying, and sand art and it provides combinations of adrenaline and total relaxation, dramatic coastline and beautiful countryside. The extreme academy is a great place to try a variety of sports such as kite surfing, wave skiing, mountain boarding, traction kiting and loads more. With the Hotel of Watergate bay sitting close by and with its stunning Oceanside location, it’s the perfect place to stay.

Great Western Beach

Newquay’s Great Western Beach is an extremely popular family beach. The beach is west facing, with several sandy coves and towering cliffs. The fact that the beach is quite sheltered means that it provides smaller surf, ideal for people who are just learning to surf. There are also a wide range of facilities including surf and deck chair hire and a private lift which descends through the cliffs from the Great Western Hotel. However, tides can get quite high, covering most of the sand so make sure you know the times of high water.

Newquay Water World

http://www.newquaywaterworld.co.uk

Waterworld is located in the Trenance Leisure Park, Newquay. Waterworld has two superb swimming pools. A six lane, twenty five metre pool and a tropical fun pool with water canon, tipper, flumes, slides, erupting volcano, spitting snakes and loads more. Other facilities in the Trenance Leisure Park are a wooden Waves Ramp Park, Tennis Centre, Zoo, Crazy Golf, Miniature Railway and children’s play areas.

The Boating Lake

The Boating Lake is located right next to Trenance Hill, near the Trenance Leisure Park and is a beautiful part of the landscape. The Boating Lake Café is a great place to stop off and have a few refreshments before exploring the rest of Newquay. Also, Trenance Riding School (http://www.newquayridingstables.co.uk) are nearby and provide riding lessons at a reasonable price. The Boating Lake is the perfect place to relax and take in the scenery and is a lovely sight to see at night with it’s beautifully illuminated fountain lighting up the whole area.

Dairyland Farm World

http://www.dairylandfarmworld.com/

Dairyland Farmworld is a family friendly attraction, providing fun and entertainment for all ages, whatever the weather. The park provides activities to take part in for all ages including several children’s play areas, drop slides, raging bull rides, Tractor rides, feeding and milking and loads more. The Dairyland farm is the perfect place to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a real working farm.

What You’ll Need

You’ll definitely need to bring a swimsuit (we recommend these guys for Swimwear, Beachwear, and Bikinis) with you and some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty for when you’re taking part in daytime activities.

Other Useful Links

Mad Ferret Adventure Activities

http://www.madferret.co.uk/

Mad Ferret Adventure Activities is based in Newquay and offers a wide range of activities for all ages including: Coasteering, Body Boarding, Go Karts and Paintball, to name a few. Their website also provides useful tourist information about the local area and a list of possible places to stay in Newquay.

Newquay, Cornwall – Official Website

http://visitnewquaycornwall.co.uk

This is the official website for Newquay which provides useful information about the area. It tells you about the events, nightlife, attractions, activities, accommodation, food and beaches in Newquay. The website is the perfect travel resource for people planning to visit the area.

The Escape Surf School

http://www.escapesurfschool.co.uk

Escape Surf School is centrally located just a five minute walk away from both Fistral Beach and Great Western Beach and is based at Belushis, Newquay’s premier surf bar and hostel. They practice at both beaches and offer package deals for accommodation and surfing lessons. Their site tells you about important surfing events and has special offers for discounted times of the year listed on their site.

Newquay.net

http://newquaynet.com

This is a tourist information site which has an extensive list of activities, attractions, accommodation, beaches nightlife and news and events that are located in Newquay. It acts as a travel directory for the area and has a lot of information that a tourist will need to know when planning to visit Newquay.

More travel information

Holiday rentals – Self-catering holiday rental accommodation in France

Surf South West – Learn to surf with the UK’s leading provider of surfing tuition and surf holidays.

SafariNow.com offers a range of South Africa accommodation establishments, including hotels, guest houses and safari lodges throughout the country.