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

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.

If you have watched any of the Harry Potter series, have you ever wondered where the movie scenes are taken- scenes that involve beautiful and picturesque forests, greenery and woods, of Hogwarts, the Quidditch field and the Shrieking Shack? Well, as we know, the Potter movie series has been filmed in many places in and around England and one place that can be listed as part of the Potter phenomenon is Fort William in Scotland.

The opening scene of the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is taken in Fort William and not only was this movie shot in Fort William but movies such as Highlander, Braveheart, Rob Roy and the TV series RockFace and Monarch of Glen have been filmed here. The fact that many movies have been filmed in this location is proof that Fort William is definitely a must visit place for any tourist especially for Harry Potter fans.

Fort William is the largest town situated in the highlands of Scotland and it is also the largest settlement after the city of Inverness. With Glen Coe to the south and Glenfinnan to the west, Fort William is a major tourist centre that caters to tourists who come here for hill walking and climbing as the town is close to Ben Nevis which is home to the highest mountain in the British Isles and a slew of other Munro mountains.

Outdoor Capital of the UK

Fort William is known by its people and the world over as the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ because it is well known for an abundance of activities such as hill walking, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, white water rafting, canoeing, sailing, quad biking, canyoning – you name it, you can do it here. Fort William is a place for you if you fancy adventure and sight seeing that uses both brain and brawn and if you are not the type to just sit in your hotel room all day.

Not to mention, of course, the many opportunities to take it easy and enjoy a gentle walk, take in a spectacular view or soak up the history and culture. Probably the most well known landmark in Fort Williams is Ben Nevis. Ben Nevis is Britain’s highest mountain and a total of 400 000 people trek this beautiful towering heights annually. Ben Nevis shows off its magnificent presence at the height of 1344 meters to the whole of Britain.

Skiing in Fort William

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Fort William may be the premier skiing destination in Scotland, and the UK, and draws crowds during the winter season as well as the wonderful summer season’s outdoor attractions. Snow cover is reliable, and the slopes are as steep and tricky as anything you’d find in the Alps. They’re shorter though, so expect spending more time in ski lifts. Which you might need, after blasting down a tricky technical run at Fort William.

Head up Ben Nevis for a real hiking challenge

If it’s a challenge that you are looking for, then Ben Nevis has it as this is one of the many reasons why people trek to the mountain. Being in good physical condition is a must and plus, a good day of rest and good planning and preparation is vital before climbing Ben Nevis as the mountain path is 16km and rises 1300 meters above sea level. Trekking Ben Nevis shouldn’t be taken lightly as the trekking the mountain calls for planning and climbing know-how. If you are new to the climbing scene, get the help of an experience climber to assist you or you can even join a group of climbers. Apart from climbing Ben Nevis, there are other exciting things to do. Among the many favorites of tourists are mountain sports. In the high mountains of Lochaber, each plain and terrain is used by both visitors and locals to scramble, climb, walk and mount the hill slopes and caves, terrain and rock.

The mountains are not only good for climbing, it also exudes beauty with its rolling hills and cool breeze that makes you forget the worries of the world and just indulge in the beautiful nature of Ben Nevis. Lochaber has 2 of Scotland’s five ski centers which are Glencoe and Nevis Range with both centers having ski schools to help first timers get started as well as to test the skills of advanced skiers. Apart from ski mountaineering, visitors also do paragliding and climbing.

Water sports everywhere

When the weather is sunny and bright, it is an excellent time for water sports. Fort William has numerous lochs, rivers, canals and as well as the beautiful deep, blue sea. If it’s not the mountains of Fort William, it’s the sea and rivers of this beautiful town. Loch Oich makes the perfect location for water skiing and wakeboarding as it is flat water and in a sheltered location. A large pole enables wake boarders to jump and do tricks and stunts. Not the extreme sports kind? Then a ride in a boat on the lock will provide great fun for you or else you can try canoeing and kayaking as well as sailing.

A mecca for cycling

Fort William is also an attraction for cyclists as there are many cycling routes in this town that cater to different types of cycling such as mountain biking, road cycling and touring. It’s no wonder Fort William is the home to the UK round of Mountain Bike World Cup. Some of the famous cycling routes you can try if you are in Fort William are the Great Glen Cycle Route that stretches from Fort William to Inverness covering and approximately 75 miles of scenic splendor. This route is commonly used by cyclists as it provides the exact amount of speed, adventure and safety. Combine all this into one and you have got yourself an exhilarating ride.

Leanachan Forest is where you should head to in order to experience the variety of cycling tracks and trails through the forest ranging from rugged grandeur to meandering stream sides. Clunes to Laggan is for all ages as it is mainly a flat section terrain that covers forest tracks and single track road. On your cycling journey, you will be meeting some steep climbs but this is all good for a little dose of adventure. This path runs along the north shore of Loch Lochy.

Fort Bill and motor sports mix well

Motorsports is also a well known tourist favorite. Fort William is home to 6 days motorbike trials as the area offers spectators a fabulous week of entertainment and fun. From 4X4 driving to motorbike trials and gocarting with quad biking, Fort William is not the place that you will hear or say boring.

If you are planning your next vacation of trip to Fort William some of the nice places where you can live at is Clan MacDuff Hotel. This hotel is a 3 star family run hotel that over looks the Loc Linnhe. Your stay at this hotel will be full of warmth, as the staff and atmosphere is welcoming and friendly.

The Ben Nevis Hotel and Leisure Club is a 2 star hotel that is situated a mile outside Fort William with a 50 foot swimming pool and a choice of 119 bedrooms. If luxury accommodation is your heart’s yearning then head over to the Inverlochy Castle that is nestled in the foothills of Ben Nevis.

Inverlochy Castle

Built ins 1863 by Lord Abinger, Inverlochy is a 13th century fortress that has been a private residence for over a hundred years before being converted to Scotland’s finest country house hotel in 1969. Other luxury accommodations in and around Fort William are such as Glentower Lower Observatory and Ashburn Guest House. Ashburn Guest House is a Victorian villa located by the shore of Loch Linnhe, nearby the centre of Fort William.

The Lake District, Cumbria, is the UK’s largest adventure capital, full of landscapes that offer the opportunity for excitement and exploration. In the Lake District National Park is Scaffel Pike, England’s highest mountain and Wastwater, its deepest Lake, this is the perfect place to create your own adventures. The area is an outdoor haven, and many bring their pet dogs as well, as there are a wide range of dogfriendly hotels, rentals and restaurants around, and that’s leaving out the fantastic nature a dog gets to play in!

What Activities?

Cycling/Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Climbing, High Wire, Paintballing, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Caving Underground, Skiing/Snowboarding, Sailing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Waterskiing, Diving, Hang Gliding, Sky Diving, Paragliding and loads more.

Where To Go

The Lake District National Park

http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/

The Lake District National Park is the largest National Park in the UK and it includes Scaffel Pike – England’s highest Mountain and West Water its deepest lake. With over 3500 kilometres of rights of way and 12 of the country’s largest lakes, you can walk, cycle or splash about until you heart’s content and there is something for everyone. You can also hire a boat from The Coniston Boating Centre or check out the playground, gardens and café at The Lake District Visitors Centre. This is the perfect place to visit if you would like to see some beautiful scenery and wildlife whilst having loads of fun. When heading out for outdoor sports, using a van rental company can get you a suitable vehicle.

Holmescales Activity Centre

http://www.holmescales.com/

Holmescales is situated in Kendal, Cumbria and is set in over 30 acres of beautiful Lake District countryside. The centre caters for all sorts of events. There are corporate events such as management training and teambuilding, Special events like hen and stag weekends and there are also family fun packages. There are a host of great activities to choose from, Quad Biking, 4 x 4 off road driving, Paintballing and Archery are just a few of the many activities that the centre has to offer. The Holmescales Activity Centre is pure fun and exhilaration and it provides a unique, unforgettable and memorable outdoor adventure for everyone.

Raw War Paintball – Aspatria

http://www.paintballcumbria.co.uk/

The Raw War Paintball is the Lake District and Cumbria’s largest purpose built Paintballing site and has been established for over 6 years. It has seven imaginatively created, action-packed paintball combat arenas complete with rivers, bridges, towers, forts & villages, old mine works which were made to make the scenarios a lot more interesting and realistic. There are 12 different scenarios which were designed to make the Paintballing experience a lot more exciting with the new No Man’s Land scenario created in 2008. Other scenarios that they have are storm the fort, mission impossible and have no fear and supervision and guidance on how to play are given by the staff. The centre also runs other activities such as clay pigeon shooting, raft building and other team building activities. This would be the perfect place to go for stag and hen parties or if you generally just want to have a day of group fun.

Lakeland Climbing Centre – Kendal

http://www.kendalwall.co.uk/

The Lakeland Climbing Centre has unique indoor and outdoor climbing facilities and offers a wide range of learning programmes for beginners and experienced climbers also. You can take part in beginner’s courses and taster sessions or just climb with an experienced friend. The centre is highly equipped with gritstone and limestone outcrops as well as the other indoor facilities. The main hall has several 10 metre climbing walls, a stalactite, roof area, slabs and the big 18 metre climbing wall. The centre also has 2 Bouldering rooms and a room with specially designed beginner’s walls. If you like taking part in exciting sports, why not spend the day here and bring the kids too.

Keswick Climbing Wall and Activity Centre

http://www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk/

Based in the heart of the Lake District, Keswick Climbing Wall is more than just a climbing centre. They run outdoor activities in Cumbria and the Lake District of all types; from biking to ghyll scrambling, canoeing to raft building, and of course climbing and abseiling. The centre runs a corporate event designed to encourage team building, enhance communication and develop leadership skills and also caters for individual, group or families, with specific courses to support your needs. Their Multi-activity days (MAD’s) are one of their most popular packages where customers get to take part in 3 or 4 activities all in one day, these activities include abseiling, assault course, canoeing, climbing, mountain biking and raft building. If you’re interested in challenging yourself whilst having loads of fun, look no further.

Kendal Ski Club

http://www.kendalski.co.uk/

Kendal Ski Club is a voluntary skiing organisation which has been up and running for over 20 years. All of the staff, including instructors, are members of the club who work on a voluntary basis because, no matter the level, they all love skiing. Originally, the club was formed with skiing being its only sport but more recently they have embraced snowboarding and they provide lessons for both sports. The club has an artificial slope which is 80 metres long and 35 metres wide as well as two normal flat areas of slope, a quarter pipe, two kickers, waves and three rows of moguls. The lodge provides equipment, toilet facilities, changing facilities and machine dispensers for refreshments. The centre is only open at specific times and dates so check before you visit.

The Low Wood Hotel

The Low Wood Hotel is a four star resort with a great selection of bars and restaurants, a leisure club, beauty salon and water sports centre. Located on a superb lawned shoreline on the edge of Lake Windermere with a fantastic view, this is the ideal venue if you’re looking for a place where you can relax and unwind with everything close by. Also, as the hotel is in the heart of the Lake District, its an ideal place to discover the timeless beauty of the Lakeland landscape.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need all of the outdoor activity gear you own and also, you’ll need to organise transportation to get around organised before you leave.

Other Useful Links

Go Lakes

http://www.golakes.co.uk/

Go Lakes is the official website of Cumbria tourism. On the site you can plan every aspect of your trip to the Lake District. You can choose from a range of hotels, camp sites and self catering cottages to stay at and also, you can choose whet activities you’d like to do, where you want to eat and the attractions you’d like to see. It is an easy website to use and is a useful resource when planning your stay in Cumbria.

The Lakes Guide

http://www.lakedistricts.co.uk/

This site provides an extensive amount of information about the Lake District and acts as a tourists guide to the area. It has information and pictures of the beautiful lakes and mountains which form the national park and there are also various maps to help you find your way around. There are also individual guides to each of the towns and villages that make up the Lake District and suggestions for accommodation. The site also has a directory for the district, listing loads of businesses in the area which range from bus companies to activity centres so no matter what you’re looking for in the Lake District, you can find it on this site.

The Lake District Tourist Guide

http://www.lakedistricttouristguide.com/

This site caters for all tourist needs in the county of Cumbria. It is a comprehensive guide for tourism and leisure activities and the guide is designed to help you choose your destination and plan your activities around it. The aim of the site is to ensure that visitors to the Lake District have the best possible start to their holiday with the help of the wide range of online services that are provided by this user friendly website.

Over 50′s Friends

Dating for the over 50s

Dating, chat, and making new friends for active seniors.