Best Activity Weekends

Snowdonia and Anglesey pull in weekend visitors from all over Wales and England. They go here to take advantage of the Welsh mountains, rivers, and forests for hiking, biking, and just to relax in the green countryside.

Snowdonia is a dramatic landscape of deep valleys and high mountains. High enough, in fact, to have served as a training camp for Mt. Everest expeditions! At the same time, Mt Snowdon is easy enough to climb most days, though avoid days of cold weather as the slopes and peak are exposed and much colder than the base levels.

Around the Gwynedd area there are four stretches of Heritage Coast: North Anglesey Heritage Coast, Aberffraw Heritage Coast, Holyhead Mountain Heritage Coast and Lleyn Peninsula Heritage Coast. These provide visitors with rugged rocky coastlines and beautiful sea views all year round.

You’ll also encounter many historical sites. This is a part of Wales dotted with old monasteries and abbeys, as well as forts, castles and much older sites as well. In fact, history here begins in pre-historic times, with ancient burial grounds and pagan holy sites aplenty.

If you’re more into historic homes and gardens, these northern parts of Wales will keep you happy. For example, visit Bryn Bras Castle for its stunning gardens and architecture, or Aberconwy House, where you can view exhibits of Roman times in Gwynedd.

All this nature and history adds up to an ideal destination for culture seekers and adrenaline junkies alike. Here are some of our ideas on what to do in Anglesey & Snowdonia.

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 Snowdonia & Anglesey

Anglesey Walking Holidays
Trekking, walking and cycling holidays on the Isle of Anglesey, Wicklow, Snowdonia and the North Wales Path.

What You’ll need

Bring outdoors clothing, including warm layers year round. Winter can be taxing, with driving wind and rain, so you’ll appreciate good waterproofs. Summers range from hot to damp, so in any case quick drying fabrics come in handy. Spring and autumn are mixed, so come well prepared. As far as sporting equipment, well, anything goes here so take what you have. Wales is known for hearty foods and good beer and cider, so do make sure to pack your appetite too!

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

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