Cycling Holidays - The Benefits of Taking a Holiday in the Saddle

By Andrew Patton

The benefits of taking a cycling holiday

Time... to relax and recharge

When you think of taking a cycling holiday, with close family or friends, your mind is immediately transferred to open countryside with wonderful views and quaint country village locations. As you cycle gently along, making unhurried stops for lunch and visiting points of interest en-route, you have all the time in the world to relax, unwind and soak up your surroundings. Top quality hotels await you after your day in the saddle, to ensure a restful night's sleep.

Time... for a healthier lifestyle

On a cycling holiday you cannot help but slip into a healthier lifestyle. Gentle daily exercise combined with plenty of fresh air is the perfect antidote to a busy lifestyle. Picture starting the day with a leisurely breakfast, and taking the road at your own pace; you will sit down to dinner each night with a healthy glow and plenty of happy memories.

Time... to take in the sights

Cycling holidays open up a world of exploration possibilities. Charming villages, small towns and sometimes dramatic changing scenery, all come into focus as you peddle from a to b. A self-guided tour allows you to stop when you want to and spend extra time visiting historic sites, exploring vineyards or simply enjoying a cappuccino and croissant at a local cafe.

Time... to get closer to nature

A bike tour inevitably awakens an interest in nature since you are closer to it in the saddle. Wherever you take your cycling tour, whether its UK or European based, you will experience the delights of seasonal flora and fauna, as well as local birds and animals. Great for lovers of photography, as well as families with children, there is a wealth of natural beauty waiting to be explored on all of our cycle tours.

Time... to get to know an area properly

A cycling holiday allows you plenty of time in which to familiarise yourself with an area. Whether you have always fancied exploring Venice, or are drawn to the Austrian Lake District, a tour will show you the highlights, at a comfortable and relaxing pace. There are also options on many of our tours to arrange extra days en route, to spend additional time in areas that are of particular interest to you. Just remember to take lots of photographs!

Time... brush up on your language skills

A cycle break to France, Austria or Italy presents the perfect opportunity to brush up on and practice your language skills. This is great for children who are studying French or Italian at school as they get to practise what they have learnt. Adults can have fun with it too and are often amazed at how much comes back to them - from road signs to menu items - its all part of the experience.

Time... to create special memories with your loved ones

Getting away from it all, as a couple or small group, provides plenty of time to strengthen those important bonds. Whether you are peddling around the Loire Chateaux, or along the beautiful North Norfolk coastline, your holiday is a shared adventure, and will generate many happy memories that you will treasure for years to come.

Cycle Breaks offer self-guided cycling holidays and bike tours in the UK, France, Italy and Austria. Our holidays offer you a chance to unwind and to discover the more subtle charms of the countryside at your own pace.

Bungee Jumping Adventure Tours

By Mohit K Jain

If you are a person who dares to do anything, here is a sport to test your guts. The bungee jumping is not for frail hearted people. This is the activity which involves jumping from tall fixed bridges while linked to the stretchy string. When you jump using it, the cord extends and the jumper moves upward and again snap back to oscillate up. All people should try bungee jumping minimum once in life time as it is very exciting and thrilling. If you are a person hunting for escapade then the perfect vacation sport is a bungee jumping.

There are more than a few countries organizing it. One can plan a travel to place where you can enjoy jumping for a vacation. Choose a place where you can enjoy your thrilling trip with contented hotels and other accommodations. Jumping in north California trip usually includes jumping from a selection of bridges ranging from 90-250 feet which varies according to the season. Normally jumpers jump in the weekends or the midweek of two jumpers. The primary location from jumping in California is Sierra Nevada Mountains.

You can also try out jumping in a vacation to Nepal where you can drop down 500 feet over the Bhote Koshi River Gorge. Samrat treks also provide a day exclusively for Jumping. If you are planning out for a vacation to US then you can find many bungee jumping locations Over the Edge like Idaho, Beaver Dick's Ferry Bridge and a few more. When it comes to Switzerland, it has two tremendous locations for jumping namely Ticino and bridge over Isorno River.

Reverse bungee jumping and tandem bungee are the other jumping types. Always select the best bungee jumping provider and check the license and safety measures to have a thrilling and safe holiday.

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Driving Days - Making Car Fanatics' Dreams Come True

By Patrick McAleenan

The advent of driving day experiences has given motoring enthusiasts a wonderful opportunity to make their dreams come true. However, many are still oblivious to the exciting experiences available from gift experience pioneers.

You can give your favourite car fanatic amazing driving days to remember with high octane motorsport experiences. There is a stunning range featuring everything from Ferrari driving and Rally driving to classic cars and go-karting.

Experience the mind-blowing power and acceleration of some of the world's finest supercars, including Aston Martins, Lotus', Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Ferraris and more - all located at a number of the nation's best-loved and most historic motor racing tracks.

For an extra special occasion, why not go that extra mile and purchase a heart pumping ultimate Formula 1 driving day. Allow them to strap themselves into an F1-style single seater racing car for the ride of their lives. They will experience just how the pros do it - inches off the ground, experiencing the super-responsive steering and earth-shattering power of these incredible machines.

At the other end of the spectrum, your special recipient may wish to hark back to the days of true motoring bliss, with classic sports car driving days. Classic car driving experiences give them an opportunity to relish true motoring thoroughbreds. Whether they're taking them around the track or out on the open road, these classic sports cars have plenty of life left under the bonnet and timeless good looks to boot.

Perhaps you'd like to arrange an enjoyable family day out? Enjoy fast and furious go-karting action at a wide selection of karting tracks across the country, offering outdoor Grand Prix racing for all above the age of eight.

Red Letter Days provide high quality adventure & activity gifts for every occasion. Our wide range of driving days will solve any present buying dilemma. Purchase an activity gift voucher to give someone an unforgettable gift.

Outdoor Activities in the Lake District

By Michael P Grant

As a land of mountains, lakes and coast, the Lake District area is home to a great variety of outdoor activity centres. Many of them are happy to embrace all levels of experience and age and offer everything from short taster sessions to day-long adventures. Here is my pick of the best. There are several holiday cottages in the lake district which would make an ideal base from which to experience these fabulous activities.

Mountain Biking
Whinlatter Forest Park is the place to go if you're a committed mountain-biker. The Altura Trail is one of two routes at Whinlatter, and this one is red-graded, 19km long, and described as suitable for experienced riders with good off-road skills and a high level of fitness. If you can take your eyes off the berms, jumps, rock features, skinnies and cork screws, you'll see fabulous views of Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater, Helvellyn and Skiddaw from your position 500m above Keswick.

The other mountain bike route at Whinlatter Forest Park is the Quercus Trail. This is a blue grade route suitable for moderately experienced riders, with a choice of 3.5 or 7.5km lengths. There are rolling jumps and gradual climbs, and trickier parts that are designed so you can choose them or not depending on your skill level. The route takes you through an oak forest and towering conifer glades.

Bikes can be hired at Whinlatter Forest Park's on-site Cyclewise centre. If you want to record the experience for dull days and doubters, Cyclewise can also hire out head-cameras for the duration of your trip!

High Wires and Cable-Assisted Routes
Do you want to 'get in touch with your inner Tarzan'? If so, the two Go Ape courses at Whinlatter and Grizedale will be just your thing - have a go on their high-wire tree crossings, zip wires and 'Tarzan drops'.

The Go Ape Centre at Whinlatter has the highest such course in the country at 360m above sea level, with a zip wire that roves through the forest, over water and clear blue skies (hopefully). The views on a good day can stretch all the way across the county to the Scottish border.

The Go Ape Course at Grizedale Forest travels the side of steep hill, 200m above Grizedale Beck.

The Newlands Adventure Centre has a high wire course, in addition to a wide choice of outdoor activities (see below).

Rookin House also has a zip wire course. They offer a wide range of other activities (see below).

The Lakes' latest high-rise adventure is the Via Ferrata, or 'iron road' at Honister Slate Mines. The route, constructed of rungs and cables, allows you to climb 2,126 feet with relative ease. Combine the trip with a visit to the mine itself, or ramp up the adrenaline further with a trip on their zip wire.

All Things Horsey
If your normal hack takes you across a bit of scrubby ground on the edge of town, you'll love the opportunities in the Lakes.

Low Farm Riding Centre takes riders of all levels out in the fells, or - bliss! - along the beach at Allonby. Short rides are available in the lovely countryside local to Aspatria, too.

Rookin House Activity Centre also offers riding for beginners and the more experienced.

If you used to make an annual appointment with the famous Lowther Show (now sadly defunct), you'll know that carriage driving is popular amongst native Cumbrians... and the royal family. You can try the sport out for yourself at the Lakeland Heavy Horse Centre at Dearham near Maryport. You can also find out all about these traditional breeds and meet some miniature Shetland ponies.

Rough Terrain Driving
Rookin House Activity Centre at Troutbeck, Penrith, is a multi-activity site offering a lot of skill and bucketloads of invention. Here you can trek out on a quad bike or mini quad bikes for 6-11 year olds, try madtrax (rough terrain buggies), JCBs (yes!), an army truck or the 4x4 course.

Rookin House also offers riding, an assault course and zip wire.

Climbing, Abseiling, Scrambling and Walking
Apparently Carol climbs, walks, paddles, scrambles, angles and dangles, or at least, that's what it says on CarolClimb's website! Carol and Richard are based in Wasdale, close to Scafell Pike and Wastwater. They offer guided mountain walks, scrambles up ghylls in full torrent, a spot of abseiling and rock climbing. They also kayak in many of the region's lakes.

The Keswick Adventure Centre is a great one-stop shop for a myriad of outdoor activities. Beginners aged 7 to 70 can join 'taster' sessions or the more experienced can enjoy more challenging sessions. Choose from rock climbing (on the indoor climbing wall or outdoors), abseiling or walking.

The Newlands Adventure Centre in the Newlands Valley offers ghyll scrambling, climbing, abseiling and mountain walks.

Paragliding
If you're a lover of the Lake District, you'd really enjoy a new perspective on this wonderful county. Take to the air in a paraglider!

Air Ventures operates from Keswick and flies over the northern Lake District. Kids can join in, too, in special tandem flights.

Eden Soaring takes advantage of the notoriously fierce thermals of the North Pennines in the Eden Valley.Within easy reach of the Ullswater and Penrith area.

Lakes and Rivers
Many parts of the Lake District have outdoor activity providers with experienced instructors to teach you basic or more advanced skills. Try these for size...

Derwentwater Marina is a great place to go for all things watery - sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, and raft-building. You can learn the skills from scratch, or just hire a canoe, kayak, sailing dinghy, surfboard or rowing boat and set off across the lake.

The Glenridding Sailing Centre, at the pretty village of Glenridding on Ullswater, offers the opportunity to learn to sail dinghies and traditional boats, or more modest, but just as enjoyable, canoes and kayaks. You can also hire craft to take out on the lake yourself.

The nattily-named Platty Plus at Keswick offers something different on the boating scene. Ever fancied going out in a Viking long boat or a dragon boat? Well, here's your opportunity. Platty Plus can also teach you to handle canoes, kayaks and power boats.

Just Plain Bonkers
The sort of people who set up outdoors activities businesses here in the Lake District invariably have a sense of adventure and a well-developed fun muscle. Their imagination knows few bounds...

Ever wanted to walk on water? Well, if you've visited Derwentwater recently, you will have seen people captured in large transparent balls, running across the lake in a manner a hamster would appreciate - these are the Keswick Adventure Centre's Waterwalkerz.

It's hard to know whether the staff at Rookin House had fun, revenge or punishment in mind when they invented human bowling. Perhaps a delicious combination of all three! So, if you have a strong stomach and sense of humour, you can climb into a cage-like, human-sized ball, and allow your friends to bowl you at some very large pins.
There are plenty of self catering lake district cottages across Cumbria which would be an ideal starting point to go and experience some of these great activities. Just follow the link in the resource box.

http://www.sallyscottages.co.uk

Snowdonia Makes an Ideal Destination for Winter Activity Breaks

By Dipika Patel

Whether you love horse riding, hiking or fishing - or perhaps all three - you may want to make Snowdonia your next destination for winter weekend activity holidays. The national park, which is the second largest in England and Wales, measures some 823 square miles, meaning that if you're keen to experience the great outdoors on UK short breaks there is hardly any better place to do so.

Snowdonia is located in the north-west of Wales and while it is certainly a great destination in the summer, UK holidays here in the winter are sure to be equally exciting and there will be a wide variety of activities for you to take part in. Indeed, taking weekend activity beaks here can be a good idea if you are into your watersports. There are over 100 lakes in the national park that measure more than an acre in size, the largest of which is Llyn Tegid that is four miles long and in places three-quarters of a mile wide.

Also known as Bala Lake, Llyn Tegid can be the perfect spot to indulge in a spot of coarse fishing. Cast a line here to catch a variety of species, ranging from pike and perch to grayling. However, you may want to keep an eye out for the rare gwyniad. This species is protected and is believed to have been imprisoned in the lake some 10,000 years ago during Britain's last ice age. As such, you may find that a spot of fishing here allows you an insight into what life was like thousands of years ago.

But if you're not into fishing, do not worry, there are still plenty of activities that you can take part in while on a short break in Snowdonia. With so many lakes you may want to take a boat or kayak and head out on to the open water, doing so can certainly be a great way of getting some fresh air! However, a trip to Snowdonia does not entirely have to be spent by the water. Why not explore the national park by two wheels? With a variety of traffic-free cycle paths, you are bound to find travelling around by bicycle a pleasure.

You can head along the Mawddach Trail, which stretches for nine miles from Morfa Mawddach to Dolgellau. There are also a number of forestry cycling trails, which are particularly well-suited for mountain bikes. As you go along these paths during your winter activity break, you may be able to gaze in wonder at the frost-covered ground and trees that are bare of leaves.

Horse-riding and geocoaching are just some of the other pursuits you can try your hand at while on a visit to Snowdonia.

One item you should be sure to take with you on a trip to Wales is a pair of good-quality walking boots. Snowdonia is full of paths and trails and as the park's vast scale takes in environments ranging from coastal areas and rivers to forests and valleys, you can be confident that going for a walk will give you the opportunity to take in some splendid sights.

But if you're looking to learn something while you walk, check out the Bwrlwm Eryr audio trail. This six-mile path goes from Llanuwchllyn to Llanycil and as you walk along it you can find out more about local folklore and the region's residents. These include Owen Morgan Edwards, a 19th century editor and educator who was keen to foster pride in Welsh language and local traditions.

Alternatively, why not take the trail between Aberdyfi and Gwelfor? As you walk along this route, you will be able to see some fantastic sights, with the route ending by the coast. There are paths and trails suitable for people of all ages, however, if you're looking for something a little more strenuous during your activity break then you may want to consider tackling Mount Snowdon.

At 1,085 tall, the mountain is the highest peak in Wales and England. So if you're seeking a challenge while in Snowdonia, scaling the mountain - which is known as Yr Wyddfa in Welsh - could be the perfect activity. There are several paths leading to Snowdon's summit, so you will find plenty of ways to approach the mountain. The national park offers so many things to do in the winter, you may want to make it an activity holidays destination for many years to come.

For weekend activity breaks look no further than Wales. The country is perfect for both weekend activity holidays and UK short breaks. By going on UK holidays to Snowdonia, you will find that Wales is the perfect best place to enjoy the great outdoors.