Activities
The word ‘bored’ doesn’t exist around here. Not when you could be clinging to the crags on a rock-climbing experience in a national park, cycling cross-county through ancient heathlands or joining a subterranean adventure into limestone caves. If these adventure holidays sound a bit extreme for you, try more sedate outdoor activities like a gentle afternoon on horseback in a former royal hunting forest, rural rambles along a foodie trail or fossil hunting on a prehistoric beach. Or perhaps you’d like to try something new on your activity holidays. Archery lessons in an ancient forest and countryside llama trekking sound pretty cool, don’t they?
September events: Test your fitness levels at The Great North Run
The Great North Run is an iconic half marathon with more than 54,000 runners registering to take part every year.
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
May events: Celebrate nature at Keswick Mountain Festival
Enjoy outdoor activities, world class speakers, sporting events, camping, and live music at this unique festival in the heart of the Lake District.
Location: Keswick, Cumbria
November events: Experience Kendal’s version of the Oscars
Kendal is a magnet for mountaineers who don’t just come to climb, but to gather and celebrate all things mountainous at its annual festival.
Location: Kendal, Cumbria
May events: Put your best foot forward at WalkFest
Put a spring in your step over the spring bank holiday weekend at the North York Moors National Park’s annual walking festival.
Location: North York Moors, North Yorkshire
October events: Lace up your boots for Dursley’s Walking Festival
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the undiscovered south Cotswolds and take part in the annual Dursley Walking Festival, which takes place every October.
Location: Dursley, Gloucestershire
Enter Suffolk’s scariest forest this Halloween if you dare
Scaresville is a haunted village that mysteriously appears in the grounds of Kentwell Hall in Suffolk every autumn, just in time for Halloween.
Location: Long Melford, Suffolk
December events: Explore the Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland
Full of atmosphere and tradition, the Christmas Tree Wonderland is an epic trail through historic gardens and seafront walkways draped in lights.
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
September events: Take the Scilly Sea Swim Challenge
Watch the spectacle or put yourself to the test as challengers swim and walk between Scilly's main islands in just one day.
Location: Isles of Scilly
October events: Enjoy the beauty of words at the Cheltenham Literature Festival
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, one of four main Cheltenham Festivals, is one of the longest running literature festivals in the world.
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
September Events: Unleash your inner adventurer at Base Camp Festival
Enjoy a combination of a relaxing camping weekend with days jam packed with adventure excursions.
Location: Darley Dale, Derbyshire
Take a guided walking tour of Mortimer Country
Strap on your walking shoes and explore the Mortimer Country with the county’s Walking Festival this summer.
Location: West Midlands
Top family-friendly Halloween events 2023
Boil, boil, toil and trouble! Get out this October half-term with these spooky yet family-friendly Halloween activities and events.
