Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
Tree top adventures and forest segways at Wendover Woods
Take to the trees for breath-taking views of the Chilterns and Black Park.
Location: Wendover, Buckinghamshire
Follow themed trails through Haldon Forest Park
Walk, cycle, horse ride, segway or Go Ape at Haldon Forest Park near Exeter.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Swing through the trees at Leeds Castle
Clamber the treetops of 'the loveliest castle in the world'.
Location: Maidstone, Kent
Take on adventures aplenty in Dalby Forest
See some of Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside from a mountain bike, Segway, tree-top trail and by night, at one of the UK’s premier activity centres.
Location: Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire
Enjoy the great outdoors at Cannock Chase Forest
Cannock Chase is the UK’s smallest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you can ride, hike, climb or just wander at your own pace.
Location: Rugeley , Staffordshire
Plan a day of horse riding with Country Treks
Horse riding in the beautiful South Shropshire countryside is something quite special indeed and is great way to admire the scenery.
Location: Stottesdon, Shropshire
Discover The Lakes by Canoe
Canoe along the Derwentwater and discover something special about being close to the water.
Location: Keswick, Cumbria
Reach new heights on a Lake District mountain
Climb where only birds fly and explore a hidden underground world in Cumbria’s Lake District mountains, the ultimate place to broaden your horizons.
Location: Honister Pass, Cumbria
Get to grips with nature & play in the trees at Tree Runners
Get Dad out of the house, take the kids off the computer and climb, swing or hug a tree at Tree Runners.
Location: Test Valley, Hampshire
New Ways to see Sherwood Pines Forest
Discover Sherwood Pines Forest on two wheels, with Go Ape’s Segway tours through Robin Hood country.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Head off-road on two wheels in Sherwood Forest
From family cycle trails to extreme mountain biking, Sherwood Pines Forest offers the best when it comes to getting active on two wheels.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
Full steam ahead on a loco driven by you
Many would love the chance to drive a steam engine, well now's your chance: become a train driver for the day at Telford Steam Railway.
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Plan a New Forest adventure
Remember family holidays? The rain hammering down on the caravan roof; the endless games of cards, and interminable bickering? All that can be a thing of the past.
Location: Hampshire
Go wild camping on Dartmoor
When it comes to experiencing the unspoiled and unique environment of the wilds of Dartmoor, nothing compares to wild camping.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Take to the slopes in Dorset
The Snowtrax alpine activity centre will transport you to the mountains for the day.
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Enjoy high-wire and two-wheeled adventure in the Moors Valley
Enjoy adrenaline-fuelled activities for all the family in Moors Valley Country Park in the lovely Dorset countryside.
Location: Ashley Heath, Dorset
Walk barefoot through the woods at CONKERS
From teddy-bear picnics to jumping on crunchy leaves, England’s woodland is brimming with things to do with toddlers - and award-winning CONKERS, in the heart of The National Forest, is no different.
Location: Swadlincote, Derbyshire
Feel calmer whilst walking a llama
Go walkies South American-style with National Forest Llama Treks, an unusual “let’s-do-something-different” trekking experience.
Location: Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire
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
Kayak the River Dart
Have some family water fun in South Devon this summer.
Location: Tuckenhay, Devon
Enjoy the outdoors and its culinary delights at Talton Lodge
Surely there’s nowhere other than Talton Lodge where you could combine canoeing, Tug O’ War and sausage-making courses?
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
