Extreme sports, part IV – Discovering the Mountains

Now that autumn is closing in on us, it’s time to slow down the pace, and find our way up to a higher altitude where the wind is crispy and the views are fantastic. In my fourth and final part of Extreme Sports in Britain we’ll find out what you can do in the British mountains.

Walking
Britain has plenty of beautiful mountains and on our website you’ll find a few good ideas on how and where to explore them. Why not take a 5 hour walk through the beautiful Ben Nevis in Scotland, visit the mountains in Snowdonia in Wales or stroll around in the Cumbria and the Lake District in England.

Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a great way to enjoy an extreme sport while seeing a lot of beautiful scenery. There are usually both guided tours and cycles to hire and you can find both easy and advanced routes. Read more about cycling in Siskas blog post Pedal your way through the UK.

Climbing
One of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the UK is climbing, so it’s easy to find operators where you can hire your gear or get a guide to help you get started. Climb up a steep hillside in Wales or hang loose under a cliff in Scotland or Cumbria.

Caving and potholing
Head underground and find a whole new world, beneath ours. Containing some of England’s finest limestone scenery and Britain’s longest and most complex cave system, Yorkshire is a perfect way to explore some great caves and potholes. You can also weasel your way through narrow tunnels underground in Scotland or find yourself in an unspoilt cavern in Wales.

The four headlines above are the most popular mountains sports, but there are so many other cool mountain sports like coasteering, absailing, scrambling or winter sports like skiing or ice climbing etc. Find out which one is your own favourite.

This was my final part of my Extreme Sports guide. Hope you liked it and enjoy your adrenaline filled vacation in Britain. Read my previous guides by clicking the links below:

Part I – Britain by Air
Part II – Down by the riverside
Part III – Motorsport

To find more extreme sports in Britain visit our website or Enjoy England, Visit Wales or Visit Scotland.  You can also watch our film about extreme sports in Britain below and get inspired.

- Towe

Extreme sports, part III – Motorsports

In the previous episodes of Extreme sports in Britain we’ve been up in the air, and below sea level. Now it’s finally time for my own favourite extreme sport, and we’ll start off with my favourite vehicle – the dirt bike.

Motocross & Enduro
Britain’s shifting terrain is perfect for those who like to get an exhilarating experience in the dirt. There are a lot of MX tracks to practice your skills on throughout the UK like the 30 year old motocross circuit in Chippenham.

If you want to see Britain’s beautiful landscape and still feel the exhilarating speed on the back of a two-wheeled monster, Ride Adventure offers great off road tours in Wales.

To find more enduro tracks in Britain, click here.

Quadbikes
Quadbike is much like a motorcycle but with four wheels instead of two. It’s much easier to manoeuvre and you only need a normal drivers licence to drive it. Try driving through tough terrain in Scotland’s wild-back country or in South West England.

4×4 – Offroad vehicles
Another great activity for off road enthusiast in Britain is 4×4 vehicles like jeeps and land rovers. There are many places around Britain where you can rent a Land Rover or jeep to go on organized tours with guides and different difficulty levels.

Read my first two parts of this guide, by clicking on the links below
Part I – Britain by Air
Part II – Down by the Riverside

Next week, I’ll be guiding you through the British mountains in my final episode of Extreme Sports in Britain so stay tuned!

- Towe

Extreme Sports, part II – Down by the riverside

In my first episode about Extreme sports in Britain I told you where to go to get your adrenaline rush in the air. This week I’ll take you to the waterfront or maybe even under the sea.

Surfing
There are a lot of excellent places to surf in Britain and even though it’s an old article, the Guardian’s guide to the top 10 surfing spots in the UK is a good way to start finding your way through all the great surfing spots out there.

Here are some more links to surfing in Britain:
The British Surfing Association
Surfing in Scotland
Surfing in Wales
Surfing in Cornwall
Surfing in North-East England

Diving
Diving might not be the first thing you think about when visiting Britain. But there are some really cool places to dive. You can try diving with an instructor or if you’re more advanced, try finding some of the ship wrecks on the British coast. On UK diving you’ll find everything you need to know about diving in Britain.

Canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting
Although England itself has few natural white water streams, there are still some outdoor centres that offer excellent artificially created rapids. One of them is National Water Sport Centre near Nottingham that also offers canoeing, kayaking and other water sports.

However, in both Wales and Scotland, you can find some natural white water streams where you can enjoy both white water rafting, and other water sports like the cool new sport called river bugging. Check out the video of a stag party trying out river bugging in Scotland below.

If you like extreme sports but prefer being on solid ground, read my next episode about motorsports in the UK. Until then…

- Towe

Extreme sports, part I – Britain by air

I am a real outdoor person. I love doing things that gives me a huge adrenaline boost like riding my motocross. So it’s not hard to figure out that I am a huge fan of other extreme sports as well and because of the diversity in the British landscape, there are millions of possibilities for a holiday filled with extreme sports. In the following weeks I will give you my holiday ideas for those who like living on the edge, starting with extreme sports in the air.

There are many ways to experience Britain from above. My own personal favourite is skydiving that I tried myself for the first time in July this year!

Skydiving
Try skydiving, while safely attached to your instructor. Target SkySports arranges skydives in North Lincolnshire for both beginners and advanced divers.

Paragliding
When paragliding, the “pilot” is suspended in a harness below the wings and in comparison to skydiving, the paraglider starts by foot, usually from a height. But a paraglider can also start from a flat surface or by being towed behind a vehicle. Try paragliding in beautiful Wales or check out our list of places to paraglide in the UK here.

Helicopter
If you want to experience some of Britain’s beautiful Castles or other attractions throughout the UK, but you’re tired of doing the old sightseeing bus routine, maybe a Helicopter Tour is something for you. If you’d rather try flying the helicopter yourself, Active-8 in Cornwall offers training flights.

Hot air ballooning
If you get a kick out of being on high altitudes, but maybe don’t like the speed, hot air ballooning is the perfect thing. The balloon moves in a slow pace and let you feel the freedom and serenity on high altitude and let you see beautiful parts of Britain from above at the same time.

Next week, I’ll guide you through the jungle of water sports that you can try in Britain!

-Towe

Quirky Event of the Week – Race the Train

Think you run fast? How about racing a train? On 21st of August, runners gather in the town of Tywyn on the west coast of Wales to try to beat the train to the finish line.

The race is 23 kilometers long and starts at Tywyn Railway Station. Both the train and the runners are started by the train whistle at 2pm. The course follows the old Talyllyn Railway and can be quite tricky as it passes through wide fields, streams, slippery slopes, rocks and steep hills. Good runners can beat the train in about 1 hour and 47 minutes, but many find it difficult.

If you feel you’re not up for the whole length of the race, but want to try beating the train anyway, there are shorter races starting earlier the same day. For the youngest runners there is also a Toddlers Trot starting at 1pm. Entry for all runners (except the Toddlers trot) is on 5^th of August.

For timetables, how to get there, further information about the different races and how to enter, visit http://www.racethetrain.com

For tourist information about Wales, please visit our website.

Find Tywyn Railway station on our map.

Have a great run!

- Towe

Travel Guide for Families – Wales

Wales is the land of castles and has everything from energetic cities to breath-taking scenery’s. This country has a lot to offer that will make your visit a memorable family experience. Here are a couple of our recommendations for families travelling to Wales.

Cardiff Castle
Explore Cardiff Castle’s 2,000 years of history, learn about the knights and nobles, look at the marvellous interior and watch a medieval performance. The Cardiff Castle offers various events throughout the year, making sure that you and your family get the ultimate medieval experience.

Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire
Do you remember the French invasion scene in Robin Hood? Well, this is the set Ridley Scott used in the movie. This is also the place where they built the shell cottage in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’. If your children are a Robin Hood or Harry Potter fan, or maybe both – visit Freshwater West for a fun filled day out.
Find more Harry Potter film locations here
Find more Robin Hood film locations here

Rhyl Miniature Railway
Bring your children to Britain’s oldest miniature railway in Rhyl & Prestatyn and take a ride around Marine Lake. Also, make sure to visit the new Central Station building and get to know the railway’s history.

GreenWood Forest Park
Even though you’re on holiday, think about your carbon footprint. Why not enjoy a family day out with a green conscious at the GreenWood Forest Park in Snowdonia? Here you can try the world’s first environmentally-friendly rollercoaster, go on the jungle boat adventure, or learn how to build a shelter. The park has plenty of different activities and rides that will put a smile on yours and the children’s face.

Big Pit: National Coal Museum
Put on a hard hat, turn on the head lamp and be ready to go down 90 metres in a real mineshaft. The underground tour gives you an insight about the coal industry in Wales while it’s amusing and educational for everyone.

Food for the whole family
At Wacky Warehouse you’ll find a healthy kids menu and there are lots of activities that will keep your children entertained whilst you enjoy your meal. Please click here to find a Wacky Warehouse in Wales

Looking for a place where you get served quickly? Try Wagamama, a family friendly Japanese noodle restaurant. Here children can enjoy stir-fired rice or noodles with a glass of fresh squeezed juice. Please click here to a Wagamama in Wales

Have a nice family vacation in Wales!

/Siska

Pedal your way through UK

A cycling holiday in the UK is a unique opportunity for you to discover and experience the real British countryside up close and at your own pace. Besides, cycling is healthy, tranquil and gives you the perfect opportunity to discover the small details that you would never have seen.

If you’re up for some long distance cycling there’s many great cycle routes to choose from. These are our long distance cycling favorites (click on the names to read about the routes):
> Fakenham to Harwich
> London to Hastings
> Devon Coast to Coast

> More long distance routes

Scotland is blessed with an open landscape, spectacular scenery and has therefore one of the UK’s best cycling routes. If you want to cycle in Scotland, there’s plenty of routes for mountain biking, long distance, countryside and family friendly cycling.
> More information about cycling in cycling in Scotland

Are you looking for a more action-packed cycling holiday? Then mountain biking in Wales is the answer. Wales got some of the best spots for mountain biking with its forest, single and mountain tracks. Here’s the official guide for mountain biking in Wales.

Instead of taking the original sightseeing on double deckers, why not discover London by a guided bike tour and get the exercise at the same time. Cycling in London is cost-effective and brilliant if you want a break from all the hustle. In addition, it gives you the chance to see other sides of London. The big city offers numerous of pleasant routes through parks where you can stop and have a picnic.

Happy pedaling!

/Siska

South Wales – a hidden treasure

The Dylan Thomas Statue

Since I have lived in Swansea for almost a year as an exchange student I would like to strike a blow for this coastal city and its surroundings on the beautiful South West Wales coast.

Swansea is the hometown of late poet and writer Dylan Thomas. So for all literature lovers there is The Dylan Thomas Centre to visit. The Centre also have an annual Dylan Thomas Festival during October and November.

My favorite place though is the Mumbles, a seaside resort village on Swansea Bay. The name reportedly means “breasts,” which is suitable considering the two islets peaking out of the water. This little village has numerous pubs and is famous for the Mumbles Mile. The Mumbles Mile is a stretch of pubs and clubs along the coast, nowadays ten, meaning one pint per stop.

Three Cliffs Bay

From Mumbles onwards you can walk along the coast of Gower, visiting around 50 unspoilt beaches, coves and bays. Rhossili beach is my favourite. The beaches also have warmer water than in other parts of the UK which is nice (due to the effect of the Gulf Stream). Some of the beaches are also very popular for surfers.

Along the coast there is high and low tide which is extremely powerful to watch. I highly recommend you go to the beach when the tide is coming in. Have a look at the tide table before you go.

Another thing I enjoyed and had far to many of was the wonderful fudge candy. Nowhere else I have had so creamy, delicious fudge. So stay tuned for fudge stores!

/Camilla, trainee Stockholm office

Things to do in Britain when you’re stuck

Stuck in Britain because of an ash cloud? Don’t despair – Britain is probably the best place to get stuck in, since it’s full of great things to do all year round. So read this blog post and get inspired!

LONDON

Musicals
Phantom of the Opera, Buddy, La Bohème, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys or The Lion King – There is simply no better place to catch a musical than in London. And even if you don’t have tickets, there’s always a good chance to find tickets last minute at Leicester Square.

Find out which musical you want to see and if it’s running this weekend on Time Out London.

Storm Exhibition – Right but Wrong
See the highly recommended exhibition “Right but Wrong – The Extended Album Art of Storm Studios and Hipgnosis” at Idea Generation Gallery. The exhibition is open until 2nd of May 2010.

Idea Generation Gallery
11 Chance Street
London E2 7JB
Web: Idea Generation Gallery

London Architecture Walks
If your interested in architecture but not sure what to visit or how, then a guided walk might be the answer. With London Architecture Walks, you can choose a theme like “London Churches”, “Financial London” or “River Thames”. Take your pick and start walking.

Web: London Architecture Walks

Have a pint at a local pub
Relax – there’s nothing you can do about the cloud anyway. So why not have a pint and just let the hours go by for a while? With the Good Pub Guide you can find the best places to find a good pint throughout Britain.

Web: The Good Pub Guide

ENGLAND

Fine Food Market in Nottingham
With almost 40 stallholders from across the East Midlands – selling everything from meat, cheese and pickles, to fudge, cakes, beer and wine – there is going to be plenty of choice for food and drink lovers everywhere. So take yourself down to Old Market Square between 16th and 17th of April and eat your way through British food culture this weekend.

Find more things to do in Nottingham on Visit Nottinghams homepage.

See a Premier League football game
Take the opportunity to see a Premier League football game this weekend. There are still some great matches that aren’t sold out like the derby between Manchester City and Manchester United or Liverpool – Westham and Blackburn – Everton.

Buy tickets on Premier Leagues homepage.

Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle
You can’t visit Newcastle without walking along designated World Heritage Site, Hadrian’s Wall. This famous 2,000-year-old Roman defence wall stretches from Carlisle in Cumbria to Wallsend in Newcastle going right through the city.

Find more things to do in Newcastle on VisitNewcastleGatesheads homepage.

Shopping in Manchester
Manchester is a real shopping Mecca, and if you’re stranded here – take the time to do some serious shopping. Some good places to shop is The Lowry Outlet Mall at The Quays, the bohemian area Northern Quarter where you’ll find famous Afflecks, or Kings Street with its fashionable shops.

Stuck in Manchester, but don’t have any shopping cravings? Then visit VisitManchesters homepage for more inspiration.

The Harry Potter Sensation
All over Britain you’ll find places to visit if you’re a Harry Potter buff. Take the Hogwarts Express through Harry Potters London & Oxford, find the filming locations for Hogwarts Dining Hall, Hogsmead Station or Diagon Alley and lot’s of other exiting places throughout Britain.

Read the first part of our three part guide to Harry Potters Britain here.

The Beatles Story in Liverpool
While in Liverpool you don’t want to miss The Beatles Story, an interactive museum located at the historic Albert Dock in Liverpool. Join the four lads in their journey from unknown boys to world famous.

The museum is open seven days a week, all year round (excluding December 25th/26th) Opening hours are 9am – 7pm. For information about current exhibitions, admission fees etc, please visit The Beatles Story homepage.

WALES

Millenium Centre
Cardiff’s showpiece arts centre features everything from ballet and opera to hip hop shows and comedy. Known locally as the ‘Golden Armadillo‘, its gigantic bronze-coloured façade inscribed with poetry has made the building an iconic UK landmark.

Historic Pubs
If you like beer and history, Cardiff is the place to go. Many of the ancient pubs of Cardiff actually existed before the city itself. So find a pub, have a pint and take in the historic atmosphere of Cardiff.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art
Have you been stuck in Glasgow and love art? Lucky you. Between16 April-3 May you have the chance to see Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art. Packed with events, talks and tours as well as major world-class exhibitions, some by artists living in the city and others by leading international figures, the Festival is Glasgow’s art scene at its liveliest and best.

The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh
If your fond of whisky and happen to be stuck in Edinburgh, I suggest you walk down to The Scotch Whisky Museum. Apparently they just started a thrilling new guided tour where you can take a barrel ride through a replica distillery, hear stories about the craftsmanship of whisky making and get some inside hints on how to improve your palate and lead you to your favourite Single Malt Whisky.

The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh, EH1 2NE

For more information about the opening hours or ongoing events, please visit The Scotch Whisky Museums homepage.

I hope you got some ideas on what to do in Britain when you’re stuck. For further information or inspiration, please visit our homepages:

Sweden: http://www.visitbritain.se
Denmark: http://www.visitbritain.dk
Finland (ENG): http://www.visitbritain.fi
Norway: http://www.visitbritain.no

Enjoy!

- Towe -