27 last-Minute Staycations
(For Adventurous Souls)
Travelling abroad this summer may be a mission, but there are plenty of thrills to be had on these shores. From hiking and scrambling to wild swimming and surfing, presents the ultimate list of lesser-known adventures for thrill-seekers
01 Raft on the River Tummel
Eastern Scotland
On summer weekends, from June to September, the River Tummel becomes a raging torrent when water is released from the Clunie Dam, west of Dundee. It offers some of the most dynamic white-water rafting in the UK. After negotiating technical rapids with nicknames such as the Washing Machine, Zig-Zag and Shark’s Tooth, and climaxing with a double drop at the Linn of Tummel, you’ll know what it’s like to be a sock in the final spin cycle. activityscotland.com
02 Cave at Gaping Gill
Yorkshire
This 100m-deep cavern in northern Yorkshire – with a waterfall that cascades down from ground level – is so vast that it could almost fit St Paul’s Cathedral inside. You’ll need an experienced potholer to guide you through the underground caves and tunnels leading to the main chamber, which is the largest of its kind in the UK. Most summers, local potholing clubs will winch you down through the shaft for a fee. cravenpotholeclub.org
03 Cycle the North Coast 500
Northern Scotland
Nicknamed “Scotland’s Route 66”, the North Coast 500 is a twisty, 516-mile circuit in the far north of Scotland. You’ll pass rugged cliffs, deserted sandy beaches and fairy-tale castles. There’s plenty of accommodation en route, plus some stunning spots for wild camping. northcoast500.com
04 Surf in Tiree
Inner Hebrides
The tiny island of Tiree has been branded “the Hawaii of the North”. It doesn’t have a Pacific climate but does offer sandy beaches in every direction for Atlantic surf. The dinky airport offers flights from Oban and Glasgow. wildaboutargyll.co.uk
05 Swim the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
Either swim along the island coastlines, enjoying sandy beaches that wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean, or, if you’re adventurous, join a group such as SwimQuest, SwimTrek or Adventure Scilly and cross between the islands. visitislesofscilly.com
06 Learn to Survive in the Cairngorms
Eastern Scotland
Join Backcountry Survival to sharpen your outdoor skills in this remote mountain range. There are options lasting two or three days, during which you’ll learn how to source food and water, navigate the wild, construct shelters, build fires and attract rescuers. backcountrysurvival.co.uk
07 Mountain-Bike the South Downs
Southern England
This 100-mile bridleway from Winchester to Eastbourne is one of the UK’s most popular trails, but it’s long enough for you to lose the crowds. Crossing chalk downland, it’s ideal for biking, with few difficult sections – though the route admittedly entails more than 4km of climbing. nationaltrail.co.uk
08 Race Along Bike Park Wales
South Wales
With 40 downhill trails, Bike Park Wales is one of the best mountain biking centres in the country. Bike hire and coaching are available, as are lifts in a van to the summit at 491m. Ride to the top (4.6km of hard slog) to avoid crowds. bikeparkwales.com
09 Ride Horses on the Beach
Northumberland
The Northumberland coast offers open beaches ventilated by a North Sea wind that will immediately blow away the cobwebs. Equestrian centres including Slate Hall, Haggerston and Swinhoe Farm will guide experienced riders through the sand and surf, past Bamburgh Castle, St Aidan’s Dunes, Seahouses and Beadnell Bay, with views to the Farne Islands. northumberlandcoastaonb.org
10 Surf the Severn Bore
Gloucestershire
On around 130 days a year, the tide rushing into the River Severn’s estuary creates a large wave. Experienced surfers or kayakers can hitch a ride. thesevernbore.co.uk
11 Hike the Knoydart Peninsula
Western Scotland
Cut off by mountains, Knoydart can be accessed by ferry or various challenging hikes. Once on the peninsula, there are B&Bs, restaurants and a campsite. visitknoydart.co.uk
12 Snorkel at Stackpole Quay
Pembrokeshire
The British Sub-Aqua Club calls this one of the best snorkelling spots in the UK. Visit in May or June to witness armies of spider crabs marching on the sea floor. nationaltrust.org.uk
13 Hike the Fan Dance
Brecon Beacons
A return speed-hike up and over the 886m Pen y Fan. SAS recruits complete the 15 miles in full kit; we mortals, however, are advised to travel light. walkingclub.org.uk
14 Swim with Sharks off the Penzance Coast
Cornwall
Snorkel among the sharks that live off the coast of Cornwall. One leading operator is Charles Hood, who offers trips out of Penzance Harbour. charleshood.com
15 Sail in the Lake District
Cumbria
Sail on Windermere, Derwent Water, Coniston Water and Ullswater. You can go between the tiny islands and moor at rugged coves. Hire a dinghy, engage a guide or take a course. thelakedistrict.org
16 Scramble Aonach Eagach
Scottish Highlands
This six-mile ridge to the north of Glen Coe features rocky pinnacles and castellated crests. You won’t need ropes, but it’s a grade-2 scramble. walkhighlands.co.uk
17 Hike the South-West Coast Path
Southern England
You’d need weeks to complete the entire path from Cornwall to Dorset, but the most dramatic section – from Exmouth to Swanage – can be hiked in a few days. southwestcoastpath.org.uk
18 Gravel Bike Peddars Way
Norfolk
Flat as a pancake, Peddars Way is a 46-mile, off-road bridleway stretching across Norfolk from Thetford to the North Sea coast. A mixture of dirt paths, gravel tracks, forest trails and short tarmac sections, this former Roman road is perfect for a gravel bike and easily conquerable in a single day. If you have kids in tow, break the journey halfway with a stop-off at Castle Acre. nationaltrail.co.uk
19 Scramble Up Tryfan
Snowdonia
Forget Snowdon. This summer, you’ll be doing the conga with thousands of other hikers if you opt for Wales’s tallest mountain. Instead, head for the nearby Tryfan, one of the few mountains in the UK that requires the use of hands as well as feet to reach the summit. Once you’ve scrambled 917m to the top – with its twin monoliths, Adam and Eve – you can take in the Cantilever Stone and the two nearby peaks of Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr. nationaltrust.org.uk
20 Journey to the Callanish Standing Stones
Isle of Lewis
Built around 3,000BC, this eerie group of standing stones, on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, must have witnessed some rituals over the centuries. Visit them on foot, and the other stone circles nearby at Callanish II and III, and you may even decide to enact a few of your own. Surrounded by sea lochs, islets and Munros, it beats the tourist-heavy Stonehenge. calanais.org
21 Kayak Loch Lomond
Central Scotland
With its southern tip only 20 miles from Glasgow city centre, Loch Lomond, the UK’s largest body of fresh water, is ideally located for kayaking. Surrounded by thick woodland and some fairly punchy Munros, you’re quickly immersed in wildnerness as you paddle between islands, inlets and coves. This being Scotland, why not plan a two-day trip along the lake, wild camping on the shore or on one of the many islands? lochlomond-trossachs.org
22 Kayak the River Wye
Wales and Southern England
The Wye is the UK’s fourth-longest river, with plenty of kayak and canoe operators dotted along its length. The 30-mile section from Glasbury to Hereford is great for beginners and families, while the 23 miles from Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth are more challenging. wyevalleyaonb.org.uk
23 Wild Camp on Dartmoor
Devon
A 368-square-mile national park in Devon, Dartmoor is surely the most remote region of southern England. Wild camping is permitted in much of the open moorland, as long as you pitch “well away from roads or settlements”. Dotted all over this granite upland are hundreds of tors – huge piles of granite boulders – which are great for climbing. You’ll also spot wild ponies. dartmoor.gov.uk
24 Scramble the Cuillin Ridge
Isle of Skye
Skye is home to a breathtaking but treacherous mountain range called the Cuillin Ridge. You’ll need a guide, up to two days and experience with ropes to scramble its grade-3 crenellated crest. For the full experience, take a bivouac and spend a night on the mountain. Definitely not for beginners. skyeguides.co.uk
25 Speed-Hike the Broomway
Essex
Over the centuries, dozens of hapless walkers have fallen foul of quicksands or fast-moving tides in this part of Essex. Revealed only at low tide, the walk starts near Shoeburyness and heads out onto tidal flats, before running parallel to the coast of Foulness Island. Make sure you check the weather, tides and local updates first. walkingclub.org.uk
26 Coasteer in Pembrokeshire
Wales
If the UK has a coasteering capital, it is Pembrokeshire. It was here, in the 1980s, that this sport – climbing, scrambling, swimming, jumping and cave-exploring along rocky coastlines – was invented. Jump in with Preseli Venture, which will ensure that you “encounter awe-inspiring sea cliffs, natural arches, spurting blow holes and rushing gullies”. preseliventure.co.uk
27 Via Ferrata in the Lake District Cumbria
Mountain-edge exposure, vertical climbs, cliff-edge ladders, plus a Burma bridge and a cargo net crossing – the Via Ferrata Xtreme at Honister slate mine is surely the hairiest via ferrata you’ll find in the UK. It involves a three-hour climb to the top of Fleetwith Pike (650m), close to the route taken by the original slate miners. Easier climbs and canyoning are also available. honister.com