You’ll love to go a-wandering...
THE euphoria of the Olympics may have subsided but many of us remain inspired to become more active as a result of the Games.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to involve tracksuits, trainers or gruelling Olympian-style fitness schedules.
There is a huge range of activity holidays on offer which provide great breaks for the whole family and will be a boost for body and soul.
Whatever your fitness level, there’s a walking festival to suit you.
There are a number coming up, including the Autumn Walking Festival in the Amber Valley, Derbyshire, from September 8 to 23, which features 30 free guided walks. Among the others is Hay Walking Festival in Hay-on-Wye and the nearby Brecon Beacons, which includes 55 walks.
Those who prefer to be beside the seaside should head for the Isle of Wight Walking Festival between October 26 and 29, while for those who like to stay closer to home there’s the National Trust Great British Walk 2012 between September 1 and November 4.
This event will feature hikes all over the UK and Northern Ireland – and there will be some great cycle rides, too.
If you prefer healthy eating to long walks, there are many top quality food festivals coming up.
The Real Food Festival at the Southbank Centre in London from September 28 to 30 showcases some of the finest small producers in the country and the best street-food vendors.
Another foodie event not to be which takes place on September 8 and 9. Cornwall has gained a stellar foodie reputation thanks to the presence of celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein – based in Padstow – who are turning it into a gourmet paradise. The county’s premier event is the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival held on Lemon Quay in Truro from September 28 to 30.
If after all that indulgence you feel in need of an aphrodisiac top up, head to the Falmouth Oyster Festival on October 11 and 12, which celebrates the start of the oyster harvesting season.
For brain food, you should try one of the numerous literary festivals that take place in beautiful parts of the country.
Bewitching Bath, considered to be England’s grandest town, is a fabulous destination any time. But visit between September 14 and 22 and not only can you marvel at what the Romans did there and the exquisite Regency architecture, but you can drop in on the Jane Austen Festival.
Directly afterwards, from September 23 to October 31 is a new foodie event, The Great Bath Feast.
Murder-mystery fans can head to the glorious English Riviera between September 9 and 16 for the 2012 Agatha Christie Festival.
If you fancy one of these breaks but are uncertain about where to stay, there are a number of operators who offer excellent hotels at locations all over the UK.
Great Little Breaks offers destinations as diverse as the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel in stunning Snowdonia and the Arden Hotel, directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Clarenco is offering magnificent Carberry Tower, just outside Edinburgh, which would make an ideal base for visits to the Edinburgh Festival.
You can see the best of the country and take the stress out of the experience with Just Go, which offers a number of coach holidays in partnership with the National Trust.
For example, you can Discover the Lake District on the Literary Lakeland tour that introduces visitors to the best of Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter in spectacular surroundings.
Another great way to experience the countryside is by train. Orient-Express offers a selection of day trips and breaks from London and various regional stations.
Weekend breaks include a two-night stay in St Andrews, Scotland, and there are day trips aboard the British Pullman through the Kent countryside enjoying a five-course lunch.