Looking for something different this Bank Holiday? Perhaps something to keep you and the family active? Tania Alexander reveals her top places to visit for an active day out:
Cycling in the New Forest
The New Forest has a gentle, mainly flat terrain with a 150 mile network of off-road gravel tracks.
Country Lanes cycle hire centre offers routes to cater for all ages and abilities from 6 miles to 27 miles and its friendly staff are on hand to help you get the most from your day.
There are plenty of places to stop and break the day including Beaulieu Motor Museum, Exbury Gardens and Furzey Gardens.
The set up makes it an easy active day out as you pick up your bikes at Brockenhurt Station and are fitted with helmets, route advice and locks.
A day's cycle hire costs from £14 (£8 for children). One Day Get Aways to the Isle of Wight are also available at £20 per person including the cost of the ferry crossing.
→ Next Page: Skinny-dipping in the Dales
Wild Swimming in the Yorkshire Dales
Plan a day out this weekend with a wild swim.
Arrange to arrive at the pool with a picnic around lunchtime, then, after a long walk through the fields and meadows, strip off and plunge into the cool, clear waters.
Daniel Start's new book "Wild Swimming" (£12.70 rrp, Punk Publishing) features over 150 magical swims in some of the least discovered freshwater landscapes of England, Scotland and Wales.
For example, Stainforth on the River Ribble, just a few miles north of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales has a series of shallow rapids by an old packhorse bridge where children can fish and paddle. The water then tumbles down a waterfall into a deep, black, smooth-sided plunge pot with an old iron ladder.
Sit and watch the antics of children and parents alike testing their nerve by jumping into the cauldron from higher and higher vantage points, while just downriver, fields open out in a wash of buttercups, and further large pools provide a place for longer swims.
→ Next Page: Speeding on the Thames
Powerboating on the River Thames
Combine some sightseeing in London with the high thrills of travelling on a powerboat down the River Thames with London RIB Voyages
This James Bond-style 50-minute trip starts at the London Eye and takes you towards the Houses of Parliament and then down to Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.
Once past Tower Bridge the boat picks up speed to about 40mph which feels exceedingly fast in a 12-seater.
Expect lots of spectacular turns on the boat plus informal chat from the guides (who work as stand-up comedians in the evenings) about the landmarks.
Trips run every hour from 10am-6pm and can be booked in advance or you can turn up on spec. Sailing jackets and life jackets are provided, trips cost £29 per adult and £18 for children (under 16 years old).
→ Next Page: Hire a llama for the day
Llama Trekking in Northamptonshire
Although you can't actually ride them, llamas are gentle pack animals that will willingly transport your rucksack and picnic whilst you enjoy the scenery.
Catanger Llama Trekking was established in 1995 and offers personally guided day treks.
The centre is located 10 miles from Banbury and offers a half day experience (£85 for two llamas for two people) which involves an introduction about llamas and how to handle them, two hours of trekking and a look around the farm where you can see the mother and baby llamas and find out what they make from llama fibre.
There's also a full day picnic trek (£150 for two llamas for two people) which begins as the half day trek but involves travelling further across country and having a picnic lunch at a lakeside log cabin.
Booking is essential.
→ Next Page: More fun ideas
