Activities in Southwest England
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Bournemouth Surf School
Bournemouth Surf School operates from the beach just east of Bournemouth Pier and runs surf lessons and half-day bodyboarding sessions.
reviewed
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Enterprise Boats
Offers boat trips around Falmouth Bay and the Fal Estuary. It operates three wooden-hulled boats along the picturesque River Fal, calling at Trelissick Gardens and Smuggler's Cottage at Tolverne en route to Truro. Depending on the tides, the boats sometimes stop at Malpas, 3 miles downriver from Truro; free double-deckers connect with the harbourmaster's office near the city centre.
There are also trips from Truro to St Mawes. Boat trips run every two hours or so in both directions depending on the time of year. Cruises include an onboard commentary detailing local wildlife and points of interest such as Pill Creek (setting of the film Treasure Island), Tregothnan (the Se…
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Exminster Marshes Nature Reserve
The foot and cycle paths along Exeter Quay join the Exe Valley Way and head southeast to shadow both the canal and an ever-broadening estuary towards the sea. For the first 3 miles the route is a blend of heritage city, countryside and light industry. The excellent Double Locks pub is 1.5 miles down the cycle path from the quay; 2 miles further on is the start of the Exminster Marshes Nature Reserve, which is run by the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
One more great pub, the Turf Locks Hotel, is another 2 miles inside the reserve. From there a rougher trail connects with a path to Powderham Castle. You can also navigate the 6-mile canal by kayak - an enjo…
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Twinstar Cruises
Offers boat trips around Falmouth Bay and the Fal Estuary. It is the only company with its own catamaran, and also offers cruises along the River Helford and Frenchman's Creek.
Cruises include an onboard commentary detailing local wildlife and points of interest such as Pill Creek (setting of the film Treasure Island), Tregothnan (the Seat of Lord Falmouth and the site of Cornwall's only tea plantation), and embarkation points for US troops during the D-Day invasions.
reviewed
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Artificial Surf Reef
Bournemouth has been busy building itself an artificial surf reef - the first one in Europe. It involves 60m-long sausage-shaped bags being lowered into the sea just east of Boscombe Pier, then being pumped full of 1000 tonnes of sand. The aim is to produce heavy-breaking, barrelling 3m waves - a challenging ride.
The accompanying around £8 million redevelopment at Boscombe Spa Village is set to add a new wave of surf shops and restaurants to the mix.
reviewed
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Newman's Cruises
Offers boat trips around Falmouth Bay and the Fal Estuary as far as Trelissick and Tolverne.
Cruises include an onboard commentary detailing local wildlife and points of interest such as Pill Creek (setting of the film Treasure Island), Tregothnan (the Seat of Lord Falmouth and the site of Cornwall's only tea plantation), and embarkation points for US troops during the D-Day invasions.
reviewed
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K&S Cruises
Offers boat trips around Falmouth Bay and the Fal Estuary as far as Trelissick and Tolverne.
Cruises include an onboard commentary detailing local wildlife and points of interest such as Pill Creek (setting of the film Treasure Island), Tregothnan (the Seat of Lord Falmouth and the site of Cornwall's only tea plantation), and embarkation points for US troops during the D-Day invasions.
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Jane Austen's Bath
Focuses on the Georgian city and Jane Austen sites. Tours leave from the Abbey Churchyard.
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Dorset Belle Cruises
Between April and September Dorset Belle Cruises operates a range of trips from Bournemouth Pier. The pick is a 2½-hour cruise (two to three daily) to the sheer white chalk cliffs at Old Harry - the start of the Jurassic Coast. It also runs ferries to Swanage (one to three daily), Poole (one to two daily) and Brownsea Island (two to four daily).
reviewed
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Redcoat Guided Tours
Redcoat Guided Tours are hugely varied. Themes range from ghosts and murder to Romans and religion - there's even a torch-lit prowl through Exeter's Catacombs. Tours leave from Cathedral Yard or the quay. There are two to five daily from April to October, and two to three daily from November to March. Pick up a programme from the tourist office.
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Jubilee Pool
At the eastern end of Penzance's 19th-century promenade, the glorious 1930s lido is a fantastic place for a summer dip. Since falling into disrepair in the 1980s, it's been thoroughly spruced up and is now open to al fresco bathers throughout the summer – just don't expect the water to be warm. Entry is half-price after 3.30pm.
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Dartmouth-Dittisham Ferry
The best way to get to Greenway is on foot or by boat. Hike along the Dart Valley Trail from Kingswear (4 miles), or walk along the west bank from Dartmouth to the sleepy village of Dittisham (4 miles), then cross the river by the Dartmouth-Dittisham Ferry. It normally runs from 09:00 to 16:45, but if you're relying on it, call to check.
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City Sightseeing
An open-top hop-on, hop-off bus chugs past all the major attractions, including the SS Great Britain, Bristol Zoo, Clifton and Temple Meads. Buses leave Broad Quay every 45 minutes June to September, and every 90 minutes October to May. If you can survive the stigma, it's actually a useful way of buzzing round the city.
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Funicular Railway
Torbay boasts no fewer than 20 beaches, and a surprising 22 miles of coast. Tourists flock to the central Torre Abbey Sands (covered by water at very high tides); the locals opt for the sand and shingle beaches below the 240ft red-clay cliffs at Babbacombe. These can be accessed by a glorious 1920s funicular railway .
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Kingsand & Cawsand Ferry
The Kingsand & Cawsand ferry is the pick of Plymouth's boat trips. Boats surge from the Mayflower Steps, across Plymouth Sound to the old Cornish smuggling villages of Kingsand and Cawsand. There you can wander the narrow streets, soak up the atmosphere of some salty pubs and browse the handful of shops.
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Exeter Cruises
Exeter Cruises shuttle down the Exeter Ship Canal from Exeter Quay to the Double Locks pub. A connecting boat, the White Heather, then ferries passengers the extra 4 miles to the Turf Locks Hotel. The trip takes 45 minutes (five daily June to August, Saturday & Sunday only April, May & September).
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Bournemouth Eye
Tucked into the Pleasure Gardens is the Bournemouth Eye. Some say a trip in this hot air-balloon cures vertigo. As ascents to 150m last only about 15 minutes, at least you'll find out fast if they're right. The views from the top encompass 25 miles and are amazing.
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Sound Cruising
Sound Cruising offers regular boat trips from Phoenix Wharf out to the warships at Plymouth's naval base. If you want to surf, the best beaches are Bigbury-on-Sea and Bantham, 16 and 20 miles south respectively - you can hire equipment or take lessons.
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Brownsea Island Ferries
Brownsea Island Ferries runs boats to Sandbanks from Poole Quay and cruises along the coast; look out for the Old Harry Rocks trip. These limestone stacks have been separated from each other by sea erosion and signal the start of the Jurassic Coast.
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Bath City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
1 day (Departs Bath, United Kingdom)
by Viator
An elegant Georgian city, Bath is one of Britain's greatest treasures. Explore one of the UK's top five attractions with this 24 hour ticket aboard an open-top …Not LP reviewed
from USD$19.59 -
Bristol Highlights Walk
Tours the old town, city centre and Harbourside. It's run every Saturday; just turn up outside the tourist office. Themed tours exploring Clifton, Brunel and the history of Bristol traders are run on request.
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Bath Balloons
See the city from a more elevated angle. Balloon tours take off from a launch-base in Royal Victoria Park. Prices range from around £99 to around £140, and flights are obviously dependent on the British weather playing ball.
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Bath Bus Company
A hop-on, hop-off city tour, on an open-top bus that stops all over the city. There's also a second route, the Skyline tour, out to Prior Park ; the same tickets are valid on both routes. See website for route details.
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Timewalk
The red-brick Brewer's Quay has a shopping centre as well as Timewalk, a sensory journey through the sights, sound and smells of Weymouth's history from the Black Death and the Spanish Armada to a Georgian ballroom.
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