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Southwest England

Activities in Southwest England

  1. St Ives Surf School

    Several places around Porthmeor Beach and Fore St rent wetsuits and surfboards; try the BSA-approved St Ives Surf School.

    reviewed

  2. Enchantress

    You can chug about the Dart on a hired motorboat, or charter the Enchantress, a yacht complete with Richard the skipper.

    reviewed

  3. A

    English Riviera Centre

    When the weather's foul, the wave machine and giant flumes of the pool at the English Riviera Centre draw the crowds.

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  4. Heritage Hopper Tour

    Includes bus travel and admission to the Holburne Museum, American Museum and Prior Park. Call for more information.

    reviewed

  5. Castle Cove

    For a swim, clamber down the steps and join the locals at the tiny Castle Cove just round from the castle.

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  6. Adventurous Activity Company

    The Adventurous Activity Company runs climbing, biking, riding and windsurfing trips in the Bristol area.

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  7. Avon Outdoors Activity Club

    The Avon Outdoors Activity Club runs climbing, biking, riding and windsurfing trips in the Bristol area.

    reviewed

  8. B

    Windansea

    Several places around Porthmeor Beach and Fore St rent wetsuits and surfboards; try Windansea.

    reviewed

  9. Bath Carriage Company

    Stylish half-hour tours in an open-top, horse-drawn carriage. Call for more information.

    reviewed

  10. Avon Cruising

    Various boat trips cruise the River Avon. This company operates from Pulteney Weir.

    reviewed

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  12. Bath City Boat Trips

    Various boat trips cruise the River Avon. This company operates from Pulteney Weir.

    reviewed

  13. C

    Saddles & Paddles

    Saddles & Paddles , on Exeter Quay, rents out bikes, kayaks and canoes.

    reviewed

  14. Absolute Aqua

    You can cling to a jet ski with Absolute Aqua from around £140 a day.

    reviewed

  15. City Sightseeing

    Two-hour tours from Salisbury train station to Stonehenge via Old Sarum.

    reviewed

  16. Wessex Tourist Guides

    Specialist local tour guides recommended by English Heritage.

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  17. D

    H2O Sports

    H2O Sports offers courses in windsurfing and power-kiting.

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  18. Mount Batten Centre

    Courses include kayaking (£85 for two days), sailing (£158, two days) and windsurfing (£135, two days).

    reviewed

  19. Moonfleet

    Sailing courses at Moonfleet include those for beginners.

    reviewed

  20. motorboat

    You can chug about the Dart on a hired motorboat.

    reviewed

  21. E

    Bristol Ice Rink

    Skaters can swing by Bristol Ice Rink.

    reviewed

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  23. F

    Surface2Air

    Try to wakeboard with Surface2Air.

    reviewed

  24. Valley of the Rocks

    This rocky valley is about a mile's walk west of Lynton, and is well known for its dramatic rock formations, which poet Robert Southey memorably described as 'rock reeling upon rock, stone piled upon stone, a huge terrifying reeling mass'. Many of the rocks have evocative names such as Devil's Cheesewring and Ragged Jack, and you might even spy a feral goat or two wandering along the banks.

    Other popular walking trails wind up to the lighthouse at Foreland Point and the riverside glade of Watersmeet, 2 miles upriver from Lynmouth.

    reviewed

  25. Undercliff

    This wildly undulating, 304-hectare nature reserve just west of Lyme, was formed by massive landslides. One, in 1839, saw an immense section of cliffs weighing 8 million tonnes slide part-way towards the sea, creating a deep chasm. Today the reserve's slipped cliffs, fissures and ridges are smothered in dense vegetation, exposed tree roots and tangles of brambles.

    The 8-mile hike between Lyme Regis and Axmouth takes an arduous four hours, alternatively walk the first mile of the reserve from the Lyme Regis end; the chalk-white bulk of Pinhay Cliffs makes a handy point to double back.

    The Undercliff starts a mile west of central Lyme Regis; follow footpath signs from…

    reviewed

  26. Rib Experience

    Dorset's extraordinary World Heritage Jurassic Coast starts some 5 miles west of Bournemouth at the Old Harry Rocks. These spray-dashed, 40-minute trips aboard 8m rigid inflatable boats blast past Sandbanks and across the mouth of Poole Harbour, providing up-close views of the chalky columns. The stacks used to be massive arches before erosion brought the tops tumbling down – huge scooped-out sections of cliff clearly show how the sea begins the erosion process.

    reviewed