Activity Holidays

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Activity Holidays Single Sport or Theme Holidays 

The Arundell Arms

Fore Street, Lifton, Devon PL16 0AA
(01566) 784 666
arundellarms
Renowned not just for its fishing on the Tamar river and tributaries, but also for its teaching on the subject, with highly qualified instructors, including for children.
Location Devon.
Dates April to end of September.
Activities Fishing. On the beginner courses there is no need to buy any tackle as this will all be included.
Ages 10+.
Accommodation Is in the three-star inn.
Sample Price A 'Quickie' course over a weekend costs £225 per adult, £155 per child covering casting, river and lake fishing, wet and dry fly fishing. There are also four-day courses combining river and lake trout fly fishing. Under 17s would be £240 and adults £395. Courses run April to September. Accommodation costs £105 per person, dinner b&b with two sharing, £115 in a single.
(If you are looking for fishing tuition elsewhere look for the Salmon and Trout Association Instructor's Certificate (STANIC) or Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors (APGAI). A list of the former is available from the Salmon and Trout Association (020) 7283 5838.

The International Swimming School

Straightway Head, Whimple, nr Exeter, Devon EX5 2QT
(01404) 822 553
swimall
Operating since 1984, Britain's first residential swimming school, set in beautiful countryside.
Location Devon.
Dates Year-round.
Activities Swimming for all ages on five- or twelve-day courses in groups of a maximum of seven. The centre includes two pools heated to 92F (31ºc). Non-residential classes are also available.
Ages There are adult and baby classes for children up to 20 months, adult and toddler courses for children to three years in which the children are taught water confidence and movement through game playing. Further courses are available for older children following the Kellogg's/ASA Swimming Award Scheme syllabus. Under 7s would get individual tuition (preferably for two weeks) tailored to their abilities, while older children would learn in a general class, of which there are two per day, with the opportunity for further practice when there is no class.
Accommodation 15 double and single rooms, mostly en suite. Sauna, solarium, pool table and games room plus bar and restaurant. A cot is available and food can be prepared for babies.Extras There are two acres of grounds.
Sample Price A five-day course, including accommodation and full board, is from £460 for adults and from £200 for children joining a group. One to one tuition is £17 per half hour.

Jonathan Markson Tennis

Springside House, 84 North End Road, West Kensington London W14 9ES
(020) 7603 2422
marksontennis
Aims to provide high quality accommodation in attractive locations plus inspirational coaching for all ages and standards in holidays which are designed above all to be fun. Coaches are chosen not just for knowledge of tennis but personal qualities including enthusiasm, patience, and a sense of humour. Return rates are as high as 80% so they must be doing something right.
Location In the UK: Oxford, Yorkshire and London. Abroad: the Algarve in Portugal, Mallorca, Cape Town, Tunisia, Venice and Cyprus. Groups can be arranged to Prague and Budapest.
Dates The Algarve, Mallorca and Tunisia are year-round venues. Cape Town is from October to April. Venice and Cyprus are in Spring and Autumn. Yorkshire and Oxford are summer camps, plus Easter at Oxford and London.
Activities Full week courses include 15 hours of coaching. In Oxford and Yorkshire the programme is 30 hours. For long weekends there is up to 9 hours of coaching. Participants are divided where possible into groups according to age and standard. Days start with a short talk and demonstration with the focus on a different stroke each day, helping with fitness as well as technique, along with the mental aspect. At some centres video analysis is offered.Ages Children from five years are taught alongside but generally not in the same groups as adults. In Oxford children of 10-plus are allowed unaccompanied on the residential courses.
Ages Children from five years are taught alongside but generally not in the same groups as adults. In Oxford children of 10+ are allowed unaccompanied on the residential courses.
Accommodation Varies from centre to centre but includes apartments with maid service and a choice of hotels.
Sample Price In July and August £550 per person in Mallorca for a week in a party of four staying in a hotel b&b, or £305 in a self-catering apartment. The price on the Algarve for four in a two-bedroomed apartment is £540. Under 2s stay free, under 18s are less £50 per week, Sample Price excluding flights. In Oxford £690 for a week, residential with full board.

ROW (River Odyssey West)

PO Box 579, Coeur d'Alene ID 83816 USA
+ 1 (208) 765 0841
rowadventures
As well as white water rafting for adults offers Family Magic rafting trips which generally include three to five families with separate departures for those with teenagers. The programme has been put together in consultation with the owners' own children (young teens). There are child-oriented menus and a kids' dinner around 6pm as well as more serious eating for parents later.Location On Idaho's Salmon River.
Dates July and August.
Activities White water rafting. You can choose to ride in oar rafts, paddle rafts or inflatable kayaks. There are more stops than on normal trips and opportunities to swim with lifejacket on from the rafts in calm stretches. This means children don't feel too bored. Around four to five hours is spent on board, the rest on short hikes, at lunch, or in camp with bat and ball, frisbee etc provided. The trips have an extra guide on them, these taking their turn at entertaining the kids as well as teaching children more about the river canyon.
Ages Five+.
Accommodation The trips are fully catered with camps on sand beaches beside a swimming hole.
Sample Price Five-day trips cost US$1395 per adult, US$1195 per child.

Tennis Holidays in the Sun

The Old Forge, High Street, Twyford, Hampshire SO21 1RF
(01962) 713 330
tennisholidays
Specialists in tennis and golf holidays including for families, with some resorts offering weekly tennis academies for adults and juniors. The resorts also offer horse riding, water sports, fitness, scuba diving, mountain biking and walking holidays. The company also operates a thriving Italian ski holiday programme with a British nursery and ski school for younger guests.
Location Spanish and Portuguese resort hotels including Vale do Lobe on the Algarve, Atalaya Park on the Costa del Sol and la Manga Club on the Costa Calida, plus tennis and golf in Tunisia. The resorts are chosen to meet not just requirements for sports but also provide good quality leisure facilities.
Dates Year-round at all resorts.
Activities Tennis holidays, including 12 hours of coaching with drills, matches, round-robin tournaments and video analysis, play and tournaments from novice to advanced standards. Weeks with Jo Drurie and Alan Jones are available for intermediate and advanced players. Most coaching is in groups but private sessions are also available.
Ages At some resorts such as La Manga childcare can be arranged (babies to 12 years). At La Manga there's the option of four hours' a week mini tennis for under 6s, five hours for under 9s, and 10 hours a week for under 12s and under 15s, including junior tournaments. At Vale do Lobo mini tennis is available for 5-6 year-olds with five hours of coaching. Elsewhere individual lessons may be available for children.
Accommodation A wide range of resort accommodation, including apartments, villas and hotels.
Sample Price Depending on season, resort and type of accommodation vary widely but at La Manga in high season in two-bedroom apartment accommodation only would be £625. Group coaching is £190 for 10 hours a week, or £270 for 15 hours with video analysis plus a gym and spa session. Under 9s coaching is £95 per week, under 12s and under 15s £145. At Vale do Lobo the mini tennis course is £55 while the package for adults is £110-£185 depending on the package, and two-bedroomed accommodation £935 for a week. Flights, transfers and board are extra.

Tuscan Tennis Holidays

64 Partickhill Road, Glasgow G11 5AB
(0141) 576 7205
tuscanytennis
A programme started in 1994 by Ian Campbell who works with national squads and Lawn Tennis Association-funded players (children who have a recognised talent). He has been in Italy since 1997.
Location Italy (near Lucca and Florence), Sardinia, Sicily and Spain (near Marbella on the Costa del Sol).
Dates Year-round at Lucca, Florence, Sicily and Spain; June to September in Sardinia.
Activities Coaching is available year-round for all sizes of groups with two hours of tennis and a meeting with the coach on Sunday morning, 10 hours' group coaching per week (max six in a group), and in Tuscany two trips and one evening restaurant excursion. For six summer weeks the holidays are hosted by Ian Campbell and Laura Middleton, including video analysis and two hours' play on Sunday morning, social tennis for two hours on late Sunday afternoon, 10 hours of group coaching per week (max six per group), a fun tournament and prizes one afternoon, lunch each day Sunday to Friday, two trips off the beaten track and excursions to local restaurants.
Ages Lowest age for private lessons so far is 4, with an hour a day Monday to Friday. Mature children of a good standard will join an adult group though if preferred private tuition can be arranged.
Accommodation In attractive self-catering villas and apartments in the countryside near Lucca and Florence; in holiday apartments in Sardinia; in apartments and hotels in Sicily; in apartments near Marbella in Spain.
Sample Price Depending on dates and accommodation, ranging from £350 per week low season in Forence to £675 for a studio high season in Tuscany. Larger accommodation costs proportionately less per person. Additional costs include tennis lessons, within a group (£180 to £290 a head or privately €40 or €50). Car hire is extra, if required. Flights should be arranged separately.

The UK Sailing Academy

West Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7PQ
(01983) 294941
uksa
Reporting that it is Europe's largest provider of residential watersports courses, also offering multi-activity and fun courses.
Location Isle of Wight
Dates Summer holidays
Activities Multi-activity courses include dinghy sailing, windsurfing and kayaking, and also offer RYA Yachting prorammes from Competent Crew upwards. The academy particularly recommends level 1-5 dinghy sailing and the young Sailor Scheme, level 1-5 windsurfing plus windsurfing junior scheme and level 1-3 Canoeing.
Ages 8+.
Accommodation Happy to put aside single, twin, or family rooms (with bunk beds). Alternatively families can room separately.
Sample Price A four-night residential course would be £400 for adults and £345 for children.

Windmill Hill Place

Windmill Hill, East Sussex BN27 4RZ
(08700 339997)
windmillhill
Describes itself as the UK's leading residential tennis and golf academy with accommodation. A centre for both adults and older children.
Location An East Sussex estate with outdoor heated pool in summer, eight grass tennis courts, four indoor courts, four floodlit hard courts and two further hard courts. There is a nine-hole par three golf course, indoor golf school with 10 bays, a driving range with 12 bays and 18-hole putting green plus preferential green fees at some local golf courses.
Dates Year-round. Supervised junior camp courses take place by request during June, July and August.
Activities Considering itself the UK's leading residential tennis and golf academy with accommodation. As well as week-long residential junior tennis and golf camps offers coaching for adults and families. There are three hours of tuition and video analysis in the morning. Beginners are guided through the basics while more advanced are taught more specialist shots, match play tactics and 'mental toughness'. In the afternoon there is a mix of sport clinics or a round robin tournament, graded according to standard.
Ages The supervised junior camp is for children aged 10 to 16. Younger children are welcome, as long as they're accompanied by an adult.
Accommodation Based in a grade II listed Georgian mansion plus resort cottages with hotel-style rooms and a central restaurant. A family of four would be accommodated in two rooms next to each other in the main building.
Extras Babysitting available by prior arrangement at £5 per hour.
Sample Price A weekend break Friday to Sunday based on two people sharing a room, (booked eight weeks in advance) in August costs from £395 per person.