Activity Holidays

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Activity Holidays Family Activity Holiday Operators 

Acorn Family Adventures

Acorn House, Prospect Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8DU
(0800) 074 9791
acronadventure
Acorn Venture has been providing adventure trips since 1982 with 8 centres throughout Europe, including two in the UK. Since 1998 the company has been offering similar holidays for families at some centres. The staff are recruited and trained in Britain, qualified to instruct in their activities and are all subject to police checks for their suitability to work with children. The company emphasises that safety management systems are fully implemented and all relevant licences are held.
Location Centres are located in France (northern France, Ardeche Gorge, French Mediterranean), Italy (Italian/French border) and the UK (Lake District and on the Avon at Tewkesbury). In France, two-centre holidays are available, split between the Ardeche and the Mediterranean coast.
Dates Stays are usually of 7-11 nights with fixed durations to create a sense of community among families.
Activities Options vary from site to site but overall include watersports such as speed sailing, wind surfing, white water rafting, dinghy sailing, dragon boating, raft building, catamaran sailing, canoeing and kayaking and dry land activities such as caving, climbing, abseiling, gorge scrambling, archery, land yachting, fencing, high and low ropes.
Ages From 7 years but report that holidays are best suited to those with teens.
Accommodation The sites are not large, each 'village' being of around 20 tents, again creating a small community. A family of 4 or more are provided with two tents.
Extras Hotels for the drive down can be booked, as can stopovers at Futuroscope or close to Disneyland Paris. Alternatively coach travel or motor-rail can be organised. Rail and transfers could also be arranged.
Sample Price Eight nights in the Ardeche from £459 per person peak period, self-drive, or £499 per person by coach for a party of four, fifth and sixth travelling for £199 per person. Prices are fully inclusive of all activities, food and accommodation.

Activities Abroad

The Activity Travel Company, Suite 2. Netherton Park, Stannington, Northumberland, NE61 6EF
(01670) 789 991
http://www.activitiesabroad.com
Specialists in activity holidays, offering a dedicated programme for families. The aim is to encourage families to take part in the activities together and interact with other families at the same time.
Location Two to three-star, generally family-run hotels outside the UK, in the UK in a three-star hotel near Keswick. Meals other than breakfast are not always included.
Dates From December to end of April for winter activities; all others from late May to end of August, exact dates depending on the duration.
Activities Depend on the trip but can include problem solving, climbing, abseiling, mountain biking, raft building, sailing horse riding, quad biking, canoe sailing, mountain walking, sea kayaking, tubing, rock climbing, archery, white water rafting, surfing, hydrospeeding, high ropes and rock climbing, and caving.
Each holiday is given a pulse rating from one to five, with one ‘universally gentle and suitable for all ages', and five ‘not for the faint hearted'. To participate all members of the family should be able to swim 25m without help, cycle on generally flat terrain for 15-20 miles, and walk comfortably for 3-4 hours on undulating terrain. ‘For more technical activities it is not so much about fitness as your positive mental approach to the activity in question'.
Ages Depending on the trip but variously from 8, 10 or 12 years though younger children can join the trip and join in some or even all of the activities if they are capable.
Happy to give families a breakdown of ages on departure dates to enable them to find the date with other families with children of ages to match their own because they recognize that this can be crucial to ensuring everyone gets maximum enjoyment out of the trip.
Accommodation Two to three-star, generally family-run hotels outside the UK, in the UK in an activity centre in Snowdonia. Meals other than breakfast are not always included.
Sample Price An eight-day seven-night trip to Austria in August including flights, accommodation, breakfasts, 2 dinners and 5 lunches and participation in five of the activities would cost £800 per adult, £670 for children aged 15 years and under. At some destinations two children can share a separate room from their parents without adult prices needing to be charged. Single parent families only pay one adult price for most destinations. The child age varies between 9 and 16, depending on the destination.

The Adventure Company

15 Turk Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1AG
(01420) 541 007
adventurecompany
A division of First Choice plc, one of the UK's largest holiday companies, The Adventure Company offers more than 60 trips worldwide as part of its Family Adventures programme, in countries as diverse as Spain, Egypt, Finland, Morocco, Costa Rica and Brazil. Activities range from walking, mountain biking, kayaking and rafting to elephant-riding in Northern Thailand, camel trekking across the Sahara Desert or having a kick-about on Copacabana Beach.
Location Worldwide. Choices in Europe include southern Spain, southern Turkey, Andorra, Finland and the Dordogne, France.
Dates Year-round (depending on destination), and tailored to school holidays.
Activities Examples include cycling, walking and canoeing in France, cycling and walking in Spain, easy hiking plus jeep safari and boat excursions in Turkey and dog-sledding in Finland.
Ages Most family trips are for children aged five years plus. However, The Adventure Company also features Infant Adventures for those with children from just one year of age.
Accommodation Largely two or three-star hotels with local character.
Sample Price Varies according to destination. An eight-day 'Dordogne Discovery' trip in summer would cost £671 per adult, and £621 per child.

Field Studies Council

Preston Montford, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW
(01743) 852 100; local rate (0845) 345 4071
field-studies-council.org/family
Location There are centres in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia, Shropshire Hills, Pembrokeshire Coast, Exmoor, South Devon Coast, Suffolk, Epping Forest and North Downs.
Dates School holidays from March to October.
Activities Environmental Arts and Crafts, bird watching, drawing and painting, wildlife watches, bushcraft and family adventure weeks. Active Family courses might include climbing, ghyll scrambling and canoeing, combined with an exploration of local nature.
Ages Generally from eight years, some holidays up to 12, most to 14. The odd event is suitable from four years.
Accommodation In the FSC centres already used by a couple of generations of school children but recently refurbished. Many centres are converted historic buildings in particularly attractive locations.
Sample Price £120 per adult and £95 per child for a three-night Family Wildlife and Discovery Course.

Headwater

The Old School House, Chester Road, Castle, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1LE
(01606) 720 033
headwater-holidays
The walking and cycling specialist offers a multi-activity holiday called Discovery at Annecy.
Location In the French Alps at Annecy.
Dates Late April to late September.
Activities Swimming, tennis, volleyball, golf, horse riding, climbing, sauna, underwater diving, pedalos, water skiing, water polo, sailing, lake cruises, guided walks, catamarans, and accompanied mountain bike rides. All are included in the price except catamarans, golf, waterskiing, lake cruise, tennis, canyoning, rafting, go karting and climbing. Archery and pony trekking is available in high season free of charge, pony trekking is only on request in low season, but still at no charge.
Ages From two years. Climbing and diving are for 14+, the rest should be OK for younger children. If in doubt, ring to check. The holiday is particularly recommended for teens.
Accommodation In a comfortable two-star hotel with around 50 rooms, particularly geared to families. Room options vary with different categories of room ranging from double rooms to apartments more suitable for families.
Extra Children's pool where pool games for children are organised. Early meals should be possible.
Sample Price Peak (July 9-August 20) price for a week is £678 per adult with flight. Children for a week are £469 half board. Car hire would be needed to drive from Geneva to the hotel, cost approximately £27 per day for a small family car. Alternatively self-drive is an option. Self-drive prices in peak season are £609 for adults, £359 for children. Under 2s on air and rail holidays and under 4s on self-drive £30 including accommodation with cot. Meals paid for as taken. Price includes return flights to Geneva or Dover-Calais ferry, accommodation for 7 nights half-board, activities as described.

Neilson

Locksview, Brighton Marina, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 5HA
(0870) 909 9099
neilson
Part of the Thomas Cook Group, Neilson has specialised in activity holidays for more than 25 years. The 'Neilson Active' programme offers the more full-on activity experience, with windsurfing, mountain biking, dinghy sailing, yachting and kitesurfing, while 'Neilson Beachplus' is described by the company as being 'aimed at the guest looking for a relaxed and softer style of active holiday.'
Location Neilson Active has centres in Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Egypt, while Neilson Beachplus Clubs are based in Greece and Turkey.
Dates Year-round.
Activities Include sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing, mountain biking, hiking and tennis. Kids from 13 up can participate in adults' windsurfing, dinghy sailing and mountain biking sessions. There are also specialist dinghy sailing and windsurfing clubs for younger children (8-13), both learners and beginners, where they can gain Junior RYA awards (all Neilson Active and Beachplus Clubs are RYA-recognised training centres). Also on offer are wellbeing options including yoga, pilates, stretch and aqua sessions, plus a range of health and beauty treatments. Private tennis tuition is available as an extra.
Ages From 4 months for the resort cr?ches, and from 2 years for the free kids' clubs.Accommodation All accommodation is in resort hotels at properties used exclusively by Neilson.
Childcare The resorts in Greece and Turkey have cr?ches which take children from 4 months to 2 years; they operate six days a week from 10am to 5.30pm, closing for lunch. The cost for the cr?che is £230 per week. For older children, there are a number of free kids' clubs: Sea Urchins (2-5); Surfbusters (5-8); and Sharksters (9-12).
Sample Price Seven nights in Porto Heli, Greece, in the school summer holidays would be from £579 per adult and £463 per child, including flights, 7 nights on a B&B basis, all windsurfing, dinghy sailing and mountain biking tuition, plus free kids' clubs for 2-13 year-olds.

Outposts

Lydeard Farm, Broomfield, Bridgwater, Somerset. TA5 2EG
(01823) 451959
outposts
As well as putting together tailor-made family trips to Africa (particularly South Africa and Kenya), Outposts organises activity breaks in the UK with AALA-registered instructors. Prices for the latter are based on a minimum of 8 people per group, so could suit two families holidaying together.
Location Brecon Beacons/Black Mountains (Wales) and Pembrokeshire (Scotland).
Dates In the UK, year-round; in Scotland, May, June, September and October.
Activities Can include climbing, canoeing, kayaking, abseiling, gorge walking, canyoning, coasteering, caving, surfing, survival instruction, orienteering, hill walking and high ropes. In Scotland activities can be combined with visits to Handa Island (a bird sanctuary) with BBQs on the beaches, fishing in the loch and walking in the highlands.
Ages 10+.Accommodation In Wales in local B&Bs, hostels or hotels. In Scotland in a traditional stone house or ‘bothy', superbly located on the edge of a sea loch (accessible only by foot or boat) in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The house sleeps 10 in dormitory-style accommodation. There is no electricity and heating is provided by an open fire and a wood-burning stove.
Sample Price In Africa, around £2,000 per person per week, not including flights. Prices depend on your chosen activities, choice of locations and number of people. In Wales, £47 per person per day activities only (accommodation extra). Weekly packages are tailor-made, so price on application. In Scotland £400 per person per week including accommodation, all activities and instructors and provision of a cook.

Outward Bound

Hackthorpe Hall, Hackthorpe, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2HX
(0870) 513 4227
outwardbound
An organisation dedicated to encouraging individuals to stretch themselves, physically and psychologically. Has introduced events for families.
Location Ullswater in the Lake District, Aberdovey in Wales, and Loch Eil in Scotland.
Dates Family weekends take place once a month between April and the end of August.
Activities Canoeing, rock climbing, mountain climbing and more.
Ages From 9 years.
Accommodation In one of the organisation's centres in family rooms.
Sample Price In the summer, weekend courses cost £135 per adult and £65 per child, all inclusive.

Simply Morzine

118 Redwood Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 1UT
(01664) 568902
simply-morzine
Offers summer alpine activity holidays in a traditional family-run French hotel, self-catering apartments and upmarket chalets, for individual families or several families taking sole occupancy. Uses qualified guides and instructors for all activities, arranged for just the children or for children and adults. Family-run with personal service and attention to detail.
Location Morzine in the French Alps (between Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc), 90 minutes from Geneva airport.
Dates June to September.
Activities Full day activities include a range of alpine walks (some with climbs, swims and traditional meal in an alpine auberge), water sports adventure, mountain bike adventure (routes vary according to age and ability) and wakeboarding with private speedboat and instructor. Additional half day options include tennis, summer luge, horse riding, devil karting, hire of canoes, market visits, golf, mountainboarding, ice skating, more demanding water sports, bungee jumping, paragliding, via ferrata and canyoning. The village waterpark offers an Olympic pool, slide and volleyball. Golf, walking, painting and drawing holidays, alpine flora and sightseeing holidays are also arranged for larger groups taking over a whole chalet.
Ages From around 6-11 years, depending on activity.
Accommodation A choice of a large catered chalet sleeping up to 20-26 (which can be booked by several families for their exclusive use, or by single families who would share with other families on designated family weeks), a smaller chalet sleeping up to 12 (can be on a catered or self-catered basis), a catered traditional French hotel plus two self-catering apartments sleeping 4-6. All properties have access to a hot tub, sauna or swimming pool.
Sample Price July and August £370 per adult per week (with generous discounts for children) on a catered basis. Includes half board accommodation with meals and BBQs six nights a week, return Geneva airport transfers, minibus service to local places of interest and activity venues, and advice on and booking of all activities, but not activity costs themselves. Self-catering in private apartments (sleep 4-6) is £720-£795 per week in July and August. Activities range in price from little or nothing up to £20 to £40 per person per day, with discounts for children.

YHA

Trevelyan House, Dimple Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3YH
(0870) 870 8808
yha.org
The YHA hostels in Edale (0870 770 5808) in the Peak District and Okehampton (0870 770 5978) in Devon are dedicated activity centres, and both offer multi-activity family packages.
Location YHA Edale in the Peak District National Park and YHA Okehampton in Devon, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
Dates At Edale: year-round except for school summer holidays, when children-only camps take place. At Okehampton: school holidays year-round except summer.
Activities At Edale: canoeing, caving, archery and climbing. At Okehampton: rock climbing, gorge scrambling, pony trekking, archery and treasure hunts. No experience required, the idea being to provide an opportunity for the whole family to try something new.
Ages Minimum age nine years.
Accommodation Both hostels offers private family bunkrooms and family-friendly facilities including games rooms and an Outdoor Activity Trail.
Extras Cots and highchairs available at Okehampton; highchairs at Edale.
Sample Price A four-night package at Edale would cost £280 per person for adults and children alike between May and September, dropping to £189 per person out of season; at Okehampton it would be £195 per adult and £166 for under 14s year-round. These prices include all activities, accommodation and meals.