10 Great Sites for Active Families

If your family has energy to burn, check out these 10 sites with loads of activities onsite and nearby.

1. Explore the Brecon Beacons

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Walkers and cyclists will love this site in the national park. You can hire mountain bikes on site and reception can help you arrange caving, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing or guided gorge walking. There’s a riding centre nearby, and kids love Cantref Adventure Farm.

Pencelli Castle www.pencelli-castle.com

2. Tranquility and activity all in one

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An old watermill is at the heart of this lovely site near Ripon in Yorkshire. It sits beside the River Ure, the focus of the site’s kayaking and fly-fishing activities. It’s ideal for cyclists and walkers — the Ripon Rowel walk runs through it.

Sleningford Watermill www.sleningfordwatermill.co.uk

3. An eye on the border

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Fallowfield Dene near Hexham, Northumberland, makes a fantastic base for water sports, riding, walking and cycling at Kielder Water and Forest Park. You’re not far from Hadrian’s Wall, either, so you can take your own mini army on a border skirmish.

Fallowfield Dene www.fallowfielddene.co.uk

4. Monster hunt on the loch

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Nessie spotters will find plenty to keep them occupied while waiting for the monster to reveal itself. The site has a private beach with loch access, and you can hire boats nearby. If you’re lucky you might even spot… seals and dolphins.

Loch Ness Holiday Park www.lochnessholidaypark.co.uk

5. Take to the water in Oxford

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Just west of Oxford, this site is perfect for visiting the city and indulging in water sports. Take a lesson in water skiing or wake boarding at the site’s water sports centre and two lakes. Alternatively, hire a pedalo to spot wildlife on the shore, or try your hand at angling.

Hardwick Parks www.hardwickparks.co.uk

6. Bushcraft in the National Forest

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This site’s location in the National Forest is just a 15-minute drive from Conkers (www.visitconkers.com), an activity centre teaching bushcraft skills, kayaking, building rafts, archery, orienteering, treetop walking and more.

Beehive Farm Woodland Lakes www.beehivefarm-woodlandlakes.co.uk

7. Surf’s up in Cornwall

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This cliff-top site has access to Polzeath, one of Cornwall’s finest surfing beaches. You can hire surfboards on site and get lessons from the beach surf school, Surf’s Up (www.surfsupsurfschool.com).

Tristram Camping www.polzeathcamping.co.uk

8. Brigg Country

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Dumfries and Galloway is home to Brighouse Bay Holiday Park, which nestles in 1200 acres of walking country on a peninsula with good beaches. Activities nearby include tenpin bowling, boating, quad biking, golf, fishing and horse riding; several are on site.

Brighouse Bay Holiday Park www.gillespie-leisure.co.uk

9. Watersports on Windermere

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Hill of Oaks has five launching jetties on the shores of Windermere and each pitch has space for a boat as well as a car. In addition to water sports, sailing, canoeing and kayaking, the site has its own woodland wildlife walks.

Hill of Oaks www.hillofoaks.co.uk

10. Playtime in Somerset

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Nestled between the Quantock Hills and the Somerset coast, this site has its own boating lake and canoes. There’s a riding centre, too, or you can hire a bike. The site has a large play area and two pools — indoor and outdoor.