Sport
Whether you want to be a spectator or participant, sporting activities are invariably more appealing in good weather – which is why it is no surprise superb facilities proliferate in sunny Spain.La Manga is probably the biggest draw (accessed through Murcia or Alicante) with golf, cycling, hiking, tennis, football and every possible water sport combining to make it the biggest and most popular international sports resort in Europe.
The waters around Mallorca are perfect for watersports, from scuba diving to sailing, and hiring a boat, windsurfer, kite board or kayak is usually a simple affair.
Almeria is a key sports destination with plenty of top class tennis courts and opportunities for hunting, fishing, motor racing and cycling.
If fishing, hunting and country pursuits are your thing, check out Ireland’s wide range of facilities and beautiful landscapes. Facilities for riding, angling and cycling are all within easy reach or Dublin and all around in the countryside from Shannon.
Head to Birmingham for world class cricket at Edgbaston or football at one of the three Birmingham-based clubs – all currently in the Premiership. Or visit Liverpool for close proximity to Aintree racecourse, home of the Grand National, and championship golf courses such as Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale. Manchester is famed the world over for its football club, but it also has a great sporting legacy left from hosting the 2002 Commonwealth Games – particularly its Aquatics Centre with Olympic-size pool.
Britain is a famed sea-faring nation and in Southampton you can be a part of some of the world’s most prestigious yacht races and major annual boat shows. Or, for boating of a completely different style and pace, check out Norfolk (accessed via Norwich) for cruising on the Norfolk Broads.
If getting into the water is more your thing, visit the Cornish coast (accessed via Exeter) for championship level surfing or try the loughs all around Belfast for great watersports’ opportunities – from sailing to jetski, surfing to scuba.
For extreme sports give the Cheddar Gorge (accessed via Bristol) a try for rock climbing, caving or abseiling. Or take a walk on the wild side in one of the UK’s national parks – Dartmoor (accessed via Exeter) or the Yorkshire Dales (accessed from Leeds) for example where opportunities for cycling, horse riding and bird watching abound.
Jersey and Guernsey offer some good fishing and bracing coastal walks and the Isle of Man attracts a strong angling fan club with good trout fishing in particular. If peace and tranquillity isn’t your thing, try the island during the TT motorcycling races when the noise and fury of motorbikes dominates proceedings for a while at least. The island is also good for windsurfing and sailing and appeals to those who like pony trekking.
The rural areas of France lend themselves to some great outdoor adventures: keep in mind that many key ski destinations, such as those around Chambery, make great destinations in summer for walking holidays, mountain biking and extreme sports. The same is true of Austria and Switzerland where the mountains that draw skiers in winter offer great hiking trails and outdoor action holidays when summer arrives.