Master SUP yoga in Wales
For Insta-brag material of the highest order, take your vinyasa flow up a level by combining it with a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) session. Yoga teacher Helen Wilson teaches mixed-level SUP yoga in a number of gorgeous Welsh locations, moving through gradual classical yoga postures on a stand-up paddleboard. The most memorable spot is perhaps Cardiff International White Water centre, which also offers Olympic standard white-water rafting for £20 a session, at the Cardiff International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay. Stick with the healthy hippy vibe afterwards, with a meal at vegan restaurant, Anna Loka. If you like your water a little wilder, take to the waves and paddleboard on the Gower, in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
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Freewheel along the Kent coast
Kent’s 32-mile Viking coastal trail winds its way through the seaside towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, before heading inland through picturesque surrounding villages. This well signed route passes the Viking ship at Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate Maritime Museum, the Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, Turner Contemporary in Margate and St Augustine’s Cross – a monument marking the spot where where Augustine of Canterbury is said to have landed in AD 597, on a mission from Rome to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. If you find yourself peckish in Broadstairs, Stark deserves a special mention as a fine dining experience; for a more casual bite to eat, scoff fish and chips from Peter’s Fish Factory on the harbour – a perfect way to watch the sun go down. Look for events at the many co-working spaces around town, such as Resort and Bon Volks, and be sure to stop in for a coffee at the Curve roastery at The Printworks Studios. For a superlative seafood meal, try Hantverk and Found or Angelas in Margate’s quaint old town.
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Be a rock star in Dorset
Dorset’s rugged Jurassic Coast doesn’t purely provide a dramatic backdrop for coastal sightseeing – it also functions as an outdoor playground for rock climbers. The Dancing Ledge near Langton Matravers in the Isle of Purbeck is a flat area of rock at the base of a small cliff, and although a little scrambling is required for access, it’s worth it to reach this scenic spot. A particular favourite with sport climbers, the quality and variety of the 80-strong routes is superb, and virtually all are fully bolted with solid resin staples. Beginners can book a supervised climbing lesson with instructors, through Rock & Sun in Swanage, which is around 10-minutes drive away. Wind down afterwards and chill those chafed fingertips with a cold pint of cider and a cheese ploughman’s at the Square & Compass; on sunny summer afternoons it often offers live music and a friendly, family atmosphere.
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Catch a wave in Thurso
Thurso is arguably Scotland’s surf capital – a charming and historic town that happens to also serve up one of Europe’s best right-hand breaking waves, making it a rite of passage for serious surfers. The cold temperatures tend to deter any part-timers and keep crowds to a minimum, and with waves ranging from two to 15 feet, there really is a wave for everybody. If you didn’t bring your own equipment, you can rent wetsuits and boards from the cute Tempest Cafe. Beyond the breakers, Thurso is the northernmost town on the British mainland, around a two and a half hours drive from Inverness, and it makes a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside of Caithness too. Get your bearings, and your Pictish history straight, at Caithness Horizons Museum, housing archaeological treasures and botanical artifacts. A good bet for seafood in the area is the Captain’s Galley, right next to the Scrabster ferry.
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Scale the urban treetops
If you want to combine the outdoors with a city break in London, base yourself near Hampstead Heath for a genuinely bucolic stay in the capital. Natural movement coach Ben Medder runs outdoor sessions on the heath focusing on skills such as balancing, hanging, tree climbing, jumping, vaulting and crawling. Mainly, Medder’s tree-climbing sessions are just a lot of fun, bringing back childhood memories of scampering up tree trunks fearlessly, and reminding us about the power of play. To soothe aching limbs afterwards, Parliament Hill Lido is a treat for serious lane swimmers, while the Mixed Bathing Pond on Hampstead Heath or Kenwood Ladies Pond offer a more natural dip where you’ll be sharing the water with several ducks. Follow this all up with a well-deserved roast at the Spaniard and you’ve had a perfect countryside mini-break – right in the heart of the city.
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Go wild swimming in the Lakes
Hiking and swimming the Lake District should sit firmly on every active traveller’s bucket list. Start with a cold-water swimming icon, Tongue Pot, in Upper Eskdale (around an hour’s drive from Windermere village), an expansive emerald pool under a waterfall, set beneath a packhorse bridge. There’s also a small pebble beach for basking in the sunshine, post-swim. Not far away you’ll find the Boot Inn, a historic pub serving Cumbrian ales and pub grub. For a more remote waterfall experience, one of the district’s most majestic waterfalls, Stanley Ghyll Force, cascades 20 metres (66 feet) down a mossy ravine into a plunge pool, which is reached on foot across a series of wooden bridges.
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Three Airbnb wellness experiences to try
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Try a wellness masterclass on the Devon coast
Led by a fitness and wellbeing coach, this one-day session in the South Hams village of Challaborough (around 20 miles from Plymouth) invites woman-only participants to refocus the mind through mindfulness, yoga and confidence-building strategies.
£80 pp, various dates.
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Gain a new perspective at the top of the UK
At 1,345m (4413ft), Ben Nevis is the highest point in the UK. Reach the summit on this guided early-morning walk, led by a qualified mountain leader and first aider.
£40 pp, various dates
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Capture nature on film in Hertfordshire
Time spent outdoors in nature has a hugely positive effect on wellbeing. Enjoy a half day walk through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside and learn to take better landscape shots under the guidance of a published photographer.
£60 pp, various dates.
Airbnb does not endorse specific experiences; these were chosen by the Guardian.
For more inspiration go to visitbritain.com/jointheworld
