The Best Adventure Travel Destinations in the UK
Think the UK is all quiet countryside and pretty villages? Think again. It’s time to get your pulse pumping with these adrenaline-fuelled adventures from the Lake District to Lundy Island.
Have you ever swum with seals? Surfed Cornish waves? Bungee-jumped in Scotland? Well, now’s your chance. Whether you’re brave enough to try them all, or just fancy one or two, let us inspire you to get outside and make the most of all the adventure activities the UK has to offer.
1. Swim with seals, Lundy Island
Natural Feature
Forget swimming with sharks. This award-winning tour is much more friendly and fun. Head an hour from Ilfracombe Harbour, in North Devon, to Lundy Island, with regular sightings of dolphins along the way. Once there, you’ll spend the morning swimming with seals in coves and bays around the island. They’re friendly, inquisitive creatures and love to come and say hello so be prepared for some close encounters. Warm up with a hot drink once you’re back on board, and take in a tour of the coastline. Lunch in the Marisco Tavern while looking out at the puffins is recommended.
2. Surf Sennen Cove, Cornwall
Natural Feature
Surf’s up! Sennen Cove, in Cornwall, is one of the most radical places to catch waves in the UK. It’s also a great place for a day at the beach, with a pub, fish-and-chip shop and the Old Success Inn, where you can swing by for a pint of Cornish Tribute. But if it’s the waves you’re going for, you’ll be in good company. Sennen Surf Co is one of the best surf schools in Cornwall, and there’s a church-turned-surf shop where you can buy all your kit once you’ve caught the bug. The size of the waves ranges, so it doesn’t matter if you’re not already a pro. All you’ll need is a wetsuit, a board – which you can rent at the school – and a cowabunga attitude.
4. Three Peaks Challenge
Natural Feature
5. Climb England’s only via ferrata, Lake District
Natural Feature, Hiking Trail
On this adventure, you’ll be climbing 648m (2,126ft) up Fleetwith Pike, in the Lake District, along England’s only via ferrata, a climbing route guided by a steel cable that you clip a harness onto. This nerve-wracking adventure, which takes around three hours, includes crossing a tightrope line called the Burma Bridge.
6. Whitewater rafting, Hertfordshire
Amusement Park
Feel like an Olympian as you take on the whitewater rafting course that was used for the canoe slalom at the London 2012 Olympic Games. You’re in for a rough ride at the course in Lee Valley, Hertfordshire – so you better bring your A-game. For gallons of fun without the difficulty, there’s also kayaking, paddleboarding, hydrospeeding, an inflatable obstacle course and even disc golf. But for a true British adventure, put yourself to the test on the exhilarating whitewater rapids.
7. Cycle Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Bridge
8. Bungee Jump, Scotland
Architectural Landmark
Last but not least, and quite possibly the most insane pick of the bunch, is of course the bungee jump. No adventure list would be complete without the ultimate adrenaline thrill. The best place for it in the UK is in Scotland. Take your pick between free-falling off the Garry Bridge at the Highland Fling, near to the famous site of the Battle of Killiecrankie; or leap off Titan Crane in Glasgow, where you will freefall 50m (164ft) at over 80kph (50mph).
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.