1. Winter survival
The Cairngorms National Park's winter weather can range from clear skies and bright sunshine to blizzard conditions with gale-force winds and poor visibility. In groups of up to six people, Scot Mountain Holidays offers instruction on dealing with inclement weather, with a focus on cramping methods, the use of vital equipment such as ice axes, navigation skills, and the construction of emergency snow shelters. Fraoch Lodge, near Aviemore, sleeps up to 14 people and has en suite or shared bathrooms as well as a drying area.
2. White water rafting
The fast-flowing water in the upper portions of the River Wye in South Wales delivers exhilarating, white-knuckle descents from October to March. For groups of six to eight people per raft, Black Mountain Adventures supplies wet suits, buoyancy aids, and helmets (aged from 16 years). The route covers up to 15 kilometers and features grade four rapids, including "Hell Hole" above Llanstephan Bridge, as well as rugged reefs that are particularly difficult to cross when the water is high.
3. Dark skies at night
Winter skies are ideal for stargazing, and the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory in Wark, near Hexham, hosts introductory sessions for adults and children on a regular basis. It's a Milky Way-class "Dark Sky Discovery Site" on the outskirts of Kielder Water and Forest Park, with experienced astronomers on hand. Battlesteads Hotel, which features 22 rooms, including two family rooms that sleep four, provides on-site lodging.
4. Levels best for birds
During the winter months, the flat wetlands of the Somerset Levels, which span over 170,000 acres eastwards from Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel, attract a diverse and abundant birdlife, including marsh harriers, peregrines, egrets, and bitterns. The clouds of starling murmurations that collect around dusk are particularly stunning.
5. Hike the lakes
The Lake District fells are especially beautiful in the winter, with crisp temperatures, pure air, and snowy summits. HF Holidays, housed in a 41-room country home on the beaches of Derwentwater near Keswick, organises guided and self-guided walking trips between Christmas and New Year. The trails around adjacent Ullswater and to Grisedale Pike offer a variety of walking options, from easy to difficult.
6. Sail the Solent
Sailing is at its most thrilling in the winter — as long as you have the necessary equipment to keep warm. From the end of January onwards, Sunsail offers a variety of courses for novices and more experienced sailors, ranging from taster days to nine-day qualifications. It operates a fleet of Sunsail First 40 yachts with three cabins based in Portsmouth.
7. Bodyboard brilliance
Strong sea swells created by north-tracking low-pressure weather systems that sweep over the Atlantic during the winter months generate magnificent breaking waves for adventurous bodyboarders and surfers on the UK's west coast. Individual and group lessons are available to beginners and more experienced participants at the Newquay Activity Centre in Cornwall, which is open all year.
8. Fifteen peaks
Hiking the Fifteen Peaks of Snowdonia is an amazing winter challenge, with five 1,000m ascents, including Snowdon, Wales' highest peak (at 1,085m). In February, when circumstances are at their snowiest and most challenging, Plas y Brenin gives the opportunity to finish the entire set.
9. Snowshoe forays
While snowfall on the Pennines is variable in terms of quantity and timing, the grass and heather fells normally get a good coating during the winter months. The smooth ground makes snowshoeing great even in light snowfalls. Eden Outdoor Adventures, based in Penrith, can provide equipment as well as an expert guide for bespoke excursions in the area. High ridge walks provide panoramic views of the Lake District.
10. Fowl play in Scotland
The coastline and marshland environments of Dumfries and Galloway, with their mild winter climate, attract significant numbers of waders and wildfowl from the colder highland regions. An escorted journey organised by Naturetrek includes some of the top reserves, including WWT Caerlaverock, RSPB Mersehead on the Solway Coast, and RSPB Crook of Baldoon on Wigtown Bay. A visit to Laurieston's red kite feeding station is a pleasure.
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