Golf and Sail in Scotland
Scotland is the original home of golf, and what could be better than combining a sail around some of Scotland's most remote and rugged areas with playing on some of country's most famous courses? Perry Golf, which specializes in golfing holidays for couples, offers a wide range of custom tours, including a week of sailing the highlands and islands of Scotland on a private yacht (with golfing each day) and a chance to hike the rugged Scottish countryside. Not to mention the opportunity to sample some of Scotland's famous whiskys.
Perry Golf
1904 Eastwood Road
Suite 315
Wilmington, NC 28403
800-344-5257
perrygolf.com
Paraglide the Isle of Wight
The best place in the U.K. to paraglide is the picturesque Isle of Wight, home to several paragliding schools, which offer private and group classes. Just a two-hour train ride from London, the Isle of Wight offers lovely hotel or bed and breakfast accommodations in addition to flying. Earn your student pilot certificate in five days of gliding around the island's gentle slopes, beaches and hills. Paragliding schools can arrange travel and lodging for you, as well as pickup and transportation if you are taking the train. In between flights, the Isle of Wight offers excellent biking, hiking, sailing, watersports and other activities.
Butterfly Paragliding
The Terrace
Chale
Isle of Wight
U.K. PO38 2HL
+44-1983-731611
islandbreaks.co.uk
Boating on the Norfolk Broads
Cruise by reed marshes, meadows and woodlands while on Norfolk's inland waterways, and experience both nostalgia and the outdoors. Rent a boat; they come in a range of sizes and styles, and some include a whirlpool bath, four-poster beds and entertainment systems for a romantic touch. Spend days hiking the nature reserves, trails and country parks, then moor for the night close to riverside pubs and restaurants in picture-postcard market towns. The boat rental agencies can provide you with maps and itineraries to suit every taste.
Hoseasons Holidays Limited
Lowestoft
Suffolk
U.K. NR32 2LW
+44-844-847-1356
hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/norfolk-broads
Hiking Near London
If time is short or you are based in London, there is still plenty of lovely outdoors to experience. Shere, Surrey, is a beautiful little village, just 30 miles from London, which has been used in several romantic films. The village sits in rolling hills and includes a pretty pub and a 12th century church shown in "Bridget Jones' Diary." Stay in Rookery Nook, a cosy, 15th-century bed and breakfast in the center of the village. The nearby North Downs offer great hiking. Fortify yourself afterwards with lunch at Drakes, a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Or head for the Malvern Hills, full of dramatic scenery and picturesque villages. Stay at the Old Country House, a 600-year-old farmhouse with huge beds and mismatched furniture. Hike the local countryside, or borrow bikes and explore the paths and trails across the hills.
Rookery Nook
The Square
Shere, Surrey
U.K. GU5 9HG
+44-1483-209-399
rookerynook.info
Drakes Restaurant
The Clock House
High Street
Ripley, Woking
Surrey
U.K. GU23 6AQ
+44-1483-224-777
drakesrestaurant.co.uk
Old Country House
Old Country Farm
Mathon, Malvern
Worcestershire
U.K. WR13 5PS
+44-1886-880-867
oldcountryhouse.co.uk
Motor Madness
What could be more British than zipping around the rolling Yorkshire countryside in a Morgan Plus 4 or an MGB roadster. Pick up your car in York and zoom off in style, following route guides provided by the car rental company. Pass through pretty villages, stop at local pubs for a cosy lunch and a roaring fire, and pull up at a local inn for a quiet night. The car rental company can arrange bookings, maps and a picnic hamper.
Reflections Classic Car Hire
Easingwold
York, North Yorkshire
U.K. YO61 1HH
+44-1347-811908
reflectionsclassiccarhire.com
