THE UK is home to a wonderful array of attractions, so why settle for the obvious?
There are many weird and wacky locations and activities to experience this year, so get out and start exploring with our top 10 odd ways to spend your summer!
1. Visit Fingal's Cave
Where: Scotland
If staying on the beautiful Isle of Mull, you should not miss the opportunity to take the little cruise boat to the island of Staffa to see the utterly breath-taking Fingal’s Cave.
This sea cave is a geological marvel, consisting of vast hexagonal columns of basalt, which are so impressive they almost give the impression of being man-made.
The journey to Staffa is in itself mesmerising, if you’re lucky enough you’ll catch a glimpse of seals, basking sharks, dolphins and an array of sea birds on the way there, and, once arrived at destination you can be assured to find yourself surrounded by a friendly flock of puffins!
2. Alnwick Poison Garden
Where: Northumberland
The sign at the big black gate reads ‘These Plants Can Kill’ – if that isn’t enough to make your hair stand on end then I don’t know what is!
Inspired by the legendary botanical gardens in Padua where the Medicis (a wealthy, prominent Italian banking family) plotted the untimely deaths of their enemies, an English duchess created a magnificent garden dedicating it entirely to flora which are deadly and/or narcotic, of which there are approximately around 100 lethal killers, some of which are so dangerous they are caged.
Guided tours of this mysterious portion of the 14 acre gardens make for a fascinating visit and allow you to also enjoy the other (less imposing) gardens which boast an enormous multi-level treehouse and a bamboo labyrinth.
3. Visit Longleat Hedge Maze
Where: Warminster
Added to the 8,000 acres of historic grounds of the stately home of Longleat in 1975, the Longleat Hedge Maze is the longest hedge maze in the world! Can you take on the challenge? The goal of the maze is to find your way to the observation tower in the quickest time possible – it might sound like an easy task, however with over 13/4 miles of paths hedged by more than 16,000 English Yews, 6 bridges and with twists and turns around every corner.
4. Hop on a Steam train
Where: Somerset
Somerset is a beautifully captivating region, often referred to as the jewel of the South West and it isn’t hard to see why with its beautiful buildings, charming villages and bustling market towns and cities – all boasting a rich heritage of history and legend.
What better way to explore all this wonder than by steam train! East Somerset in particular is renowned for its traditional steam railway which transports passengers on a 2-3 hour journey through vast expanses of open, unspoilt landscapes. Upon returning you can re-fuel and refresh in the station restaurant.
5. Visit the world’s largest greenhouse at The Eden Project
Where: Cornwall
This truly epic destination is an absolute must visit for families this summer! Dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World by some, The Eden Project, nestled in the heart of Cornwall, is a huge tropical garden housed in vast biomes that sit in a crater the size of 30 football pitches.
The Eden project provides a gateway into the relationships between plants and people, allowing visitors to explore the sights, smells and scale of the largest rainforest in captivity. Travel to South America and California, as you stroll through orange and lemon trees, olive groves and gnarled vines, see hemp, sunflowers and many other striking plants, flora and fauna from every climate and corner of the world you can imagine flourishing under the Cornish sun.
6. Secret Agent Training
Where: Milton Keynes
Think you could do a better job than James Bond? Want to try your hand at being a secret agent for the day? Then look no further, as hidden away in the depths of Milton Keynes you will find the opportunity to do just that at Spy Games.
Learn the specialised skills used by ex-surveillance operatives. Following a briefing and having been issued with your Special Forces kit, you will learn how to fire all kinds of weapons, from crossbows to sniper rifles, machine guns and axes.
As well as handling weapons, you will also learn how to covert surveillance camera and transmit bugs by ex-surveillance specialists who have carried out real surveillance operations all over the world, before taking part in an action-packed pistol draw shoot-out with fellow agents and recovering hostages – the ultimate day out for any budding daredevil!
7. Puzzlewood
Where: Forest of Dean
Upon visiting, it really comes as no surprise as to why this enchanting location found itself as inspiration for the fabled forests of Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s classic The Lord of the Rings. The endless maze of pathways winding through the gulleys of mossy rocks, twisted roots of yew trees and bridges provide a magical experience for people of all ages.
Located in the beautiful and historic 14 acre woodland, the Forest of Dean. It isn’t only the atmospheric woodlands to explore, there are also a variety of animals to meet, a willow maze, indoor mazes, a toddler racing track, playground and plenty of picnic benches and opportunities to grab a bite to eat making it a fantastic family day out.
8. Letterboxing
Where: Dartmoor
The activity of Letterboxing originated on Dartmoor and dates back as far as 1854 when James Perrott of Chagford set up a small cairn at Cranmere Pool on north Dartmoor.
Inside this cairn, he placed a glass jar, into which visitors who had ventured to the lonely, bleak spot could leave their mark in the form of a visiting card.
This subsequently began a tradition where hikers on the moors would follow suit and leave a letter or postcard inside a box along the trail, hence the name ‘letterboxing’. The next person to discover the site would collect the postcards and post them.
This fascinating pastime combined orienteering with both treasure hunting and problem solving, making it a great activity to try with children, whilst also giving you an excuse to explore Dartmoor’s beautiful landscapes – Happy hunting!
9. Scottish Dark Sky Observatory
Where: Dalmellington
For all you aspiring astronomers out there, The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is one not to be missed. Occupying a fantastic hilltop site on the edge of the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, which has been awarded a Gold-tier status by the International Dark-Sky Association, this publically accessible observatory has some of the darkest skies in the UK and two large telescopes from which to observe these mesmerising skies.
Prepare to be inspired by this hands-on, truly educational experience.
10. Be a Zoo Keeper for the day
Where: Chester
Ever fancied mucking in (or mucking out) with a real-life zoo keeping team? Well now’s your chance! Take a trip to Chester Zoo and you can try your hand at being a zoo keeper for the day. Working alongside the zoo experts, you can choose your desired animal selection to work with from a whole host of species including some of the world’s most endangered. You will start your day in the life of a zoo keeper at 8am and finish at 5pm, meaning you will have the chance to be involved in every part of the keeper’s day from preparing food to feeding and cleaning out.
For more on these interesting adventures, head to: http://www.holidaycottages.co.uk/blog/top-ten-odd-ways-to-spend-your-summer please?
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel