adventure

CENTER Parcs has revealed plans for TWO new attractions at one of its parks.

Center Parcs Longleat Forest resort has revealed plans for a new aerial adventure and a rollercoaster-style treetop attraction.

The park currently has an Aerial Adventure Course but this will be replaced with a new high-level aerial adventure with 15 bridges and three zip wires.

The course will be in the woodland and set across different heights with some platforms as high as 12.56 metres.

The attraction will be east of the main lake.

And last week, the park also gained permission to build a Treetop Glider attraction.

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The attraction will be a rollercoaster-style zipline, 13 metres above the ground.

It will be the third resort to get the attraction, following from Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

Last year, the park opened Adventure Nets at the resort, where families can “bounce, balance, leap and climb through the stunning redwood canopy”.

There are a number of treehouses across the course as well, seven metres in the air.

And there are a number of tunnels, rope bridges and a trampoline area.

The Adventure Nets sessions are 70-minutes long – which includes a 10-minute safety briefing, followed by 60-minutes of play.

Travel experts at Adventure360 which runs gap years for 18-30 year olds have revealed the three destinations that are well worth having on your radar next year

Gone are the days when a gap year often meant travelling around on a tight budget, partying as much as possible and ticking off a couple of landmarks. Nowadays, younger travellers are looking for activity holidays full of memorable experiences, decent accommodation, and activities that aren’t centred around alcohol, according to travel insiders at Adventure360.

Jane McLellan-Green, one of the firm’s co-founders, and Amy Calthorpe, a Travel Advisor at the brand, spend their days looking for hidden gems, unique experiences and other adventures for intrepid explorers aged 18-30.

“Adventure tours is our big thing,” Jane told the Mirror exclusively. “Whereas back in the day it was working, volunteering – which we still offer – but the group tours is the biggie.” She explained that the firm increasingly receives requests from young professionals as well as students and graduates. She added that they do “have some customers that just want to party”, but noted “there has been a shift as well where a lot of young people are not drinking anymore, and they kind of want to do more sort of hiking, or yoga lessons, or surfing”.

So, where are the emerging destinations for an adventure in 2027? The travel pros shared some of their top picks with the Mirror…

The ‘Stans’

BBC’s Race Across the World has sparked a surge of interest in Central Asia’s “-stans” (aka Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan), after they featured on one of the legs of the recent series. “[The contestants] went through it, and suddenly everyone was like, ‘I want to go there!’,” explained Jane. “So we are going to be adding new trips. We’re still educating ourselves but the landscapes are insane, and I think you don’t go to the Stans to party. It is for the customers who want to sort of get off the beaten track, go to the places that aren’t kind of visited as much.”

Social media has also played a key part to the emerging popularity, according to Amy. “The Stans are all over Tiktok, so many people are going there now,” the travel pro added. “I definitely think that’s on the rise. I think that will be really popular next year once there’s a little bit more knowledge about it and everything.”

She added: “We’ve got activities included like horseback riding, which you wouldn’t necessarily get on a normal tour. You stay in different accommodations like in the tents. I think it’s just really cool, and I think it’s probably a destination as well that people probably wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable doing solo, like completely independently, so that’s why the tours are a little bit more popular.”

China

China recently eased up its visa requirements for Brits, meaning that until December 31, 2026, UK passport holders can enter China visa free for stays of up to 30 days. “China’s become really, really popular,” Amy explained, adding that “everyone wants to do it”, with the firm’s China tours quickly selling out.

Amy explained: “China is so popular. Honestly before, like maybe a couple of months ago, China wouldn’t ever have been somewhere that was on my list to even consider.” Both Amy and Jane reckon that the country’s appearance on TV shows – including Race Across the World – have opened up audiences to the various destinations on offer in the country, other than classic hotspots such as the Great Wall. For example, Avatar fans have been flocking to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the Hunan Province, which are believed to have inspired filmmakers behind the world of Pandora.

Morocco

Morocco isn’t a hidden gem, but according to the travel pros, it’s been enjoying a surge of interest from adventure travellers, who want to make the most of the bustling souks, but also explore some of the country’s breathtaking deserts. When asked what might be causing its popularity, Jane said there were two big factors. The first, was price. “It’s cheap!” she said, pointing to the flight and accommodation options you can find on a budget. The second factor? The Middle East conflict which saw travel plans disrupted earlier this year, with the Foreign Office still issuing travel advice to countries close to the ‘unpredictable’ tensions.

With Morocco being a short flight but boasting year-round sunshine and hot weather, as well as a plethora of unique experiences including camping in the desert, it offers an exciting alternative to some classic European city breaks that might not entice Brits. (Not to mention it’s got a flight time of around four hours, so it’s easy to do for a week’s break). “It’s a little bit further than doing a European trip but you’re also not having to venture too far from home,” said Amy.

Jane added: “For someone who wants to have a cheeky week away or have an adventure, it’s a really great holiday and you don’t have to spend much money.”

With dramatic wild landscapes of mountains and lochs, rugged coastlines and remote islands, Scotland is the perfect place to really get away from it all. We want to hear about your favourite wild escapes, whether it was a stay in an off-grid cabin or bothy, a solo hike on a less-visited trail or mountain, or a romantic break on a windswept isle.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

“This looks like a picture from a fairy tale!” shouts my eight-year-old daughter Molly as we cycle through the incredibly pretty Dutch town of Vlodrop.

With its wooden houses and gardens filled with pink and red blooms, it’s an easy 16-minute ride from De Meinweg National Park, where we’re staying.

Huttopia De Meinweg, four hours’ drive from Calais, is set in 27 hectares of woods, and our two-bed cabin is small but perfectly formed, with a terrace, loo and shower room.

There are two swimming pools, including an indoor heated one, and Molly and Elliot, 11, spend hours challenging each other to pétanque and table-tennis competitions.

Toasting marshmallows over the communal firepit by the lake also goes down a treat. Daily bike hire costs from £12.50 for adults, £8.20 for children

Guten tag, Germany!

A 15-minute walk through the woods reveals brasserie De Boshut, where we snaffle crispy chicken burgers, £16, followed by poffertjes (Dutch pancakes), £5.65, before the kids scamper around the eatery’s beautiful wooden playground (Deboshut.nl).

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Meanwhile, a 10-minute cycle takes us over into Germany and the chic lakeside beach club Amici Beach (Amicibeach.com).

Another easy find on two wheels is Speeltuin Kitskensberg, full of top-rate play equipment, including a fully operational mini town featuring traffic lights and pedestrian crossings so little ones can practise navigating across town on their bikes.

It’s kiddie heaven and unbelievably costs less than £3 for both children and adults, because it’s run by volunteers (Speeltuinkitskensberg.nl).

Magical Maastricht

One day, we head to the city of Maastricht, 45 minutes’ drive away, where we grab crunchy croissant ice cream at Qrème By Darq, £3.60 a cone (Qreme.nl), before popping into stunning medieval church, the Basilica of Our Lady, which once attracted millions of pilgrims.

Locals and visitors continue the centuries-old tradition of lighting hundreds of devotional candles daily in the serene chapel dedicated to Sterre der Zee (Star of the Sea).

Afterwards, the kids spy the perfect spot to spend their pocket money – toy and lifestyle shop Jouw Marktkraam, which is full of both new and vintage finds (@Jouwmarktkraammaastricht), before we grab a late lunch at trendy Preps.

It takes a long time to arrive, but my Hangover Brekkie Mix of banana bread with peanut butter, lemon crumble and lavender, plus smashed avocado, a poached egg, beet houmous, tomatoes and bread, £16.20, is totally worth the wait (Prepsmaastricht.com).

As we make the drive to Calais for our trip home, the kids can’t believe it – they’ve travelled through three countries and boarded an under-the-sea train, AKA LeShuttle. Maybe fairy tales really can come true. . .

THE sound of bugles, trumpets and tubas fills the street as a parade of horses trot towards The Royal Palace.

I always thought Buckingham Palace’s changing of the guard was impressive, but shiny silver helmets off to the Swedish Army who, decked out in pristine blue uniforms, have us completely captivated for a full 45 minutes.

“It’s like being in a movie!” my five-year-old son Raffy shouts above the beat of kettle drums halfway through.

And he’s right. In the picturesque setting of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historic old town, it is an incredible spectacle. And even better – it doesn’t cost a penny. Or krona, rather.

I like big buns

Your wallets will, however, take a hit in Gamla Stan’s winding, cobbled streets, which are brimming with gift shops, such as Liten Amanda with its Nordic home decor (Litenamanda.se), plus bistros like Petit Pastis (Pastis.se) and confectioner Konfektyr & Glass offering an eye-boggling array of treats.

We search for the tiny Iron Boy statue hidden in a courtyard, before ordering a sizeable cinnamon bun, coffees and hot chocolates with lashings of cream for £28, at Kaffekoppen in Stortorget Square (Cafekaffekoppen.se), then chancing upon vintage H&M and antique glassware at charity shop Stockholms Stadsmissions nearby (Stadsmissionen.se).

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Stockholm city consists of 14 islands connected by bridges. On Djurgården, we all stand in awe as we first set eyes on Vasa, a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage, its intricate carvings painstakingly restored.

A bonus for my teen self (in the temporary exhibition) is seeing Rose’s dress and Heart of the Ocean necklace from the film Titanic, while learning about director James Cameron’s 2012 deep-sea expedition 10,000 feet down to the ocean floor, and squeezing into a replica capsule. Adult entry costs £18.50, under-18s are free (Vasamuseet.se).

Mamma Mia!

The kids’ favourite outing is the neighbouring ABBA Museum. Poppy, seven, adores the greatest hits album (thanks to her Yoto music player), and despite being a tad overpriced, it’s undoubtedly a super-fun interactive space with lots of opportunities to dress up and perform like – and even alongside – the band (in hologram form), pose for an album cover, rock out in a silent disco and ogle the showstopping stage costumes.

Adult entry costs from £20.50, kids over seven from £8.50 (Abbathemuseum.com).

On one of our days on Djurgården, we tuck into shrimps piled atop egg mayo and syrup bread, £18, while the kids scoff pancakes with cream and jam, £7.50, bathed in sunshine on cafe Skroten’s terrace.

There’s free bread, butter and lingonberry juice on offer, too (Skrotens.se). Later, we hit Skansen, home to a farm, zoo, funfair and a historic town with glassblowers, pottery studio and bakery.

The children are wide-eyed at both the playful bears and the molten glass being transformed into chic confetti lampshades. Adult entry costs £23.50, under-12s are free (Skansen.se).

Viking vibes

At dinner that night, a roar fills the dining hall as our host announces the arrival of more guests – this time from the US – with a horn and a bellow.

I pause devouring my crawfish and prawn soup, £13.50, to join in the hollering.

We’re at Viking restaurant Aifur, and while it may be touristy, Raffy again gets all the film-set feels when he’s declared a “baby Viking” and presented with a giant sword to look after.

Thinking his night couldn’t get any better, and just as a musician begins playing the hurdy-gurdy (Google it!), the waitress presses souvenir coins into both his and Poppy’s palms (Aifur.se).

Continuing the theme, the next morning we learn how to fight and write like a warrior at the Viking Museum, which is worth a stop, even if it’s just to lunch at its restaurant Eld.

Highlights include Ukrainian gnocchi with smoked feta, £22, deer medallions with black garlic and potato gratin, £22.50, and the pretty harbour views (Thevikingmuseum.com).

Isle be back

The sweet spot for visiting Sweden with kids is balmy mid-August, just after the Swedes return to school. Keen to get a taste of the Stockholm Archipelago, home to more than 30,000 islands, we take the 43X train from Stockholm City station to Västerhaninge, catch the 846 bus to Årsta Brygga and then hop on the 21 boat to Utö.

Although it sounds complicated, it’s super-simple, and for our transport-mad kids, the hour-and-a-half journey in itself is thrilling.

But Utö, all rugged landscapes, pine forests and sparkling sea, is the real thrill. Photos really don’t capture its beauty.

We kip in one of hotel Utö Värdshus’ sweet self-catering cottages, which cost from £101 per night, and at the restaurant that evening, we dine on buttered kingfish with potato, leek and cheese pie and crayfish broth, £29, while the kids wolf down steak with Béarnaise sauce and fries, £10.50 (Utovardshus.se).

Holidaying on the island is all about hiking, biking and the wonderfully wild beaches.

One afternoon is spent picnicking at Barnens Bad beach, not far from our cottage – its crystal-clear shallow water is perfect for kids, and we’re joined by only one other family, who stylishly arrive and depart by kayak.

The next day, we set off on a 11km bike ride (daily hire costs £15 per adult, £11 per child).

We pass colourful wooden houses and breathtaking vistas to Stora Sand, a wide expanse of white beach, which again we only have to share with one other couple.

Sandcastle building and chasing waves makes for a blissful few hours, topped off only by a wild moose deciding to clumsily gallop across our path on our ride home.

I fear that the kids’ tales of this trip may sound a little far-fetched when they get back home and share them with friends. But Sweden really has proved super (trouper).