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Make the most of chilly days and nights, says Nick Trend
1. Fifteen peaks
Hiking the Fifteen Peaks of Snowdonia is an exhilarating winter challenge, with five ascents of 1,000m, including Wales’s highest mountain, Snowdon (at 1,085m). Plas y Brenin offers the chance to complete the full set in February when conditions can be at their snowiest and most challenging. The activity centre in Capel Curig provides en suite rooms, a 16-bed bunkhouse and a 13-room farmhouse.
From £583 for five nights. Departs Feb 3 and 17, including all meals and equipment hire. Plas y Brenin (pyb.co.uk).
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Karl Midlane
2. Bodyboard brilliance
North-tracking, low-pressure weather systems that sweep across the Atlantic through the winter months produce a strong sea swell that creates fantastic breaking waves for hardy bodyboarders and surfers on the UK’s west coast. The Newquay Activity Centre in Cornwall is open throughout the year, offering individual and group lessons to beginners and more experienced participants.
Bodyboard coaching weekends from £139 per person including three instructor sessions. Equipment hire costs extra. Newquay Activity Centre (newquayactivitycentre.co.uk). Stay at the Headland Hotel (headlandhotel.co.uk), which has rooms from £130.
3. Snowshoe forays
While the amount and timing of snowfall on the Pennines is unpredictable, the grass and heather fells usually receive a decent covering during the winter months. Even in scanty falls, the soft terrain makes it ideal for snowshoeing. Eden Outdoor Adventures, based in Penrith, can supply equipment and an expert guide to the area for bespoke excursions. High ridge walks give sweeping views across the Lake District.
Guided snowshoeing in the North Pennines from £90 (half day) or £140 (full day) for two people including snow shoes and walking poles. Eden Outdoor Adventures (edenoutdooradventures.co.uk). Stay at the House at Temple Sowerby (templesowerby.com), which has rooms from £98.
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getty
4. Sail the Solent
Sailing is at its most exhilarating in winter – as long, of course, as you have the proper kit to keep you warm. For those that do, Sunsail offers a range of courses, from taster days to nine-day qualifications, for beginners and more experienced sailors, from the end of January onwards. It uses a fleet of three-cabin, Sunsail First 40 yachts based in Portsmouth. On-board accommodation is provided in single berths in shared cabins.
Start Yachting course from £220 for one night, including breakfast, lunch and mooring fees. Weekly from Jan 24 until March 31. Sunsail (sunsail.co.uk).
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Hamo Thornycroft
5. Dark skies at night
Cold and clear winter skies create excellent conditions for stargazing, and the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory in Wark near Hexham offers regular introductory events to adults and children. Classified as a Milky Way-class “Dark Sky Discovery Site”, it is located on the edge of Kielder Water and Forest Park, and is staffed by professional astronomers. On-site accommodation is provided by Battlesteads Hotel, which has 22 rooms, including two family rooms that sleep four.
Battlesteads Astronomy for Absolute Beginners from £22.50 (adult); £19.50 (concession); £55.50 (family) for two hours. December to April. Rooms from £105 B&B. Battlesteads (battlesteads.com).
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Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory
6. White water rafting
From October to March, the fast-flowing water in the upper reaches of the river Wye in South Wales offers thrilling, white-knuckle descents. Adventure operator Black Mountain provides wet suits, buoyancy aids and helmets for groups of six to eight people per raft (aged from 16 years). Covering distances of up to 15 miles, the route includes rapids classed up to grade four, including “Hell Hole” above Llanstephan Bridge, with rocky reefs that are particularly challenging to navigate when the water is high.
White Water Rafting experience day from £55 per person. Black Mountain Activities (blackmountain.co.uk). Stay at the Felin Fach Griffin (felinfachgriffin.co.uk), which has rooms from £140 B&B.
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Black Mountain
7. Fowl play in Scotland
With a relatively mild winter climate, the coastal and marshland habitats of Dumfries and Galloway play host to large numbers of waders and wildfowl from the colder highland regions. Some of the best reserves, including WWT Caerlaverock, RSPB Mersehead on the Solway coast and RSPB Crook of Baldoon on Wigtown Bay, are included in an escorted itinerary organised by Naturetrek. A highlight is a visit to the red kite feeding station at Laurieston.
The Winter Birds of Dumfries and Galloway from £745 for four nights, including breakfast and dinner. Departs Feb 17. Naturetrek (naturetrek.co.uk).
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getty
8. Hike the lakes
Crisp temperatures, clear air and snowy peaks can make the Lake District fells particularly enchanting during winter. HF Holidays organises guided and self-guided walking breaks between Christmas and New Year, based in a 41-room country house on the shores of Derwentwater, near Keswick. Walking itineraries range from gentle to more challenging, and include trails around nearby Ullswater and to Grisedale Pike.
Northern Lake District self-guided walking from £245 per person for three nights, including full board. February to November. HF Holidays (hfholidays.co.uk).
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getty
9. Winter survival
Winter weather in the Cairngorms National Park can range from blue skies and bright sunshine to blizzard conditions with gale-force winds and low visibility. Scot Mountain Holidays provides tuition on dealing with unpredictable conditions, focusing on cramponing techniques, use of essential equipment such as ice axes, navigation skills and constructing emergency snow shelters, in groups of up to six people. Accommodation is at Fraoch Lodge near Aviemore, which sleeps up to 14 with a choice of en suite or shared bathrooms and a drying room.
Winter Skills Course from £275 for two nights or £685 for five nights, including all meals. Jan 3, 24 and 31. Scot Mountain Holidays (scotmountainholidays.com).
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getty
10. Levels best for birds
The flat wetlands of the Somerset Levels, which stretch over some 170,000 acres eastwards from Bridgwater Bay and the Bristol Channel, attract an extraordinarily rich and varied birdlife in the winter months – including marsh harriers, peregrines, egrets and bitterns. Particularly spectacular are the clouds of starling murmurations that gather at dusk.
Somerset Levels in Winter with Mike Dilger from £595 for three nights, including breakfast and dinner. Departs Jan 12 2020 and Jan 10 2021. The Travelling Naturalist (naturalist.co.uk).
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