Lake District Adventure Holidays

  We had a fantastic 3 day weekend in South Devon. The guides were very friendly, helpful and informative. They took us to lots of unique and different locations and we... read more were at liberty to do as much or as little serious swimming as we wanted. Our group was varied in serious swimming ability and but that didn’t detract from the social side of the trip. Much fun was had by all.

  Amazing trip. Super well organized and fantastic guides and driver. So much fun. The sites were good, swimming was not too difficult, the water was chilly so definitely recommend... read more a wetsuit.

  I chose the 3 day swimming trip in Devon and it was fabulous! Varied swims in rivers, the sea and an outdoor lido and no pressure to do longer swims... read more than you felt able to. The guides were great and made sure that everyone was happy and the swims were safe. We also had a very friendly group. Highly recommend!

  Great guides who made our trip really enjoyable. There was no pressure to swim beyond your ability and we had time to chill. I really liked the variety of locations... read more and being able to relax while someone else made the decisions for me. I chose the 6 day swim trip in Devon and felt it was the perfect amount of time to relax, explore and get to know the group.

  My short midweek break was a delightful experience throughout with beautiful swimming and excellent organisation. The team were efficient yet relaxed and friendly, helpful and accommodating. The group was possibly... read more a little too large (at 12) and earlier communication of detail (such as variance from advertised itinerary - though totally acceptable and necessary) would have been useful. But overall care of clients and safety was always paramount and the atmosphere was one of great fun.

  The variety was great - from coasts to rivers to lidos. However what elevated this to a fantastic few days was our guides. They were professional, fun, and paid such... read more attention to detail to make sure. everyone was happy. Time used so well - from the swims that filled the day, to chill times eating and chatting and to ongoing humour. Great value, great fun and great memories made.

  Devon Swim Tour. A fantastic experience, wonderful variety of swims. A fun bunch of people to swim with and great itinerary. The whole experience superbly executed by... read more our guides. Their expertise in finding the right place for the weather conditions and ensuring all of our mixed ability group made the most of the weekend is second to none. Nothing ever seemed too much trouble, they never made me (bad swimmer) feel out of place and they went out of their way to ensure everyone was safe and had lots of fun. Thoroughly recommend this trip and company.

  This is our 3rd time traveling with Active England and we wouldn’t travel thru England any other way. They are incredibly thoughtful to work with. They made the stressful planning... read more process easy. Our guide this time, Charlotte, was patient and kind. We had an unforeseen injury on this trip and Charlotte shuffled us to doctors and A and E’s all with a smile. She took us on wonderful hikes and lovely bike rides. She was very knowledgeable about the areas we were in. Will, the owner, is amazing! He dealt with our kids needing to get Covid tests and put off taking money from us till all was 100% definite. I highly recommend any trip Active England has to offer!

  The swimming weekend in Devon was a joy from start to finish. Locations, local knowledge, and the expertise and good humour of the guides made it an experience I... read more won’t forget in a hurry.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the 4 day swim trip with fabulous guides and friendly fellow swimmers, amazing locations and varied, highly enjoyable swims in clear waters. The guides were super friendly... read more and always had a plan B ready accommidating changing weather conditions. The drives through narrow country roads were equally enjoyable passing quaint villages and the beautiful Devon countryside. In the evenings we got back to the clean and comfortable hotel for a restful night's sleep to recharge for the next day's adventures.

  Fabulous swim locations, expert guidance, congenial company, comfortable hotel - all put together with thorough planning and lots of smiles

  Brilliant 3 day swimming trip to South Devon. Excellent organisation, value for money and leadership by enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun guides. There was a good range of swimming... read more experiences from lido, to river to sea. The great British weather meant that some of the itinerary/swim locations had to be changed for safety reasons but this didn't detract from the experience at all. there was quite a range of wild swimming experience and ability within out group but, again, the guides were able to manage the swims in such a way that everyone got what they wanted from the holiday. Absolutely brilliant weekend and would highly recommend to both experienced and newbie open water swimmers.

  A fantastic weekend of swims led by enthusiastic, experienced and friendly guides. The two leaders and our driver could not have done more to make the weekend a memorable and... read more enjoyable one. We were introduced to a variety of swim experiences fro lidos to rivers and the sea. The guides were quick to adapt these to the ever changing weather conditions and needs of the group. Accommodation and places to eat also had the same attention to detail, particularly the visit to the Cott Inn which was an excellent choice.

  We took the 4 days swimming tour in Cornwall. It was a great experience with plenty of opportunities to swim in this beautiful part of England. The tour was very... read more well organised and we had excellent guidance for all the swimming opportunities. Our guides, Jago and Chris are excellent hosts and were key for the enjoyment the whole group experienced. Highly recommended!!!

  We had the most wonderful short break on Dartmoor, swimming and walking, our guides were enthusiastic and very well informed on local knowledge.

  We had the most fantastic 4-day Devon swim tour with Active England - everything was perfectly organised making everything so easy for us, the swims were beautiful, varied and... read more able to be enjoyed by swimmers of all levels, and the guides couldn't have been better in looking after us and being a real pleasure to spend time with. We're already looking forward to another swim tour with Active England in 2022!

  My 6-day cycling trip in Kent was wonderful. This was my 4th trip with Active England (2 in the Cotswolds, 1 in the Cotswolds/Devon/Cornwall - a custom made trip -... read more and then my trip in Kent in 2019). Each trip was outstanding: beautiful views, wonderful visits to national trust sites, historic homes, and monuments, and lovely hotels. The trips are well-organized and give guests the opportunity to add on or subtract miles as desired (in several trips I rode extra miles solo with the guide, which was really terrific). The organization is meticulous, and the guides are friendly, helpful, and very knowledgable about the local area. Frances was a wonderful guide for the Devon/Cornwall trip!
For my Kent trip, our guide Helen was so fantastic. She took great care of us, was flexible and fun about stopping for photos, and always was up for a bit of serendipitous silliness (dipping our toes in the ocean and hanging out in the most incredible area filled with stunning, unusual flowers). She also had a detailed knowledge of the area that made our trip even more enjoyable. Ian, who was guiding the walkers on our trip, was also terrific (he's been a guide on all 4 of my trips): kind, very smart about the areas we visit, organized, patient, and helpful.
The trips always include incredible views, a smart itinerary, and wonderful places to stay and eat. Cyclists of all fitness levels will be happy - the van is always there if you want to bail out early (or skip a big hill) - and if you want a bit more challenge with longer routes, the guides are always happy to do that as well. I've been on trips with people from age 14 to 80 - families and folks like me traveling solo - and everyone was well taken care of. As they say, this is YOUR vacation, and they will adjust as you like.
I HIGHLY recommend this tour company! Will Cairns, the owner, is always open to hearing from folks. He's easy to contact and very professional (and he's a fun guide on some of the trips as well). After 4 trips with them, I'm thinking about a 5th one this coming summer (I hope they don't get tired of me)!

  My sister and I booked the Classic 8 day self-guided walking tour in mid-September of 2019. We both declared it one of the best trips either of us had... read more taken. The guides assisted us just enough to get around independently on our daily countryside walks but would then take us by van to visit the highlighted iconic points of interest such as Stonehenge, Blenheim Palace, and the Roman Baths to name a few. It was a perfect mix of active, outdoor, picturesque hiking coupled with the historic and educational tours . It is very apparent that Active England hires only the best in guides. We had Howard, Helen, and Jago with a mixed group of 11 people, some cycling, some walking, some guided and some self-guided. Our guides were exceptional in their local knowledge, athletic abilities, professionalism, and good-nature as they took care of and kept track of us all. They really felt like friends by the end of the trip. I will very likely book another trip with Active England and go to another destination on their list of tours.