5 Great British Adventures For 2025

Looking for staycation ideas with an extra dose of thrill? Here are five Great British adventures to embark on in 2025.

5 British Adventure Holidays

Red Stag Safari, Somerset/Devon

Who says you can’t go ‘epic’ on your doorstep? The remote moors, steep valleys and ancient woodland that make up Exmoor National Park in South West England is the perfect backdrop for exploring, sometimes off-road, in a Land Rover Discovery. The safaris are run by Somerset born-and-bred Andrew Turner, whose family and farming roots on Exmoor date back 200 years – through his expertise, there’s a good chance of spotting the somewhat elusive and reclusive wild red deer, as well as Exmoor ponies, foxes, hares, and birdlife from buzzards and kestrels to kingfishers and heron. Turner is also well-versed in the area’s geology, Bronze Age settlements and local heritage, while autumn is a chance to witness the huge stags during the deer rut. On these seasonal tours, Turner gives visitors a chance to get closer to these majestic creatures, who are difficult to find outside of the mating season. redstagsafari.co.uk

Sea Kayaking, Western Highlands

Sea kayaking around Scotland’s Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Western Highlands Just south of Arisaig, mainland Scotland’s most westerly point, is the wild, rugged (and it really is) Ardnamurchan Peninsula. Exposed to the elements of the Atlantic Ocean with views of Mull to the south, Small Isles in the northwest, and Coll and Tiree in the distance, it’s a sea kayaker’s dream, especially the adrenalin- seeking type. Marine creatures love it here too; as you weave in and around tiny coves, en route to Ardnamurchan lighthouse, you may encounter seals, sea eagles, otters, manx shearwater, porpoises and whales. There’s a gentler paddle in the more sheltered, long, narrow inlet of nearby Loch Sunart, also a wildlife haven. Whisky lovers are in for an adventure too at the award-winning Ardnamurchan Distillery in Glenbeg village, about halfway up the peninsula. One of Scotland’s most remote distilleries, it’s open for tours, tastings and walk-ins at its visitor centre. westhighlandpeninsulas.com

Coasteering, Pembrokeshire

Coasteering might sound hardcore – the -eering is perhaps reminiscent of seemingly technical endeavours such as mountaineering and orienteering – but this is an all-level adventure once you pick the right course which can involve rock-hopping, hiking, scrambling, cliff-jumping, bodysurfing and swimming. Invented in Wales in the early ‘80s by TYF Adventure and Coasteering at their activity centre (now the luxe Twr y Felin hotel), several outfits offer a chance to explore the coastline (usually between St Davids and Fishguard) in this gung-ho style – wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet provided. Just bring a pair of old trainers that you don’t mind getting wet. Coasteering is about more than the adrenalin; you get up-close to nature and wildlife – think peregrine falcons and honking seals – in a way that’s far more immersive. It’s definitely recommended with an accredited operator as guides know when swells are risky, or where and when seabirds and seals are breeding. tyf.com

Natural In The ‘Galapagos of the UK’, Northumberland

It’s Sir David Attenborough’s favourite place to see nature and wildlife in the UK. Over 100,000 seabirds (23 different species, no less), flock to the Farne Islands to nest alongside grey seals, and to the neighbouring Holy Island of Lindisfarne, off the Northumberland coast. The colourful puffins who return each year and reunite with the same partner are often top of people’s lists – bonus points for spotting a puffling (puffin chicks). It’s particularly special to visit the Farne Islands after they reopened this year following bird flu fears in 2022. For Lindisfarne, trips are timed with the high tide as the island is cut off from the mainland each day. Wildlife aside, there’s the medieval monastery of Lindisfarne Priory, Lindisfarne Castle, and St Aidan’s Winery where you can try local Lindisfarne mead. You can also channel your inner Indiana Jones at the annual crowd-funded archaeological ‘dig’ every September – sign-ups kick off in December and it sells out fast. lindisfarne.org.uk

Hydro-Biking, Northern Ireland

Imagine off-road cycling but on water. You can hydro-bike on an unsinkable bike-like vessel that glides along the River Erne around Castle Island below 600-year-old Enniskillen Castle in County Fermanagh. The only island town on the island of Ireland, Enniskillen often flies under the radar but there’s the castle, cycle and walking trails to Castle Coole, and the galleries, shops and cafés of The Buttermarket are worth it alone. Hydro-biking is as gentle and low-impact or as fast and high-jinx as you like – in fact, they’re so adjustable speed- wise that you can go fishing, take a photography session, and even take the dog along for the ride. For a magical look at the town and castle, you can also hydro-bike by night on pre-lit bikes. And if you’re game, you can have a go on the eBoards; electric-powered water scooters with a wide base which makes them easy to navigate for anyone aged eight and up. erneadventures.com