If you need to polish up your bushcraft skills (and if you don't know what bushcraft is, that probably includes you!) then check out what's on offer from WildPath. Based in secluded woodland on the North Devon coast, survival experts offer courses in bushcraft skills including building a shelter, foods in the wild, tracking, starting a campfire and other primitive crafts. Designed to be fun but educational, this is the ideal outdoor skills course for individuals, groups and families.
Survival of a different kind can be practiced at Survival Paintball near Torrington where the 20-acre site has been offering games since 1988. State of the art equipment is provided and the focus on safety means everyone gets to enjoy the experience. After donning fatigues (provided) and trying a few shots on the practice firing range, enjoy jungle field, a bridge too far, the piggy pen, banks and barricades, tin can alley and trenches with three great games arenas. Survival Paintball also offers Airsoft Days each month for more realistic woodland games.
Still on a shooting theme, North Devon Shooting Ground near Woolacombe offers Clay Target Shooting in a beautiful natural valley with professionally qualified instructors. Learn how to follow the target and line up the perfect shot in this fun sport.
If you want to really get the adrenalin surging, take to the air with Devon and Somerset Parachute School. Experiencing skydiving, either with a Tandem skydive or Static Line from the local airfield near Honiton. The experienced team of instructors includes members who have represented Great Britain at World Championship level, led by Chief Instructor Andy Guest.
Slightly less challenging, but lots of fun, Devon and Somerset Parachute School offers a great experience in a microlight in unrestricted airspace near Umberleigh.
If watersports are your “thing” then consider chartering a yacht for a sail around the Torridge Taw Estuary on a two-masted lugger. Appledore Sails provides a RYA qualified commercial offshore yacht master and welcomes guests' participation in taking the tiller or pulling the ropes as much or as little as they wish.
Back on dry land, Rock and Rapid Adventures offers climbing, abseiling, zip lining, coasteering, bouldering, high ropes, low ropes and plenty of other team-building activities for school groups or adults with courses to suit. With a Climbing Wall and access to Exmoor nearby, it offers an exciting range of outdoor courses and experiences.
Southdown Adventure at Yarnscombe offers some crazy madness with quad bikes, Madtrax, clay shooting, archery, air rifles and Zorb balling making it the ideal destination for birthdays, stag and hen groups and families. For those interested just in some fast and furious Quad Biking, the Mullacott Centre at Ilfracombe has well maintained vehicles and a great course.
Finally, many beaches in Devon offer watersports equipment hire and tuition. Surfing, windsurfing, sea kayaking and paddleboarding are all available in North Devon for you to make your own “Point Break” experience.
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.