I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays
It was cheaper than any theme park day out
TOP MARKS I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays
'WILL the ropes manage my 20-stone bulk?', I laughed nervously, directing my question towards the instructor who would be guiding me down the sheer drop.
I had attempted to pass it off as a joke, but even the kids sensed my anxiety as we prepared to walk ourselves over the edge of the tall tower.
5
Canoeing is just one of the many activities at Condover
Credit: Supplied
5
Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house
Credit: Supplied
5
The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities
Credit: Supplied
The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities the children and I had attempted on an action-packed break in Shropshire.
And best of all, it was cheaper than any theme park day out.
School-trip provider JCA Adventure shows energy-exerting fun isn't just for the kids. And my mini break in peak holiday season, with all meals included, cost me less than the price of a train ticket up north.
On top of school getaways, the UK holiday company offers short trips for families, where you can try out all manner of spine-tingling activities without spending thousands.
In fact, holidays here start from just £149.
We were staying at Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house once used as a World War Two hospital and a school for blind children, before being converted into a hub for thrill-seeking youngsters.
The accommodation and food is fairly basic — think bunk beds, plastic mattresses and school dinner-style food.
But given the time spent outdoors, we all slept soundly at night.
Sundown Aventureland is a family-friendly staycation
Myself, my daughter Lily, 12, and my nine-year-old son Clark got stuck into the action straight away on arrival at the rural escape.
No sooner had we dropped our bags than we were strapping a harness around our midriffs and heading up a wooden tower to tackle the aerial trek adventure.
My son was the only one of us who had done something similar before.
He struggled with nerves at the time, navigating wobbly obstacles while dangling 50ft in the air, but this seemed to be a breeze for him.
And soon my daughter was whizzing alongside him at lightning speed, tackling the obstacles as if no distance lay between them and the forest floor.
It was one of many magical moments on the trip, watching as they grew in confidence.
If your little ones can tackle that, they'll be keen to get on the climbing wall.
It was here my daughter proved she's made of stronger stuff than me by making her way to the top with ease.
5
Among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire
Credit: Supplied
5
Mark, Lily and Clark geared up for adrenaline action
Credit: Supplied
My son and I preferred to stay closer to solid ground.
Luckily, there's plenty of adrenaline-pumping fun for those who are less comfortable with heights.
In the sports hall, we darted around an inflatable maze virtually-shooting each other in laser battles, while outside, among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire.
There's also den building, canoeing, circus skills and fencing.
But it wasn't until axe throwing, a new activity at Condover Hall this year, that I was restored any dignity with a knockout performance.
By dinner time each day, we were ready to gobble big portions of pasta bolognese, sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks, burgers and stir-fry.
The morning meals were just as hearty — giant fry-ups to fuel us for an adventurous day ahead.
Evenings are a more mellow affair. Guests can relax with a dip in the swimming pool or head to the sports hall to play more wacky games.
There's even a bar for adults to knock back a few pints after a hectic day.
Our final day saw us tackle the activity we'd been waiting for — the Gladiator Wall, which can only be described as a climbing wall on steroids, with obstacles to navigate as you make your way to the top.
Seeing Lily eventually reach the peak on her last go and beam down at us from 70ft above ground was enough to make my chest swell.
Everyone left the holiday with a new sense of accomplishment.
And the best part is, the kids didn't look at their devices once.
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I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays
It was cheaper than any theme park day out TOP MARKS I went on a UK adventure holiday with my entire family for adrenaline pumping activities and Elizabethan manor stays 'WILL the ropes manage my 20-stone bulk?', I laughed nervously, directing my question towards the instructor who would be guiding me down the sheer drop. I had attempted to pass it off as a joke, but even the kids sensed my anxiety as we prepared to walk ourselves over the edge of the tall tower. 5 Canoeing is just one of the many activities at Condover Credit: Supplied 5 Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house Credit: Supplied 5 The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities Credit: Supplied The abseiling wall was just one of many adrenaline-fuelled activities the children and I had attempted on an action-packed break in Shropshire. And best of all, it was cheaper than any theme park day out. School-trip provider JCA Adventure shows energy-exerting fun isn't just for the kids. And my mini break in peak holiday season, with all meals included, cost me less than the price of a train ticket up north. On top of school getaways, the UK holiday company offers short trips for families, where you can try out all manner of spine-tingling activities without spending thousands. In fact, holidays here start from just £149. We were staying at Condover Hall in Shrewsbury, an Elizabethan manor house once used as a World War Two hospital and a school for blind children, before being converted into a hub for thrill-seeking youngsters. The accommodation and food is fairly basic — think bunk beds, plastic mattresses and school dinner-style food. But given the time spent outdoors, we all slept soundly at night. Sundown Aventureland is a family-friendly staycation Myself, my daughter Lily, 12, and my nine-year-old son Clark got stuck into the action straight away on arrival at the rural escape. No sooner had we dropped our bags than we were strapping a harness around our midriffs and heading up a wooden tower to tackle the aerial trek adventure. My son was the only one of us who had done something similar before. He struggled with nerves at the time, navigating wobbly obstacles while dangling 50ft in the air, but this seemed to be a breeze for him. And soon my daughter was whizzing alongside him at lightning speed, tackling the obstacles as if no distance lay between them and the forest floor. It was one of many magical moments on the trip, watching as they grew in confidence. If your little ones can tackle that, they'll be keen to get on the climbing wall. It was here my daughter proved she's made of stronger stuff than me by making her way to the top with ease. 5 Among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire Credit: Supplied 5 Mark, Lily and Clark geared up for adrenaline action Credit: Supplied My son and I preferred to stay closer to solid ground. Luckily, there's plenty of adrenaline-pumping fun for those who are less comfortable with heights. In the sports hall, we darted around an inflatable maze virtually-shooting each other in laser battles, while outside, among the trees, we whooshed along a zipwire. There's also den building, canoeing, circus skills and fencing. But it wasn't until axe throwing, a new activity at Condover Hall this year, that I was restored any dignity with a knockout performance. By dinner time each day, we were ready to gobble big portions of pasta bolognese, sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks, burgers and stir-fry. The morning meals were just as hearty — giant fry-ups to fuel us for an adventurous day ahead. Evenings are a more mellow affair. Guests can relax with a dip in the swimming pool or head to the sports hall to play more wacky games. There's even a bar for adults to knock back a few pints after a hectic day. Our final day saw us tackle the activity we'd been waiting for — the Gladiator Wall, which can only be described as a climbing wall on steroids, with obstacles to navigate as you make your way to the top. Seeing Lily eventually reach the peak on her last go and beam down at us from 70ft above ground was enough to make my chest swell. Everyone left the holiday with a new sense of accomplishment. And the best part is, the kids didn't look at their devices once.
