A Rapid Adventure

I woke to the satisfying ache of recently exercised muscles complete with a pleasant tiredness, reminiscent after a day on the ski slopes but with no snow to be seen.  I was in North Wales and the only chair lift I was interested in would transport me up and down the hotel stairs, something that the White Lion Royal Hotel in Bala has yet to find a requirement for.  Spotting the tell-tale bruises on various parts of my legs, I dreamily recalled what had preceded the soundest night sleep I’ve had in a decade. Reality dawning, I pinched myself, adding one bruise to the collection, and stumbled to breakfast to exchange enthusiastic banter with my fellow adventurers.

The challenge was to complete ten activities in a day (eleven hours to be precise).  The aim, apart from having fun, was to demonstrate the sheer scale of what North Wales has to offer those looking for something a bit more than a deckchair and pedalo. As mad as it first appeared, the result, as voted over a full Welsh breakfast the next morning, was a unanimous success. We started the day as we meant to go on and the activities just kept flowing. From the early morning wake-up call of high ropes and freefall ‘Power Fan’ madness, through to an altogether more tranquil pony trek followed by motorised sports galore, white water rafting, Canadian canoeing and sailing, the breadth of activities was endless.

North Wales, as it turned out, was exactly what it had been cracked up to be – an adventure playground rarely rivalled this side of the equator. A geographically small but intensely diverse country where coast, forest, mountain or lake are never more than an hour's drive from one another and the varied landscape which ultimately sets it apart from the rest of the world for activity seeker, novice and expert alike.

The region should be a magnet for anyone, and everyone, looking for a slice of the activity pie but somehow you get the impression this area is somewhat of a hidden treasure. And whilst those in the know might like to keep it this way, Adventure North Wales, the programme set up to deliver activity tourism into the region, is working hard to spread the word. ANW's view is that North Wales has it all but deserves greater visibility on the map.

Accessibility to the region doesn’t present much of a problem, with motorway links from Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and London and train services to match. The area also boasts a vast range of ‘other’ attractions including stunning beaches, locally sourced food served in cosy, fireside pubs and accommodation to suit all budgets.  But, just maybe, the Welsh aren’t blowing their own trumpets quite as loud as they could.

Jumping, in some cases literally, from one challenge to the next, there wasn’t time for much small talk, however from the snatched conversations I did manage, it was clear – activity providers in North Wales are open for business. Their set ups are all different and some combine the core business of activity with other jobs, such as farming or fire fighting but nothing could detract from the love of whichever sport they have decided to pursue for both business and pleasure. In fact the vibe amongst providers was infectious and whilst we had restricted time on each activity (in order to complete the challenge) it was certainly enough to whet the appetite and consider going back for more.

The more for me would have to be the exhilarating whitewater rafting. This activity got me hook, line and sinker and it’s not hard to understand why. With expertly delivered instruction on the river bank, a dry run and then in at the deep end, it was a combination of putting some newly learnt skills into practice plus the uncertainty but undeniable fun of the rapids. It was adrenalin-pumping in just the right measure.

Having dumped the wet suits it was on to the dirty but buzzing activity of buggy racing where being behind the wheel encased in a reinforced metal cage probably says it all. Only one in our group managed to turn over the buggy and get it lodged on the track upside down but with no injuries or harm done, there were no great dramas.

At this point I feel credit should be given to Llew, the chef who hosted us at the quad bike centre, as he fed, watered and entertained us within the allocated slot of 30 minutes. Perhaps it was his previous vocation as cook to the Royal Household that ensured a prompt and courteous lunch, or it could have been the prospect of seven exhausted and hungry mouths to feed but either way the beetroot soup, sandwiches and Welsh cake provided by Llew gave us the fuel we needed to complete the challenge.

We finished the day back where we started, in Bala on the lake: A truly stunning fresh water lake spanning four miles in length and one mile across, it is ideal for a range of water sports, particularly as it enjoys a favourable wind direction, making it a favourite spot for windsurfers and sailors alike.   Of the two activities I tried here, it was sailing that got my vote. Perhaps it was with the knowledge that it was the penultimate activity or it could have just been the comic interludes of the instructor on board, who made turning the boat look just as it should be - plain sailing, either way it was one step closer to completing the challenge.

It may be that hardcore adventurers and activity purists would consider the tenth activity to be somewhat of a cop-out but to us it seemed more than appropriate. So as we sat overlooking the lake, with the sun shimmering across the water, the toast was made to the nine activities we had completed and to the final one we could take our time over – sipping Champagne and celebrating the success of achieving what some people believed could never be done. Cheers - or as the Welsh say, Iechyd da!

See the short film of the 10 adventures in a day challenge in WideWorld's video section

For more information on Adventure North Wales, call  0870 365 4265, email: [email protected], or visit www.adventure-northwales.com. The White Lion Royal Hotel - 01678 520314