Multi Activity Centres

 You won’t want to sit still in The Valleys. Who can blame you, with all that fresh air, green grass, mountains and water on your doorstep?

This inviting landscape inspires all manner of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, cycling, climbing, gorge walking, watersports, horse riding and pony trekking, not to mention a host of high-adrenaline pursuits. For that easy to arrange all-in-one experience book into one of our multi-activity centres where you can ‘pick and mix’ whatever you fancy. How about a ‘land and water’ kind of day – mountain biking in the morning, canoeing or kayaking in the afternoon? Or a spot of clay pigeon shooting rounded off by a blast on a quad bike? Or – if you want a real challenge – a session on a climbing wall followed by a wild and wet gorge walk?

You don’t need any special skills – just the appetite to try something different. All centres are staffed by experienced people who know and love their sports and activities inside out. You’ll be kitted out with all the proper gear and safety equipment, and introduced to your chosen activity step by step. Centres will even organise food or accommodation for you (some have on-site facilities). What could be easier?

You can get very wet in The Valleys

You can get wet in the Valleys in lots of ways – and we’re not talking about rain. Our rivers and lakes are ideal for sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. These sports are well represented at Llandegfedd Reservoir near Cwmbran, our number-one aquatic hot spot. This beautiful, 434-acre/176ha lake and country park has a thriving sailing club. It also happily admits that it’s one of Wales’s ‘best-kept secrets’. You can understand why the locals want it all to themselves. Visitors, of course, are very welcome and equipment hire and tuition are available. Which brings us to paddleboarding. Never heard of it? Basically, it’s a board on which you stand... and paddle. Apparently it was popular with Hawaiian chiefs. You can now do it in The Valleys (floral shirt and shorts optional).

Sailing is also popular on the scenic Pontsticill Reservoir north of Merthyr Tydfil, with the backdrop of the Brecon Beacons as a bonus. The local activity centre in Taff Bargoed runs exciting kayaking adventures on two purpose-built lakes to suit all ages. They’ll also take you further afield on more challenging river trips to secret locations known only to their expert guides. Though if all you want to do is paddle your canoe on a serene stretch of inland waterway head for the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.