Adventure days out in the UK

Skydiving
There's an old joke in skydiving: if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving isn't for you. Perhaps seasoned veterans are just trying to keep novices away from what they describe as an exhilarating and thrilling experience. In any case, the two types of skydiving options for beginners ensure safety. One allows you to experience freefall in a tandem jump. You're securely strapped to an instructor and together you jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet. The instructor opens the chute and navigates the landing, leaving you to watch the world go by, so to speak.

For those who want to go it alone, there is the static line jump. As you leave the plane at the lower altitude of 3,000 feet, your parachute opens automatically and you steer yourself towards the drop zone.

For a tandem jump, you'll need to put in at least a day, and for a static line jump, you'll need at least a weekend. Tuition generally involves teaching you how to steer the parachute, the basics of the jump, and what happens as well as safety measures. (A word to the wise: skip skydiving on a first date. Because air expands with altitude, high-altitude flatulence can occur.)

Jumps take place all year round, weather permitting. Generally, everyone from 16 to 70 is welcome, although those with a medical condition or anyone over 40 years old need to check with their doctor first. There are about 35 centres dotted around the UK that operate jumps and are licensed by the British Parachute Association. For information on your nearest jump centres and bookings, see www.bpa.org.