Herefordshire and its neighbours offer plenty of exciting physical activities for great days out.

With bikes available in every possible combination – from trailer bikes, single and double, for younger children to tandems and adult trail bikes and special bikes for special needs – everyone can enjoy a great day’s cycling in the Forest of Dean. Hire your bike and pick up a map from Pedalabikeaway and freewheel your way through miles of stunning scenery – the map provides plenty of options for every level of cyclist with short loop routes clearly marked. For more information, call 01594 860065 or visit pedalabike away.co.uk

Discover the exhilaration of the UK’s fastest growing board sport – mountain boarding – on Herefordshire hillsides. Court Farm in Tillington is the first official Maxtrak centre in the county and a great place to mountain board, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned boarder. At Out to Grass in Cradley, you’ll find another great place to experience the speed and excitement of mountain boarding. Court Farm Mountain Board Centre, 01432 760271/courtfarm leisure.co.uk Out to Grass, 01886 880099/outtograss.com

Keeping children of different ages amused can be a challenge in school holidays, but for the over-eights, go-karting offers a brilliant solution. Boys and girls alike love speeding around the track, trying to beat each other and themselves, with every driver given a printout of their lap times at the end. And the best thing is that karting is such a buzz that it can be 24 hours before they ask what’s next on the activity programme! Herefordshire Raceway, near Weobley, call 01544 318334 to book or for further details.

Take to the treetops at Go Ape! in the Forest of Dean, where a circuit of the treetop highwires, zip wires and cargo nets provide a great workout for mind and body as you concentrate to negotiate each challenge, and, especially for adults more used to walking supermarket aisles than walking the air, an enormous sense of achievement. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult and height restrictions apply. Visit goape.co.uk to book.

Ten-pin bowling is always popular and at TGS Bowling Centre all the lanes are fitted with ‘Xtreme Bowling’ lighting and children’s bumpers to help young bowlers get the ball to its target, and light balls and bowling ramps to ensure that even the smallest child can give their ball enough momentum to hit the pins. Bowling is also available at Grove Bowling, with eight lanes featuring modern, high-tech lighting and sound system, a bar, dining room and small dance floor. TGS Bowling: 01432 352500/tgsbowling.co.uk. Grove Golf and Bowl: 01568 611777.