Action and adventure

THE sun toasted us from a cloudless deep-blue sky as lusty, bright-white waves crashed on to a pristine golden beach.

It was the end of June and this was beautiful Woolacombe in North Devon.

As televisions and radios transmitted commentaries from sporting events around the world – Andy Murray and our footballing heroes were still quoted as favourites for success – this was England at its most optimistic and summer best.

It was also a very special time for four 16-year-olds lads from Wiltshire who had just completed the extended agony of GCSE exams.

Relief was uppermost in their minds. Months of study and worry were over. They had done their best and, dependent on results, they were heading for the big time of Year 12, and their days of university independence were getting closer.

But first, Peter, Mark, James and George would have time to kick back and relax. It would be another 10 whole weeks before the start of their next term – and now it was time to party.

So what better way to start that long summer break than with a few days in one of the West’s premier resorts?

Our hosts for three nights were Woolacombe Holiday Parks – and we couldn’t have chosen better.

We booked a three-bedroomed lodge at the biggest and liveliest of the company’s four parks, Golden Coast, a mere five-minute drive from Woolacombe’s compact centre and glorious Blue Flag surfing beach.

Our accommodation, set in a quiet corner of the park by one of five swimming pools, was spacious, comfortable and well equipped.

Golden Coast offers a mix of places to sleep, from bungalows, flats and villas to family lodges. You can also rent a pitch for your own caravan or tent.

And you are never short of things to do.

Apart from the pools, you can play tenpin bowling; enjoy a game of pitch and putt, tennis or snooker; tackle the climbing wall; catch a film at the cinema; relax in the sauna, spa bath and solarium; catch a fish in the lake and much more.

When the sun goes down, there is free entertainment (game shows, bingo, quizzes, talent shows, cabaret, discos, etc) every night in the clubhouse.

If you want to feed yourself, the supermarket serves everything you need. On the other hand, you will find several places that serve a variety of meals. We particularly enjoyed lunch and dinner at The Old Mill, a lovely 17th century pub. Prices, everywhere, are surprisingly reasonable.

Talent shows, discos and bowling are OK, but 16-year-old lads need a bit of adventure, a challenge. Fortunately, there is plenty of opportunity for that within easy distance of Golden Coast.

First, we headed south to The Big Sheep, near Bideford.

Our first impression was this wasn’t going to be too exciting for a group of teenagers as much of the entertainment appeared to be aimed at a younger audience. But the lads came away having found plenty to do and saying they had a good time. At The Big Sheep, you can get up close to a variety of farm animals: sheep (obviously), horses, pigs, goats, llamas and dogs.

Eleven live shows, including sheep racing, sheep shearing, horse whispering, sheepdog trials and duck trials are staged in three show areas every day. There is a range of rides (indoor and outdoor), a paintball combat zone, a huge indoor play area and, slightly incongruously we thought, a brewery.

It was not the best preparation, perhaps, for our next activity – a taste of adventure at Ultimate High, just across the road.

Here, we met up with instructors Paul, Nikki and Rob, who explained what the centre had to offer.

Rob kitted the boys out with protective gear, then while Paul made me a cup of tea, he introduced them to what looked like skateboards with giant wheels – mountainboards.

Next, elbow, knee and hand pads discarded, the boys scaled the 40ft climbing tower, and made their way around the two tricky high-ropes courses.

Other adventure activities on offer include climbing, mountain biking, and at the nearby Atlantic coast, kayaking, surfing and the increasingly popular pursuit of coasteering.

Ultimate High has been open for only three years, but response has been very positive, and comments on its website – from school groups, families and stag and hen parties – endorsed what we thought: great fun, nice people, and excellent value.

Next morning we were up bright and early for a 10am appointment at Keypitts Farm, near Ilfracombe, where we met owner Fred Chugg to take up his offer of a spot of quad-biking.

The 200-acre Keypitts Farm has been owned by the Chugg family since the 15th century, but 10 years or so ago when it was becoming increasingly harder to make a living from livestock farming, petrol-head Fred, and his horse-mad wife Wendy decided to change tack.

They invested in their first quad bikes, almost immediately opened up their land to paying customers and have not looked back since - adding horse-riding, 4x4 Jeep drives and paintballing sessions to their menu of fun.

Show me a 16-year-old boy who doesn’t rate this as first rate fun.

After checking out we decided to extend our stay by spending a couple of hours on Woolacombe’s famous beach.

George hired a surfboard and hit the waves like an old hand while the rest of us relaxed on the hot, but breezy beach – and, I’m sorry to admit, burned – in the sun.

Before we know it Woolacombe and our summer break will be little more than a happy memory. Soon, the new school term will be with us.

But first, we have to face those results – August 24 is the day all 16-year-olds (and their dads) have etched into their memories.