Quad biking is some of the best, messiest fun you can have in the countryside. After a thorough safety briefing you'll get kitted out in protective clothing and be introduced to your quad. To start off with you'll be driving on level ground round a marked circuit while you get a feel for the quad. As you gain experience - and bottle - you'll be able to shift up a gear and soon you'll be power sliding round the turns like you were born on the bike. Then take off on a quad safari for a taste of what quad biking is really about, venturing across woodland tracks, through water and up and down slopes, with your instructors keeping a close eye on you all the way. You will get mud spattered, but can hand in those overalls at the end. The bikes are usually Honda 250ESs - a utility machine with five forward gears operated by electric thumb shift - or Sportrax 90s - smaller, sports-tuned quads.

Rediscover your sense of adventure (and what it's like to be soaked to the skin!) with this white water rafting experience in an inflatable seven person raft. You'll start by being kitted out with all the equipment (note: this is not an experience for the style-conscious!), before a full safety briefing and instruction in rafting techniques. Then you'll be bussed up to the starting point and your experienced guide will take you onto the water for a series of runs down the breathtaking twists, turns and drops of the mighty River Tryweryn. Catch your breath at the bottom of the run before you're bussed back up and it starts all over again. Each run will bring new challenges, and as you become more confident paddlers your guide will become more determined to get you wet! You'll get as many runs as time allows - usually four. As a guide, this location is graded 3 on the UK's white water grading system, which starts at one (relaxed) and goes up to six (too rough to offer commercially).

A Le Creuset tagine, with base dish and traditional conical-shaped cooking lid. The base dish is made from cast iron, which ensures an even distribution of heat and keeps dishes hot for longer. Perfect for any hob (including induction), and can also be used on its own as a baking dish in the oven, under the grill or on the barbeque. The conical lid is made from earthenware, the traditional material for Moroccan tagines. As steam condenses into water droplets on the lid's cool walls it falls back into dish, keeping everything beautifully moist. Suitable for slow cooking meat and vegetables. Dishwasher safe. Lifetime guarantee. Diameter: 30.5cm.

Scuba diving always looks so tempting on holiday, but if you've never tried it before then it can seem like going in at the deep end (pun fully intended). Back in rainy Britain it's very easy to forget why diving seemed so appealing. But learning how to scuba dive is a ticket to a lifetime of underwater adventure and this family experience is a perfect introduction to the sport. You'll get expert instruction on safety and underwater mobility techniques, then you'll learn how to breathe underwater and achieve weightlessness while getting used to the equipment. Courses take place in swimming pools under controlled conditions - and while it might seem a long way from diving in a tropical ocean, it's the perfect way for your family to get a basic grounding in diving and find out whether you like it. It's also ideal for anyone considering taking a PADI Open Water Diving Course. At the end of the session younger kids (under 10) even get a surprise gift to take home.

Ahoy there me hearties! Splice the main brace, shiver me timbers and other such nautical nonsense... there'll be none of that on this experience, offering an introduction to sailing in a friendly and informal atmosphere. It's great fun - exhilarating and relaxing at the same time, and the best way to take in the beauty and freedom of the open sea. Your experience begins with a safety briefing, then your Yachtmaster skipper will introduce you to the basics of sailing. In no time at all you'll be out at sea, sailing on open water in the evening light. If you're feeling energetic you can put theory into practice and take an active part in crewing, but if you'd rather you can just sit back in the secure cockpit and enjoy the evening. After a couple of hours on the water, (depending on the booking made) you may be offered a glass of chilled white wine as you sail back into port, or to join the crew for a drink afterwards locally. All in all a very civilised approach to a wonderful pastime!

Lots of people assume that the most exciting thing you're likely to see in the coastal waters round Britain is a mackerel. In fact there is a staggering variety of marine and bird life living happily round our shores - and with this experience you'll get the chance to see it for yourselves. You'll be welcomed at the marina, before going aboard your boat and heading out. You might see bottlenose, common or striped dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales (yes, whales and sharks around Britain!), atlantic grey seals and visiting seasonal sea birds including skuas, sabine's gulls and the fabulously-named sooty shearwaters. Of course these are all wild animals so we can't guarantee which ones may make an appearance on the day, but we can guarantee a fascinating and eye-opening experience.

You're into speed, you're into extreme, and you don't mind getting really wet? Head out onto the water in a zapcat! They're lightweight inflatable catamaran hulls with racing engines attached, which makes them amazingly stable and secure, even at high speeds, round tight corners and in conditions from ranging from complete calm to large breaking surf (in fact, they were developed originally from life-saving surf rescue craft). Your experience will begin with a briefing on safety and handling, before you head out onto the water with your instructor. He or she will show you exactly what this fantastic craft can do - so prepare for the ride of your life as you speed along, pull tight manoeuvres and hit big air jumps. Depending on the weather and at the instructor's discretion, you might also get the chance to take the helm and try your hand at powering the zapcat across open water. There's a RIB powerboat on standby acting as a support boat, and you'll get a thrilling ride on this too.

Splice the main brace, shiver me timbers and other such nautical nonsense... there'll be none of that on this experience, which offers an introduction to sailing in a friendly and informal atmosphere aboard the 34ft yacht Half Nelson. It's great fun - exhilarating and relaxing at the same time, and the best way to experience the beauty and freedom of the open sea. After coffee, biscuits and a safety briefing, your Yachtmaster skipper will introduce you to the basics of sailing and in no time at all you'll be sailing down to the Hamble or Cowes. After a lunch break ashore you'll be back on the water, and if you're feeling energetic you can put theory into practice and take an active part in the afternoon's sailing on the Solent or Southampton Water. If you'd rather, you can just sit back in the cockpit and let the crew do the hard work while you relax and enjoy an afternoon at sea. All refreshments aboard are also included. All in all a very civilised approach to a wonderful pastime.

Cars? Cars are for wimps! If you want to drive something really amazing it's got to be a powerboat, if possible one that goes at speeds up to 125mph and powers along at such a rate that it flies above the surface of the water - no chance of a car doing that. With our powerboat experience you'll go out in the Suzuki Hypercat, one of the fastest production powerboats in the world. Built in California, the boat is amazingly graceful and incredibly manoeuvrable. You'll start off with a safety briefing and introduction to the boat - with its hull the same as a class 1 powerboat, she rides on a cushion of air providing a fast, yet comfortable ride. Your crew will usually be veteran powerboat racing champions who know how to get the best out of the Suzuki Hypercat. You'll learn how to control the boat at speeds up to 60mph, then as you head out into open water there's an opportunity to have a go at driving - that should blow a few cobwebs away.

Today we all live in a health conscious society and pay a lot more attention to what we eat and what's in our food. You don't have to be a celebrity chef to know that food from the sea is good for you. Preparing and cooking fish and seafood can be daunting, even to the practised cooks amongst us, but this masterclass aims to dispel the myths and will have you whipping up a bouillabaisse in no time (ok, one step at a time). Each class is tailor-made to the overall level of skill and experience in the group, so there wont be any fear of feeling like a fish out of water (excuse the pun!). You will learn how to shop for fish and seafood, storage, cleaning, scaling and skinning, as well as various methods of cooking. You will help to prepare and cook a variety of dishes and then sit down to lunch to enjoy your hard work, including a well deserved glass of red or white wine.

Try out one of the fastest growing water sports and get to grips with paddling a kayak in a group environment. During the session, you can both expect to learn the basics of paddle and boat control as well as general river safety, with instruction taking place in a safe boating area two to three feet deep. Once the basics are mastered, head out into calm sections of the river under the supervision of qualified instructors. Take a trip through the beautiful Jephson Gardens and local nature reserve to explore and participate in games and challenges to put your new skills to the test. Kayaks were originally developed by indigenous people of Arctic regions, who used the boats to hunt on inland lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The first kayaks consisted of stitched animal skins such as seal stretched over a wooden frame. Don't worry, today they are a little more high tech, made from rotomoulded plastic, wood, fabric over wooden or aluminum frame, fiberglass, Kevlar or carbon fibre.

Step into the state-of-the-art kitchen studio owned by Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi of BBC2's Return to Tuscany for a mouth-watering experience. Learn how to create delicious Italian dishes to wow friends and family - even if your culinary prowess extends no further than boiling an egg! On arrival, enjoy tea or coffee and biscotti or a glass of Prosecco and freshly made Focaccia. Then the chef will demonstrate the antipasti and seasonal pasta dishes you're going to prepare. Pay attention, it's your turn next - get your apron on and your hands dirty creating your very own Italian masterpieces. Friendly, expert advice and help is on hand throughout, and once everything is cooked, reap the rewards of your hard work by sitting down to enjoy your creations in the light, airy kitchen seated area. Your meal also includes a great-tasting half bottle of Italian wine, chosen to complement your food perfectly. Water, tea and coffee are available all day, and you'll also take home a free gift.