Take me there: cycling in Denmark
Novice cyclists wanting to spread their wings (or should that be wheels?) would do well to choose Denmark for their first two-wheeled jaunt overseas. The island of Zealand is pancake flat, with little traffic and well-signposted trails which follow the shoreline or meander inland. Stop to rest on white beaches, or to taste schnapps and chocolate from artisan producers, visit Fredensborg, the "Danish Versailles", or go to Kronborg, the setting for Hamlet. Inntravel has introduced cycling trips on the island this summer with accommodation in seaside guesthouses. From £675pp for four nights' B&B with luggage transfers and cycle hire (inntravel.co.uk)
It's a good time to… ride a zip wire
While the sight of Boris Johnson dangling forlornly from a zip wire in east London is one of the less glorious Olympic images seared on to the national consciousness, it doesn't seem to have dented our enthusiasm for strapping ourselves into harnesses and launching ourselves from high platforms while attached to a taut wire.
Three zip-wire experiences launched last year in the UK, each claiming to be more thrilling than the last. The Laggan Activity Centre in Dumfries and Galloway had the honour of being the longest zip wire in the UK when it launched last summer with the novelty of a double zip line for tandem "zipping" (lagganoutdoor.co.uk). It was quickly followed by the Eden Project's SkyWire ride, which gives visitors a bird's-eye view of its Biomes and gardens (edenproject.com) and – for one week – the chance to fly across Wembley Stadium's pitch.
But these are about to be trumped by Zip World, opening on 23 March in North Wales. At 1,750m, it will be the longest zip wire in Europe, whisking thrill seekers from a height of 700ft to ground level at speeds of up to 75mph (zipworld.co.uk). Views of Snowdonia, the Isle of Anglesey and, on a clear day, the Isle of Man are promised… assuming you are brave enough to keep your eyes open.
Give me a break: the week's best deals
Kitesurf on Camber Learn to kitesurf on the golden sands of East Sussex this spring. The Gallivant, a cool coastal hideaway tucked behind the dunes at Camber, has a surf-and-stay package for £164pp. Available between March and October, it includes one night's dinner, B&B, plus a one-day kitesurfing course and represents a 30% saving on the room rate and 20% on the cost of a lesson (thegallivanthotel.com)
Easter in Rome There's a buzz about Rome at Easter, especially with the arrival of the new pope. Stay at Keycamp's Camping Village Fabulous park, a short metro ride away, and you can enjoy day trips to the Eternal City, plus a pool, kids' activities and restaurant back on site. A week in a mobile home costs from £322 per family, including a discount of £140, departing on 23 March (keycamp.co.uk)
