Holidays 2002: GET YOUR KICKS

A FEAST of fitness and fun is on offer this year at Britain's holiday parks. Throughout the UK the top locations present lots of action - with sports opportunities galore to improve your favourite game and activities to make your holiday memorable. It's all here from football training, archery and ballooning to sailing and scuba diving. DAVID KERR finds himself a piece of the action...

IF you're looking for activities guaranteed to keep you on your toes then BRITISH HOLIDAYS have the lot. And if access to swimming pools, tennis courts, multi-sports courts, golf courses and sailing isn't enough, now you can join in a whole range of organised activities too.

From swimming and scuba diving to professional football coaching - British Holidays also offer the Ian Rush Finishing School - every taste is catered for.

Budding Beckhams caught up in World Cup mania can improve their skills at selected parks during the summer holidays and go home with the exclusive "Rushie" certificate or maybe even the coveted Player of the Day trophy. You'll also be able to see all those important World Cup fixtures on widescreen satellite TV.

Holidaymakers of all ages will enjoy the extra activities in the swimming pools. Discover Scuba is a gentle introduction to scuba diving or you can learn lifesaving skills and body-boarding at the Wave Rider class.

Bubble Maker is a new and lively session of wacky family fun in the swimming pool. British Holidays (0870 242 4444 or www.british- holidays.co.uk) have award-winning parks all around the UK, with a choice of fabulous coastal locations.

Current offers include half-price spring holidays, 30 per cent discounts on some breaks or 100 off the cost of your summer holiday with their Early Bird deal.

PARK RESORTS (08701 299 299 or www.park-resorts.com) offer the chance to learn to swim, scuba dive, snorkel and even find out about being a lifeguard with their new WaterResorts programme for 2002. Available at all 13 parks, set in coastal locations in England and Wales, the programme is aimed at all abilities.

If you prefer dry land there's plenty of other sports to choose from including football, archery, fencing, aerobics and golf.

A four-night break over the Easter weekend (March 28) at Brynowen in mid-Wales costs 146 in a Bronze 7 caravan sleeping up to seven people. Seven nights at Brynowen in similar accommodation from April 6 costs 138. A moderate additional charge applies for some of the sport and water activities. Half-price holiday deals are also available at Brynowen and four other parks during June, early July and September if booked before the end of February.

WARNER HOLIDAYS (0870 601 6012 or www.warnerholidays.co.uk) specialise in holidays for adults, and operate six historic hotels, two character hotels and five classic resorts in country and coastal locations around the UK. Activities and sports vary and include tennis, golf, bowling, archery, clay shooting, swimming, cycling and ballooning.

And if all that leaves you exhausted you can revive yourself in the spa pool, sauna, or steam rooms.

Festival breaks are themed holidays. Shades of Country, for example, allows guests to grab their stetson and re-live the Nashville dream. Other themes include Rhythm 'n' Blues, Big Band, Jazz and, new for 2002, a Jive Weekend.

Thoresby Hall, on the edge of Sherwood Forest - Warner's latest property - is a magnificent grade one listed Victorian hall restored to its former glory and now a luxury hotel with restaurant, cabaret venue and superb leisure facilities.

Prices for a three-night weekend break are from 155 per person in February, based on two people sharing a twin/double room, half board.

HOSEASONS HOLIDAY LODGES AND PARKS (0870 900 9011 or www.hoseasons.co.uk),the UK's leading self-catering operator, offer the widest choice of holiday locations in the UK, many with great facilities for sports fans.

At the Great Glen Water Park holiday village in Inverness a family of six can experience a week of white-water rafting, windsurfing and water-skiing in August for 585. Accommodation is self-catering in a three-bedroom Loch Side Lodge.

Harcourt Sands on the Isle of Wight offers tobogganing, abseiling and archery. It costs 699 for a week in August in a Beech caravan that sleeps up to eight people. Return ferry with Wightlink is 65 for a car and passengers.

OASIS LAKELAND FOREST VILLAGE (08705 086 000 or www.oasisholidays.co.uk) is set in 400 acres of mature woodland at the edge of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.

The village offers luxury accommodation plus entertainment, shops, restaurants and more leisure facilities. Now you can treat your body like a temple at The Spa - which offers guests a welcome break from the stresses of everyday life with numerous luxurious treatments.

The cost for a family of four staying in a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge for a four-night mid-week break starts from 212. Activities cost extra.

BUTLINS (0870 242 0870 or www.Butlins.co.uk) offer plenty of activity for the whole family with great-value breaks from as little as 32 per person.

Kids can enjoy the freedom of an adult-free zone packed with activities and music. There's something different to do every day of the week, with activities ranging from the Megazone Laser Challenge to the teen-only pool evening in Splash Waterworld. You can also try your hand at basketball and 10-pin bowling.

Younger children can enjoy Fox Kids Clubs and Noddy's Toyland rides. Parents can check out various live entertainment venues. Butlins also feature breaks for adults only, ideal for groups of friends.

Butlins Resorts are at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness. Three nights in a self-catering studio apartment at Bognor Regis during half-term February 15-18 costs 32 per person based on four people sharing and subject to availability.

Cash in on dealsPONTIN'S (08705 331199 or www.pontins.co.uk) offer plenty of sport and action for all ages including Powertrak Go- Karts, themed Crazy Golf and Zip Wires.

Every night there's live music, dancing and cabaret. Those who book a self-catering or half-board holiday before February 28 will receive "cashback" of up to 30 per cent of the cost in Pontin's Pounds which can be spent just like ordinary money in its bars, restaurants, fast food outlets and leisure facilities.

Prices for a week's self-catering holiday start from as little as 330 (based on four sharing a one-bedroom Classic apartment) in off- peak season - with early bookers qualifying for 99 cashback. Pontin's eight Family Centres are located at Blackpool, Pakefield (Suffolk), Prestatyn Sands (N Wales), Brean Sands (Somerset), Camber Sands (Sussex), Hemsby (Norfolk), Southport (Lancs) and Wall Park (Devon).

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