ACTIVITY BREAKS HUMBERSIDE

Holding a towline attached to a speedboat, wakeboarders stand on a short, WAKEY broad“ board on which they can perform WAKEY! stunts as they cross the boat’s wake ” There’s loads for outdoor-lovers to do in East – especially if you’re a fan of water sports, says Don Jolly

ATER SPORTS, cycling, of the boat; Les Caddy, who runs plenty of quiet country lanes to explore. birdwatching, walking, Billabong, prefers to throw beginners in From you can also cycle a W horse riding... If you enjoy at the deep end, so to speak, and get stretch of the Trans Pennine Trail, which spending your time in the great them used to a towline from the start. actually runs for 215 miles to Southport outdoors, East Yorkshire could be just “If they follow instructions closely and on the west coast. You probably won’t ❖ your cup of tea. relax and let the boat do the work,” he want to do it all, but it is an easy 14 miles While Club sites are spread fairly says, “they can be skiing within 15 to Hull – or to give thinly in relation to the area I have minutes.” More accomplished skiers it its full name – along the bed of an old chosen (Rowntree Park and West Ayton can start zig-zagging across the boat’s railway track, if you want to do some Ordnance Survey Landranger Maps 107 are the nearest), there are several CLs wake, taking off perhaps. city sightseeing. DID YOU that are perfectly located. Wakeboarding can be more Close to the mouth of the , KNOW? The CL at Leven (C Wilson & Sons), spectacular still. Holding a towline and tucked away behind the church in INFORMATION The record for the most for instance, is only two or three miles attached to a speedboat, participants Easington, is the North Humberside skiersone towed boat behindis 114 from the Billabong Watersports stand on a short, broad board on Riding Centre, run by Toni Biglin. As centre near Brandesburton, which which they can perform stunts as they well as offering riding lessons for all offers waterskiing, wakeboarding, cross the boat’s wake. Skilful standards from novice to advanced kneelboarding and towed inflatables wakeboarders can perform high leaps (there’s an indoor school on site and a (if you’re just looking for a bit of fun, in the air, backward and forward small cross-country course beside the I would go for one of the latter two somersaults and 360˚ spins! Humber at the end of the lane), the options – simply hang on tight and A few miles east of Brandesburton is centre also runs rides out for those who go with the flow). All you need are the small seaside resort of Hornsea and would like a canter along the North your swimming costume and towel; Yorkshire’s largest natural lake, Hornsea Sea’s extensive sandy beaches, or a more Billabong supplies wetsuits, lifejackets . Almost two miles long and more gentle ride on the river bank towards SITES and other equipment. than half a mile wide, it is a source of Kilnsea and Spurn Head. Details of CL sites in the can be found on pp500-504 of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2011/12. At some centres waterskiing learners much activity – just as well there’s a café A day at the centre for adults includes start by holding on to a boom at the side to sustain you then. a lesson in the indoor school, lunch CONTACTS You can launch your own dinghy at the followed by a ride along the beach or n Billabong Watersports centre – waterskiing, wakeboarding, Sailing on sailing club (permit £12 a day), while river bank, then coffee and cake at the kneelboarding, towed inflatables. Call 01964 543631 or rowing boats can be hired at £3 per adult end of the day – all for £60. If you think 07971 746552 or see billabongwatersports.co.uk per hour (half price for children under that is too long in the saddle for n Hornsea Mere – rowing, birdwatching, putting. 12). Alternatively, you could go on a unaccustomed posteriors, lessons by the Call 01964 533277 or see hornseameremarine.com n North Humberside Riding motor boat trip, fish (from boat or bank) hour are also available. Beach rides are Centre – horse riding. at £5 per permit – the mere is renowned another option – a one-and-a-half-hour Call 01964 650250 or for pike as well as carp, bream, roach, trip for experienced riders costs £35, an see nhrc.info chub and perch – or test your skills on the hour for novices is £25. n n Other activity options – putting green which costs just £1.20 per clay pigeon shooting at person per round. Monckton Shooting Ground, North Also popular here is birdwatching. (call 01430 827229 or see The mere is designated a Special moncktonshoot.co.uk); Protection Area for birds. Attractions gliding at Wolds Gliding include a population of over-wintering Club, (call gadwalls as well as ducks, divers, geese, 01759 303579 or see gulls and land birds, some of which nest wolds-gliding.org); karting at Hull Karting among the reed beds. Megan Barker, 18, (call 01482 308740 or Saddled up in Humberside Being fairly flat, this part of Yorkshire shows why she’s a big see hullcc.gov.uk. is great for gentle cycling and there are name in her sport

38 The Caravan Club Magazine November 2011 The Caravan Club Magazine 39