10 fun outdoor activities for Valentine's Day

Want a Valentine's Day that's more memorable than a set menu? These outdoor date ideas can all be booked on eola, they're spread across England, Scotland and Wales, and most of them also make a lovely gift voucher. Here are our 10 favourites.

1. Go donutting on a dry slope

Donutting means whizzing down a ski slope in a big inflatable ring. You don't need any skills, you'll laugh a lot, and it works as well for a first date as it does for a silly anniversary. Alpine Snowsports Aldershot in Hampshire runs donutting sessions for ages 4 and up, while The Hill, home of Ski Rossendale in Lancashire has fun tubing on two slopes.

2. Try archery or axe throwing

A bit of friendly competition makes for a great date. At UKAO @ Avon Valley near Bristol, ArcheryGB instructors teach you the basics before some target games, and there's axe throwing for over-16s if you fancy something noisier. In the Lake District, Ullswater Paddleboarding runs a fully instructed 60-minute archery experience in the grounds of Another Place hotel.

3. Paddle under a full moon

For something properly romantic, Paddleboard Maidenhead runs a monthly Full Moon on the Thames paddle. It's a two-hour trip, so you'll need some paddling experience; if you're new to it, start with their SUP Starters session. In Swansea, Emily King Paddle hosts a sociable guided paddle on Wednesday nights that's open to all levels.

4. Kayak somewhere beautiful

Sharing a kayak means working as a team, which is half the fun. Koru Kayaking leads two-hour guided trips on Cornwall's Helford River near Falmouth, past ancient oak woodland and quiet tidal creeks. In Scotland, Kayak Arran runs half-day coastal tours with spectacular scenery and wildlife.

5. Raft white water together

If your idea of romance involves getting soaked, look out for the couples-only Valentine's rafting session at Cardiff International White Water, run on its fastest water flow for ages 16 and up. Its hot-dogging puts the two of you in an inflatable kayak on the rapids, with an instructor keeping watch. For a full day on a real river, Adventures Wales runs white water rafting trips from its base in Porthcawl.

6. Climb or abseil together

Climbing is all about trust, which makes it a surprisingly good date. Anglesey Adventures takes you rock climbing high above the sea, and its abseiling sessions need no experience at all. In the Peak District, DC Outdoors runs a three-hour abseiling session that builds up from a 6-metre drop to a 20-metre one.

7. Go coasteering

Coasteering mixes scrambling, swimming and cliff jumps along the shore, and it's an instant bonding exercise. Big Green Adventures guides two-hour sessions around Pentire headland at Crantock in Cornwall, for ages 10 and up. On the Gower, RIPNROCK times its coasteering around high tide, with caves, traverses and a chance of seeing seals. The sea is cold in February, so this one makes a perfect voucher for a summer date.

8. Take a river cruise with bubbles

For a gentler afternoon, Helford River Cruises offers a 90-minute Champagne Charter on a traditional Cornish motorboat, with Champagne and nibbles on board, or a classic Helford River cruise. In Essex, Freedom Boat Adventures runs an adults-only Sunset Seafood Cruise near Colchester, and its Wildlife and Landscapes trip goes looking for seals on the River Blackwater.

9. Explore nature after dark

Wrap up warm for an evening outdoors. In Galloway, Way of the Wild leads biofluorescence walks in the forest at Glen Trool, using UV torches to reveal living things that glow. Each torch space is shared by up to two people, which suits a couple nicely. On Loch Tay, CAG Adventures runs evening beaver tours, floating gently down towards their lodge.

10. Afternoon tea by the lake

Not every date needs a wetsuit. Llandegfedd Activity Centre near Pontypool serves afternoon tea at its lake café, and has offered a Valentine's picnic basket for two with indoor seating looking out over the water. Come summer, the Waterside Centre in Newbury runs Paddle & Prosecco evenings on the River Kennet for over-18s, finishing with a grazing board at the café.

Give it as a gift: experience vouchers

If you'd rather have something to wrap up, lots of eola providers sell gift vouchers, so your other half can choose a date that suits. Try Alpine Snowsports Aldershot, Cardiff International White Water, Big Green Adventures, Paddle Richmond in south-west London, Koru Kayaking or Helford River Cruises.

A voucher is also a neat way round winter weather: give it in February and save the adventure for a warm summer's day.

Tips for an outdoor Valentine's date

• Book ahead, as weekend sessions around Valentine's Day can be popular.
• Dress for the weather. February days are short and chilly, so pack warm layers, a hat and dry clothes for afterwards.
• Read the product page before you book. Most activities have minimum ages, and some need a bit of experience.
• Can't agree on a date? Buy a voucher and let your partner choose when to go.

Looking for more ideas? Search all activities on eola, or read our experience gifts guide, 10 awesome outdoor activities to try this year and where to go coasteering in the UK.

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