For days when you'd rather be doing than looking, getting active rather than chilling out, here are some suggestions to keep you on the move.

■ Go Ape

Forest of Dean and Wyre Forest. Walk tall as you negotiate the treetop walkways of Go Ape, meeting the challenge of highwires, zipwires and cargo nets in a workout for mind and body. Details, visit goape.co.uk

■ Bowling

At TGS Bowling, 17 lanes are fitted with ‘Xtreme Lighting’, the latest graphics and children’s bumpers. Lighter balls and bowling ramps mean that everyone can join in.

Grove Golf and Bowl offers eight state-of-the-art bowling lanes using the latest computer technology, giving accurate scoring and bowling speeds, with fully automated bumpers for the less experienced to ensure that you hit a pin every time.

TGS Bowling: 01432 352500, tgs bowling.co.uk Grove Golf and Bowl: 01568 611777, grovegolfandbowl.co.uk

■ Swimming

Fun swims and inflatable sessions will take place regularly throughout the summer at Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury and Ross-on- Wye swimming pools. Visit haloleisure.co.uk for programme of events.

For details of what’s on at Malvern Splash, call 01684 893423.

■ Walking and picnicking in the local countryside

Pack a picnic and put your best foot forward for a day that costs almost nothing, but offers a unique way to experience the beautiful Herefordshire landscape. Reluctant walkers will be magically transformed into enthusiastic ramblers with the addition of a friend or two. In Herefordshire alone, there are 15 way-marked circular walks with free leaflets available from Tourist Information Centres and other local outlets, or you can visit the website at herefordshire.gov.uk and follow the links to download details of your chosen walk. To discover one of the country’s most famous National Trails, visit the Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton, half-way along the trail, where you can enjoy an interactive information exhibition before exploring a stretch of the famous Offa’s Dyke for yourself.

■ International Centre for Birds of Prey, Eardisland

An opportunity to see and learn about birds you’d never normally see and watch them in flight in one of the regular flying sessions run by both centres. International Centre for Birds of Prey: 01531 820286/821581 or icbp.org, £9.50/£6, family (2+2) £28.

■ aMazing Hedge Puzzle/Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo/Wye Valley Miniature Golf

With three great attractions in one place, you’ll find plenty to fill your day at Symonds Yat, with the aMazing Hedge Puzzle and Maze Museum offering fun and excitement, the Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo providing an opportunity to walk among the butterflies and finish off with a round of 12 holes of mini golf. From £3.75/£2.50 to £7/£4.50 (combined ticket). For details, call 01600 890360 or visit mazes.co.uk

■ Go Ballistic

Ditch the games console and play for real with a paintballing session.

More information: 0870 1417490 or visit goballistic.co.uk

■ School’s out for Summer in Weobley

A wide range of (mostly) free activities offered throughout the holidays by the Weobley Extended Schools Cluster. The line-up includes a Sport Experience week, free family cooking sessions, African Drumming Workshops, a day of canoeing/kayaking on Bodenham Lake and a multi-activity day at Taste for Adventure in Credenhill. For dates and prices and a booking form, call Jane Denny on 07814 576386.

■ Pedalabikeaway

Even if you don’t have a bike of your own, you can enjoy a day’s cycling through the Forest of Dean by hiring a bike, picking up a map andpedalling off through miles of stunning scenery, with routes suitable for every level of cyclist. With trailer bikes, tandems and special bikes for special needs, it’s a perfect day out for everyone.

Details: 01594 860065 or visit pedalabikeaway.co.uk

■ Go-karting at Herefordshire Raceway

Keeping children of different ages amused can be a challenge in the school holidays, but for the overeights, go-karting offers a brilliant solution. Boys and girls alike love speeding around the track, trying to beat each other and themselves, with every driver given a print-out of their lap times at the end. Details: 01544 318334 or visit herefordshireraceway.org.uk

■ Nature Trails

The summer will see a wide range of Wildplay events organised by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, with minibeast madness and river-dipping as well as the chance to make your own paint. There’ll be events in Leominster, Ross, Peterchurch, Ewyas Harold and Ledbury.

Details: 01432 356872 or visit herefordshirewt.org

■ Broomy Hill Miniature Railway

The Hereford Society of Model Engineers run ‘steaming’ days regularly through the summer holidays, allowing visits to see the steam locomotives and take a short ride. Details: 01432 270143.

■ Mountain boarding

Take to the hills and discover the exhilaration of the UK’s fastest growing board sport – mountain boarding. Head for Court Farm in Tillington, the first official Maxtrak centre in the county and a great place for mountain boarders, whether experienced or complete beginners. Safety kit, boards and tuition for beginners are provided and it doesn’t take long for novices to start hurtling down the gentle nursery slope, while a big hill offers advanced riders two challenging 500-metre downhill runs.

At Out to Grass in Cradley, you’ll also be provided with board, safety kit and instruction before you head off in pursuit of downhill speed.

Details: Ironsides Court Farm Mountainboard Centre on 01432 760271 or visit courtfarmleisure.co.uk. Call Out to Grass on 01886 88099 or visit outtograss.com

■ Horse-riding

Get in the saddle and see the world from a different perspective. Bryngwyn Riding Centre: Old Rectory, Bryngwyn, Kington.

Details: 01497 851669; Sue Adams Riding School, Hamnish, Leominster, Details: 01568 760267.

■ Drayton Manor

One of the UK’s favourite theme parks, packed with a host of great rides and attractions set in 280 acres of lakes and parkland. Drayton Manor features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around, including ‘the best water ride in the country’, and Thomas Land for younger visitors. The park is also home to Drayton Manor Zoo, a fascinating place to explore big cats, reptiles, eagles, monkeys, owls, parrots, and the children’s farm.

Details: draytonmanor.co.uk. Price: from £69 (three family members) to £115 (five family members), under-fours free.