Olympic-themed activity breaks

With the London Olympics a little over a year away, Richard Cree lists six activity weekend breaks that offer a glimpse inside the minds of competitors

Cycling

Herne Hill Velodrome, London

Britain has performed well in cycling events at recent Olympic Games and the 2012 Velodrome is the first of the London venues to be completed. It may be an amazing building, but track cycling enthusiasts won't saddle-up there for a while. But they can always try out an older Olympic location. Billing itself as "the true home of track cycling in the UK", the Herne Hill Velodrome is best known for hosting the cycling events at the 1948 Games. The venue, though, has a heritage dating back to Victorian London, when keen amateur cyclist George Lacy Hillier founded it. While the south London track has had a chequered history since its Olympic heyday, there's now a regular programme of events including Open Season meetings for experienced riders and inductions for cycling fans keen to capture a little of that Chris Hoy magic.
www.hernehillvelodrome.com

Where to stay The new W London-Leicester Square is a stylish addition to the capital's hotel scene. Rooms from £268; www.wlondon.co.uk.
Where to eat Les Deux Salons is a Parisian-style bistro from the duo behind Arbutus and Wild Honey; www.lesdeuxsalons.co.uk.

Shooting

The Coniston Hotel, North Yorkshire

There are three different shooting disciplines at the Olympics, but by far the most accessible and easiest to become involved in is shotgun, or clay pigeon shooting. There are hundreds of hotels and other centres around the country offering everything from gentle group shooting days to more serious training and other ways to improve your skills. One of the best centres in the country is Coniston Shooting Ground at the Coniston Hotel. Located in the Yorkshire Dales, the shooting ground offers instruction for all levels, from novices to the highly experienced. The site offers clays that mimic all sorts of animals and birds including rabbits, pheasant and partridge while a new 86ft tower, on which higher-flying birds are replicated, allows you to set your sights aloft.

Where to stay The Coniston Hotel has rooms from £127 a night, www.theconistonhotel.com.
Where to eat Why not follow The Trip's Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon and visit the nearby Angel Inn at Hetton; www.angelhetton.co.uk

Fencing

Manchester Fencing Club

One of only four sports to have featured in every modern Olympic Games, fencing is a difficult master over a weekend. But expert coaches at Manchester Fencing Club are confident that 90 minutes is enough to explain the basics and give you an idea if it is something you are interested in pursuing or not. In keeping with the surprisingly affordable spirit of the sport—all the basic kit can be acquired for as little as £180—this intensive 90-minute beginner's session, organised once a month, costs just £10. Best of all, the club is confident that the sport is suitable for participants of all ages.
www.manchesterfencingclub.org.uk

Where to stay His sport may be the triathlon, but if there is one hotelier we can imagine fencing, it's Sir Rocco Forte. Where better to stay than his designer pad, The Lowry? Rooms cost from £130; www.thelowryhotel.com.
Where to eat Try the traditional atmosphere of The French at the Midland Hotel.

Canoeing

River Spey, Scotland

The differences between a canoe and a kayak can keep paddle enthusiasts in conversation for hours. But let's not dwell on them just now. And while there are several man-made venues around the country, such as the Lee Valley White Water Centre—the location for the canoe slalom in 2012—this is surely a sport for the great outdoors. One of the best locations to enjoy it is Scotland. Thanks to a wealth of scenic waterways, there are all sorts of recreational canoeing trips to be enjoyed north of the border. And one of the most enjoyable is a four-day trip down the river Spey. It involves three nights' camping on the banks of the river, where you'll be kept warm by some fine local single-malt whiskies. The water is exciting enough for beginners to learn skills and experience a thrill. The trip is run by Wilderness Scotland and costs £445 per person.
www.wildernessscotland.com

Where to stay Leave it up to your guide, but prepare for camping.
Where to eat On the beach, but with whisky this good, who cares?

Sailing

Weymouth Bay, Dorset

Team GB has topped the sailing medal tables at the last three Olympics, so it is fair to say that with the added expectation of home advantage, hopes are high for another big haul in 2012. The good news is that the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is already open so it is possible to experience the joys of Weymouth Bay right now. The area is regarded as one of the best sailing spots in northern Europe. SailLaser runs sailing schools all over the world, including one in Weymouth offering two-day courses for all levels. A beginner's course costs from £180.
www.sail-laser.com

Where to stay The Georgian Moonfleet Manor Hotel overlooks Chesil Beach. Rooms from £205; www.moonfleetmanorhotel.co.uk.
Where to eat Complete an upmarket seaside experience with dinner at Perry's, on the harbour in Weymouth; www.perrysrestaurant.co.uk.

Archery

Bovey Castle, Devon

More used to the verbal arrows thrown by sledging cricketers, Lord's is the unlikely venue for archery at the 2012 Olympics. There remains something appealingly medieval about archery. It also requires a decent amount of space, especially for beginners. So where could be better to enjoy the delights of a weekend of archery than the imposing Bovey Castle? It may be more country house than castle, but it's well equipped with the recurve bows used at the Games and the excellent instructors will get novices started or help the experienced improve. Lessons cost £30 an hour. There's also a golf course and Dartmoor National Park on the doorstep, not to mention an Elemis spa to help unwind those aching shoulders.

Where to stay A classic double room in the hotel costs £219 a night; www.boveycastle.com.
Where to eat Don't miss Roger Olsson's cooking in Bovey Castle's Edwardian Grill.