Leisure Activities In Surrey
30th September 2008
Surrey has a large number of top class sports clubs providing a wide range of sporting activities for locals and visitors. The county takes sport seriously and is the perfect setting for both indoor and outdoor sports. The annual Surrey Youth Games sports competition is for young people representing the eleven District and Borough Councils of Surrey, competing against each other in fourteen different sports.
The Guildford Spectrum has an Olympic-sized ice rink, a 32-lane tenpin bowling alley, four swimming pools, a soft play area, full-equipped gym, sports arena and aerobics studio and all this under one roof! The perfect venue for a family outing or for visitors wanting to stay in shape while on their holidays. Golfers can take advantage of a multitude of courses, including the world famous course at Wentworth. Major horse-racing meetings take place at Epsom, Sandown and Kempton and attract thousands of visitors to the county each year.
Walkers, hikers or ramblers visiting the Surrey Hills and the North Downs will find keeping fit a pleasure with the stunning views that await them around every turn. This type of walk can be rather strenuous and should only be undertaken by visitors who are fit and active. The Wey Navigation Canal and Thames Towpath provide a flatter surface which is more suitable for people who are less able.
The River Thames travels along the north of the county and this is where you will find Runnymede Meadow, the place where King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. Stroll along the Thames Path and enjoy the abundant wildlife and many cafes and pubs along the way. Another interesting walk is the Mole Gap Trail along the River Mole which takes you past the great estates of Norbury and Cherkley and joins the market towns of Leatherhead and Dorking. Stretching across 32 miles from the River Wey at New Haw into Hampshire, the Basingstoke Canal is ideal for walking, boating, fishing and cycling. Originally built in the 18th century, it was re-opened as a fully navigable waterway in 1991.