EXTREME SPORTS GUIDE TO EAST SUSSEX
For a county without a single motorway in it, East Sussex is very connected. Sharing borders with the beautiful countryside counties of West Sussex, Surrey & Hampshire; East Sussex is renowned for being one of the ‘greenest’ in the UK and for its Roman remains.
Aside from boasting the UK’s first ever casino and Europe’s largest marina of its kind; Brighton is also famous for some spectacular water sports. The activities available include some of the finest in the UK, ranging from swimming with sharks to ZapCat powerboats – racing out of Hove Lagoon at 50mph! The Sussex Downs also sustain a high proportion of the county’s activities, offering an outstanding visual addition to the great aerial activities available, such as hang gliding and paragliding.
Specialising in water sports and utilising the beautiful coastal playground upon which to practice, East Sussex and Brighton’s world famous pebble beach is an attraction within itself during the summer months; combining great weather, live music and a stretch of bars that serve from dawn till dusk.
Hang Gliding & Paragliding
Sharing the same natural playground as its Western bordering county, East Sussex is also one of the UK’s top locations for aerially appreciating the beautiful countryside. The 200m high hills of the Sussex Downs play host to a fantastic range of Hang Gliding & Paragliding experiences, with both aero-tow and winch excursions beginning from the recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As with many slow paced experiences, these aviation activities rely heavily on the scenery and views available, putting East Sussex at a great advantage for sustaining the excitement and enjoyment of flying with its stunning visuals.
Shark Diving
If breathing the air from a few hundred feet isn’t quite your thing, how about breathing the air from a tank during a scuba diving experience to remember, with sharks! The cold waters of the UK naturally restrict any encounters with Earth’s 420m year old predators, until now! The world’s oldest working aquarium is situated next to the Princess Pier on Brighton seafront and is home to fifteen sharks in a 700,000 litre tank, amongst other fascinating sea life species. Diving in this amazing aquarium will bring you up close and personal with large sharks including; Nurse, Sandbar, Black-tip & Zebra, as well as two giant Marine Turtles. Whilst flicking the fear factor up a notch, Shark Diving is completely safe and comes highly recommended from professional divers.
Kitesurfing
The UK’s ever growing sport of Kitesurfing is well practiced in East Sussex; with the Blue Flag awarded Camber Sands amongst others proving an attractive and well sustained area for the involving water sport. Whilst other beaches in the area also specialise in water sports, this particular beach is a locally renowned venue and is enriched with a number of shipwrecks further out on the coast. Courses exist for those looking to get started with Kitesurfing, or for the further advanced boarders. One, two and three day courses in Kitesurfing and Powerkiting are very popular and operate all year round from the numerous beaches in East Sussex.
Sailing
Remaining out on the water but slightly easier on the adrenaline gauge is a sport that never falters in numbers; Sailing. The oldest are very often still the best, and Sailing is a water sport that will continue to thrive in the coastal areas, especially those as visually pleasing as East Sussex. One particular operator provides taster sessions and the more advanced courses from Hove Lagoon, making it a realistic possibility that you could achieve your RYA Level 1 certificate in the fast paced and highly enjoyable sport of Dinghy Sailing. The same operator also offers Windsurfing tasters and the further advanced courses, also equating to the RYA Level 1.
RIB Riding
Continuing to utilise the aquatic playground East Sussex is blessed with; RIB Ride power boating is a high-speed boat racing experience everyone should try. The incredibly powerful rigid inflatable boats will take you on an unforgettable tour around East Sussex, reaching high speeds as you bounce along the waves. Watch East Sussex whiz by as your expert instructor guides you and your group over the waves.
Rock Climbing
Enjoy 4 hours of rock climbing alongside an expert instructor and climb above the trees, up to 40ft in the air! Get clipped in and explore Harrison's Rock, one of the largest outdoor climbing centres in the UK. Learn new skills and navigate the cliffs, seeing how high you can reach as you perfect your climbing techniques. This is a great way to get a taste of the great outdoors while feeling an adrenalin rush as you climb and descend the rocks.
Tandem Bungee Jump
Take the leap with someone you love and try out a truly exhilarating tandem bungee jump in Brighton! Plunge from 160ft in the air and learn how it feels to free fall, before being flung back up in the air. Feel the combination of fear, excitement and shock as you speed towards the ground from a massive height. Take home a personalised video and pictures to remember your heart-racing experience forever!
East Sussex is an agriculturally rich county that specialises in offering a wide range of water sports and flying activities thanks to its geographic locality and its visually stunning coastlines. The lack of driving centre available is more than compensated for with the quality of the aquatic activities available, and, as with other coastal counties; East Sussex makes the best use of this luxury during the summer months by turning the activities of the day into the activities of the night!
Check out our other great extreme sports guides here:
Extreme Sports Guide To Surrey
Extreme Sports Guide To Cornwall
Extreme Sports Guide To Buckinghamshire
Extreme Sports Guide To Berkshire
Extreme Sports Guide To West Sussex
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