Holiday with an 11 year old in UK - looking for activities

[Yika]

Hi, I'm visiting the UK from abroad in May. I really love and miss the English countryside and would like to go somewhere beautiful like Cotswolds, Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales or maybe Cornwall.

I'm also hoping for somewhere where my 11 y-o DD could have a fun activity for a day or two. Outdoor and adventure is good but can also be indoor / quieter.

Any ideas?

Unaccompanied activities?

They do really good sailing activities at Andrew Simpson Centre on Portland.

You could stay in Dorset and do the Jurassic Coast.

Another vote for Dorset

Paddleboarding or kayaking (studland)
Obstacle course thingy on a lake (near studland)
Sailing (Portland)
Go Ape (near Ringwood)

Lots of lovely countryside, wareham forest, nature reserves, beaches, castles and hill forts.

We love Cornwall but it gets so busy during school holidays but if you can avoid uk school holiday times it’s a little bit quieter.

Thanks for the suggestions! Will look at Dorset - I don't know it. It would be outside UK school holiday time (which I see as a disadvantage actually as I presume there will be less on) and can be accompanied or unaccompanied activity. We will have around a week and it is just me and my DD so want to make sure there are activities she can enjoy - she does not especially like city visits, museums or walks. She likes outdoor activities, animals etc - or indoor attractions which have some interaction / fun.

I'd go Isle of Wight. Loads of activities to do in the summer- paddle boarding; coasteering; sailing via a number of sailing schools specifically set up for that sort of age group.

Isle of Wight sounds good - will have a look and see what activities are available in May - thanks.

Isle of wight activities ideas to google:

UKSA in Cowes for sailing
St Helen's horse riding on the beach
Fossil hunting walks run by someone in Godshill or the isle of Wight dinosaur museum
Surfing lessons, Sandown or Compton
St Helen's beach has kayak or SUP hire
Tapnell farm has lots of activities eg a water park thing
PGL in Wootton do family days as well as their usual school trips, possibly only in the school holidays I'm not sure
Quay arts centre run art courses/one day things
There is a place you can walk alpacas
Isle of wight donkey sanctuary is free to visit

Thanks so much!

When you decide where you are going have a Google and see if there is somewhere that does Llama treks / walks nearby .