Activities get away from it all

Latvia is a country of the great outdoors, especially in summer. You can hike, ride horses, cycle, go canoeing, ski. It's all there just waiting for you. At the same time there is a strong artistic tradition, expressed not only in folk dances, but in opera, ballet and numerous concerts. All these activities were hardly available to outsiders during Soviet rule, but now they are and will make either a welcome part of any holiday, or indeed the whole purpose of it.

THIS IS A GREAT OUTDOORS COUNTRY

The freedom of the country is yours when hiking and walking, especially in conservation areas like the Gauja National Park and the Abava river valley. Access to most woodland and forests is unrestricted and many towns and country pagasts (local districts) have campsites, or summer cottages can be rented. Some restored castles have accommodation too, like Jaunpils and Edole in Kurzeme. Any of the 17 local tourists offices will provide information.

MAKE THE MOST OF LATVIA'S RIVERS

Those 12,000 rivers offer marvellous opportunities for boating and kayaking, especially the Salaca in Vidzeme with its riverbank campsites, along the Abava, and on the Gauja, where there are 19 camps along 93 km of water. Canoe hire and package tours can be arranged at Cesis and Sigulda. Not that you have to be on a package, you can always do your own thing. (Note that in May the waters run faster and more excitingly than Later). The same rivers offer enormous scope for anglers. Trout is a favourite catch. Pike are a possibility. Licences are issued locally.

RIDING, CYCLING AND SKIING

Horse riding can be arranged at many places, both in the National Parks and locally on farms: one reason why farm stay holidays are becoming so popular. Bicycles are easily hired and in this relatively flat country biking holidays make serious sense. In winter, from December to mid-February, you can go cross country skiing almost anywhere. There are lifts for downhill runs at Ergli and Sigulda, while at Valmeira snow making machines help the piste. And there's skating. It's all an adventure.

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