Live life to the eXtreme

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IF YOU have a taste for adventure, Scotland is Europe’s adventure playground and is home to some of the most extreme sports in the UK. From zorbing and canyoning to weaseling and sled-dog racing, you don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to get your adrenaline fix.

For those with thrill-seeking ambitions, VisitScotland has created a list of the top 10 most extreme sports in the UK.

1 Canyoning – G2 Outdoor Ltd (01479 811008) – from £20pp for a half-day.

Not for the faint-hearted, canyoning is a white-water ride down gorges and waterfalls where you run down wet slabs of rock, jump off blind escarpments, scramble up rocks and abseil down drops.

2 Paragliding – Flying Fever Paragliding (0177 0303899) – from £95pp for a day.

Pop your paraglider in a rucksack, climb up the nearest hill, unroll the material and step forward into the wind.

3 River Bugging – Nae Limits (08450 178177) – from £35pp for a half-day.

River bugs are essentially blow-up armchairs. After learning a few basic skills, you will be able to run the rapids, catch eddies, surf standing waves and even pirouette.

4 Ice Climbing – The Ice Factor (01855 831100) – from £35pp for three hours, including instruction and full equipment hire.

For a chance to put your physical strength and endurance to the test as well as your navigational skills, ice climbing is one of the most exhilarating mountain sports.

5 Tubing – Nae Limits (08450 178177) – from £50pp for a half-day.

Navigate your way through steep gorges, jumping off cliffs, traversing tricky slopes and riding the white water while in a reinforced rubber tube.

6 White Water Kayaking – Vertical Descents (01855 821593) – from £50pp for a day, minimum of three people.

Tackle the river rapids in a one-man kayak after the rain has stirred up the water for an adrenaline-filled trip.

7 Zorbing – Nae Limits (08450 178177) – from £35pp per half-day.

Probably most easily described as a human hamster ball! Roll down a hill harnessed into a specially constructed 10-12ft cushioned plastic sphere – highly addictive.

8 Weaseling – Boots n Paddles (0845 612 5567) – from £30pp for a day.

Wriggling, scrambling and squirming like a weasel while exploring underground labyrinths full of tunnels, voids and tight spaces.

9 Land Yachting – Kite Sports Scotland (07875 773346) – from £65pp for a day.

Land yachts have one wheel at the front and two at the back, a large sail and no brakes. With a little practice, you can reach speeds of up to 100mph.

10 Sled Dog Racing – Cairngorm Sleddog Adventure Centre (07767 270526) – from £45pp for three hours.

Race a pack of Siberian Huskies or Eskimo dogs along forest tracks in one of the world’s fastest-growing winter sports. When there isn’t any snow, these dogs will pull a three-wheeled rig on dry land.

For more information, go to www.VisitScotland.co.uk/ Adventure