A night boozing with your friends is no longer the most desirable way to spend our last night of freedom. More and more stag dos are spent not on the things we’d rather forget, but things we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Adventure stag do weekends aren’t nearly as rare as you might think, 70% of men now enjoy a sober stag do. In fact, whitewater rafting was named as the 10th most popular stag do activity in 2015.
From waterfall jumping in Newcastle, to mountain biking in the Alps, here’s our list of unique adventure sports that all thrill-seeking bachelors can incorporate into their stag do.
Waterfall jumping in Newcastle
There are a whole host of watersport packages perfect for adventurous stags. Once company, Maximise list stag do weekends that combine more traditional stag weekend activities and those for thrill-seeking adventurers. Their aptly named ‘Last Night of Freefall’ weekend in Newcastle is a prime example.
This package subjects brave stags to a day of cliff jumps, white-water tubing and gorge walking, before ending it all with a 20ft waterfall jump. Afterwards, if you’re not completely worn out, there are more traditional stag do activities to get the blood pumping.
Hunting and gathering in Sussex
Stag weekends stereotypically epitomise the culture of ‘ladism’. But for stags that want to be men and not lads, they can put down the WKD and get in touch, quite literally, with nature. With Hunter Gather Cook, stags can learn how to hunt, prepare and cook their own food for a day in the wilderness.
It is a primitive day designed to teach the group the basics of self-sufficiency and put you in touch with your inner caveman. However, you’d be remiss to think that the day is just an excuse to do some alpha-male chest beating, it’ll be a genuinely challenging and rewarding experience. You begin the day by skinning and butchering an entire deer for your lunch, before taking part in cider tasting, wild brewing, fish trapping, fire lighting and shelter building.
Mountain biking in the Alps
Waterfall jumping in Newcastle may sound fun, and learning how to hunt in Sussex seems like an education. However, for some stags gripped by the adventurer’s bug, they may be a little too close to home.
If this sounds like you and your mates, why put your pedal to the metal and go mountain biking in the French Alps. The majestic, awe-inspiring Alps have long since been the setting for adventure sports, from skiing to hiking. A mountain biking holiday with Saddle Skedaddle will really put you to the test.
One trip will include knowledgeable guides, 7 nights in 3 star accommodation, and a pilgrimage to the legendary ski resort, Alpe d’Huez.
Climbing in the Anti-Atlas
Morocco is very much the gateway from Africa to Europe, and vice versa. As such it benefits from the magnificent mass expanse of the Anti-Atlas, but at the same time is just a short flight from anywhere in Europe.
The Anti-Atlas region of Morocco is a mountainous, semi-desert region to the south of Marrakech. The Anti-Atlas has the contradictory appeal of being both easily accessible yet feels completely cut-adrift. It is hugely popular with climbers, yet adventurous stags should not head there without a copy of Morocco Rock, a climbing guidebook designed for all keen trad climbers worldwide seeking a rock climbing trip.
Stag hunting in Scotland
For some, ‘hunting a stag’ involves chasing a drunken groom through town before strapping him naked to a lamppost all in the name of ‘banter’. Instead, you can leave those silly shenanigans behind and try your hand at some real stag hunting in the Scottish Highlands.
The shooting of red deer in Scotland is undertaken on the open hill and in woodland. Close encounters are commonplace in the woods and are a great way to see some of Scotland’s more cautious wildlife at close quarters. To find out more about stag hunting in Scotland, visit Country Sport Scotland.