Aquatics With over 160 miles of coastline and numerous sandy beaches - there are plenty of options for swimming. How about a 100m freestyle against your friends at Lossiemouth, or a surfing challenge at Sandend Bay? Or take things a little easier and visit the Art Deco Outdoor Pool at Stonehaven for a midnight swim - held most Wednesday nights over the summer. The buoyancy of the salt water should help with the synchronised swimming too

Athletics Run the Hill Race in record time at the Braemar Gathering, held on 4 September this year, or you might want to try your own version of the 20k walk along the Formartine and Buchan Way - a former railway line which runs through the fertile Aberdeenshire countryside.

Cycling With a bike and the network of rural roads that covers this part of the world, you'll be able to cycle safely and peacefully almost anywhere, the occasional flock of sheep or tractor apart! Use a bike to find the forests of Moray, explore the lesser-known ways by the River Spey, or take to the hill roads of Donside. You could always compete at downhill racing - the Lecht 2090 Activity Centre has devalkarts which do just that - race down the mountains more commonly used by skiers!

Fishing Don't let the big one get away! Fish for salmon and trout on river beats and loch fisheries across the North East - the prize for this one is in the eating! Heughead Fishings at Banchory are at a prime spot for watching the salmon leap; or try the Mossat Trout Fishery for peaceful loch fishing.

Golf Scotland's North East can provide the perfect golf escape for every level of player, whether you choose to play links, parkland, heathland or moorland courses, there are more than 70 courses to choose from. Some of them voted into the highest rankings in British golf including the world renowned Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

Shooting Shooting is considered one of the most popular sports internationally. It requires good physical and psychological condition, as well as technical perfection. Be prepared for this challenge at the Kingscliff Sporting Lodge, nr Ellon and perfect your shot on the clays. Or try your hand at archery, quad-biking and off-road driving.

Triathlon We've got some real wild countryside here - mountains and moorland with lochs too. Head for the hills - how about Prince Charles favourite, Lochnagar, or Queen Victoria's favourite 'stroll' around Loch Muick near Ballater. The Glenlivet Estate near Tomintoul is another excellent location, with plenty of space for this combination event.

Weightlifting Though no longer an official sport, the technique of raising stone circles was certainly a weightlifting feat - and this area has 10% of the standing stones in the UK. Find out all about the engineering genius' of the Stone Age at Archaeolink near Oyne.

Canoeing If you want to take it really seriously, bunk down at Loch Insh Water Sports and head out along the rivers with the experts. You'll soon learn to paddle along with the best of them - and through some very scenic waters and exhilarating rapids too.