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Home : Travel : Quintessentially Quirky :

Quintessentially Quirky

Our pick of the UK's most peculiar pastimes

Britain is famous for its rich history and quirky traditions so we've put together a calendar of some of the most eccentric events that take place each year on these shores.

These competitions and celebrations attract crowds from far and wide and provide the perfect excuse to get away from it all – take the time to explore somewhere you've never been.

26 April

Cuckoo Day, Marsden, West Yorkshire
A fun-filled day at this National Trust property to welcome the return of the cuckoo and hopefully sunshine along with it. Featuring children's activities, music, dance and lots more. 11am-4pm
Further information: 01484 847016

3 May

Ely's Eel Day, Jubilee Gardens, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Sample smoked and jellied eels, tackle eel throwing, and try your hand at weaving eel baskets in this celebration of the slippery sea-creatures. See living eels, courtesy of the Environment Agency, or join 'Ellie the Eel' who'll be heading a procession along part of the City's Eel Trail Heritage Walk, along with Ely's Samba Band. Everyone's welcome. 11am-4pm
Further information: 01353 662062

4 May

Randwick Cheese Festival, Randwick, Stroud, Gloucestershire
The highlight of this annual occasion is the cheese rolling. After being blessed, three cheeses are rolled around Randwick Church. One is then cut and shared among the crowds as it's thought to enhance fertility. This is followed by a festival procession – the Randwick Wap – on 10 May.

5 May

Stilton Cheese Rolling, Stilton, Cambridgeshire
Teams of four – some in fancy dress – compete in this knockout tournament. Each team member must roll the cheese at least once during the race. There is also a heat for wheelchair users. Further information.

26 May

Tetbury Wool Sack Race, Gumstool Hill, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Tetbury was one of the best-known wool and yarn markets in the country in the 16^th century, and it's thought that the race began with young drovers showing off to local women by running uphill carrying a woolsack. In its current form it's been running for 30 years. Male competitors must carry a 60lb wool sack – women carry 35lbs – for 240 yards. There's also a fair, music and street entertainers.

Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling, Brockworth, Gloucestershire
Four downhill races see dozens of competitors chase a Double Gloucester cheese down a very steep hill. People rarely remain on their feet due to the gradient of the hill and up to 2,000 gather to witness the spectacle every year. Midday. Further information.

21 June

World Nettle-Eating Championships, The Bottle Inn, Marshwood, Dorset
Around 50 people compete every year, attempting to eat more stinging nettles than the current champion. Each must consume as many leaves as possible, from a two-foot stalk, in only an hour. The contest began in the 1980s with a dispute between two farmers. Other attractions include a hog roast, barbecue, real ale beer festival, music and children's entertainment. 6.30pm
Further information: 01297 678254

5 July

World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championships, Waen Rhydd Bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys
Contestants wearing a snorkel and mask attempt to cycle along a six-foot deep peat bog and back in the fastest time. A lead-framed bike is used, with water-filled tyres, and entrants wear lead-weight belts. Further information.

6 July

Bog Snorkellling Triathlon, Waen Rhydd Bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys
This event is in its third year and starts with a 12-mile run, followed by two lengths of the peat bog trench, and a 25-mile mountain cycle.

12 July

World Pea Shooting Championships, Witcham, Cambridgeshire
The 38^th annual competition and village fair sees contestants from as far as New Zealand and the USA try their hand at shooting a pea 12 feet, through a 12-inch tube towards a 12-inch target. Attractions include face-painting, stalls, games, a bouncy castle, barbecue and cream teas. 2pm.

25 August

World Bog Snorkelling Championships, Waen Rhydd Bog, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys
People travel around the world to take part in this famous tradition. Competitors swim two lengths of a peat bog trench, with the aid of flippers and a snorkel, in the fastest time possible. There are several hundred entrants every year and countless spectators join in the fun. Further information.

6-7 September

National Mud Festival of Wales, National Wetlands Centre, Llanelli Centre, Penclacwydd, Llwynhendy
The muddy magic takes the form of mud sculptures, spa treatments, walks, mud-hut building, welly-wanging, a tug-of-mud, mud grub, mud safari and more. The location is also rich terrain for bird-watching. 9.30am-5pm. Further information.

8 September

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire
Some may feel that this rural ritual, which dates back to 1226, has an air of 'The Wicker Man' about it. After collecting 1,000-year-old deer horns from St Nicholas' Church, six 'Deer-men', a hobby horse, a fool, a bowman and a 'Maid Marian' dance together to music at various points along a 10-20-mile route. They visit farms and pubs en route, bestowing their goodwill. Check out the video below. The curious event, which also features craft stalls and exhibitions, attracts many people every year. Further information.

14 September

World Black Pudding Throwing Championship, Royal Oak, Ramsbottom, Lancashire
Competitors lob black puddings, that have been wrapped in women's tights, onto Yorkshire puddings suspended on a plinth 20 feet in the air. He or she who knocks the most puddings off is the winner. Those taking part must stand on a 'golden grid' while they throw, which is ceremoniously paraded through town before the event. Further information.

20 September

Egremont Crab Fair & Sports (World Gurning Championships), Egremont, Cumbria, Lake District
This event celebrates the art of pulling the ugliest, most contorted face imaginable while wearing a horse braffin as a collar, and there are three competitions – for men, women, and juniors. The winner is the individual who wins the greatest applause. The Crab Fair itself was first held in 1267, when a cart of crab apples was wheeled through the village. It's thought that the gurning element originates from locals' reaction to the sharp, bitter taste of the apples. Further information.

11 October

Harvest Festival of the Pearly Kings and Queens, St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London
The London Pearly Kings & Queens Society gather in traditional costume every October for a harvest thanksgiving. 10am for an 11am service. Further information.

12 October

World Conker Championships, Ashton, Peterborough, Northamptonshire
This global competition and charity event, organised by Ashton Conker Club, has been held annually since 1965. Competitors play on eight white podiums on the village green and go through rounds until the winner is led to the 'conker throne' and crowned with conkers. The family day also features stalls and sideshows. 9.30am. Further information.

5 November

Carrying the Tar Barrells, Otter St Mary, Devon
The ritual of carrying blazing tar barrels began in 1688 on Guy Fawkes' night. Men carry specially-prepared flaming barrels weighing more than 50lbs on their shoulders for as far as they can. When the heat or weight becomes too much, someone else takes over. When the barrels begin to break they are burned out. 4pm. Further information.

20 November

Biggest Liar in the World Competition, Bridge Inn, Santon Bridge, Holmrook, Cumbria
This ticketed event celebrates a legendary local publican, who died in 1890, famous in the region for his tall tales. Contestants come from far and wide to relay their wild stories to the audience and judges.

6 December

Great Christmas Pudding Race, West Piazza, Covent Garden, London
This relay event sees teams carrying a pudding on a tray around a 150-metre obstacle course, in aid of Cancer Research UK. The race, held annually since 1980, attracts big crowds and competitors don fancy dress for extra entertainment. Further information.

March (date TBC)

World Pooh Sticks Championships, Days Lock Island, Whittenham Clumps, River Thames, Oxfordshire
The traditional game, from the Winnie the Pooh stories, attracts around 1,000 spectators and competitors every year – many of whom don fancy dress. The knockout competition sees teams drop coloured sticks from two bridges, and is held to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

13 April

World Coal Carrying Championships, Gawthorpe, West Yorkshire
Every Easter Monday a group of muscly men each carry 50kg of coal for almost a mile, in this test of physical ability. Female competitors lug 20kg across the same distance. The fun begins at noon at The Royal Oak on Owl Lane. Further information.

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