Anyone who plays sports or simply spends a lot of time outdoors knows that good sunglasses are an essential item. Constant squinting not only damages your eyes but it interferes with your game. Whether it’s golf, tennis, water sports or hiking, making sure you have the best kind of sunglasses with enhance your enjoyment. Below are some of the best sunglasses for sports and the outdoors.First of all, whichever kind of sunglasses you wear, you want to make sure they are polarized. Polarized sunglasses reduce the glare from coming into your eyes and therefore help you see much better. Just about any brand or frame can be found polarized, so make sure that’s one feature you do have. Polarized shades are especially useful for golfers, skiers and boaters.Wraparound sunglasses are great for hiking, running and fishing. With wraparounds, your eyes get maximum coverage without neglecting your peripheral vision. They’re also great because they stay on well, and you don’t have to risk them falling off when you’re being active. They usually come with non-slip rubber around the nose and temples so they don’t slip during sports and heavy activity.The color of the lens also makes a big difference depending on the sport you play. Each sport has an optimal lens color.Golfers should wear copper or violet colored lenses. Copper lenses improve depth perception and help golfers contrast the ball against the green grass and the sky. Violet lenses can be helpful if the ball gets lost in mud or dirt.You’ll notice that most tennis players wear sunglasses with a blue or green tint. This allows their eyes to focus on the ball with the contrast of the background.A cyclist should get frames with a slight tint but not too much so he can still see the trail in front of him.If you’re involved in high impact sports like water skiing, jet skiing or cycling, try to look for “multilayer” sunglasses. This means that they are impact resistant and the lens and frame is made from an unbreakable material.Whichever sunglasses you choose, make sure they have UV ray protection. Some labels will simply say, “UV protection.” This is not enough for anybody, let alone someone who is outdoors often. Make sure the label says “UV 400,” or “100% UV protection.” Exposure to UV rays can lead to eye problems such as cataracts or temporary loss of vision.Consider investing in wholesale sunglasses. You can find good shades with all the qualities you’re looking for, for just a fraction of the cost as in stores.

As a centre for outdoor recreation, Strathclyde Country Park in Lanarkshire ranks as one of the best in the UK. There is a vast range of activities available within its four square kilometres and continues to attract visitors since its creation in 1965. Activities fall into two main areas: water-based and land-based.Water-Based ActivitiesThe focal area of the park is Strathclyde Loch, an artificial loch which is a major centre for water sports and caters for enthusiasts and those who just want a fun day out. It is home to Strathclyde Park Rowing Club and the Scottish Rowing Centre whose training facilities are the best in Europe. The Rowing Club welcome both competitive and recreational rowers and offer state-of-the-art facilities to both. Beginners enrolling in the Rowstart course are guided through the basics of rowing and progress to single sculls while experienced rowers enjoy the world class training facilities.Other water sports at the Park include canoeing, jet skiing, windsurfing, dingy sailing, and water-skiing. Equipment and training for each are available for hire. For those who just want to mess about on the water, there are pedalos, Canadian canoes and bumper boats. The loch is regularly monitored by rescue boats to ensure that all loch users are safe at all times.The loch and rivers Clyde and South Calder also support a healthy population of coarse fish and reasonably priced fishing permits are available.Land-Based ActivitiesFootball fans are well-catered for with seven pitches and a 7-aside football centre. The surrounding land is criss-crossed by purpose built tracks for jogging, cross country running, and there are also seven miles of bridle paths for horse riders, and three different courses for orienteering. The paths are also suitable for cycling and indeed it is possible to hire bikes at the watersport centre.Major EventsStrathclyde Country Park and its loch have hosted a number of major events over the years. The T in the Park music festival was held there between 1994 and 1997. The loch is a regular venue for national and international rowing competitions, the most prominent of which was the Commonwealth Games in 1986. It also hosts sailing and canoeing regattas and will be the venue for the triathlon in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The extensive showgrounds is the venue for country fairs and public exhibitions, many of which attract tens of thousands of visitors.NatureThere is a variety of countryside at Strathclyde Park such as woodland, parkland and wetlands that are networked with nature trails and paths which visitors are free to roam. The park is a sanctuary and breeding ground for around 150 different wildlife species. Visitors are welcome to make use of the services of the park’s resident Rangers who take regular guided walks throughout the year.Theme ParkDominating the skyline at Strathclyde Park is the giant ferris wheel belonging to M&D’s theme park. There is also a variety of white knuckle roller coasters and thrill rides or for the more faint-hearted there’s an indoor entertainment complex with bowling, amusements and tropical rain forest. The park has excellent visitor facilities including ample free parking and disabled access.Getting ThereGetting to Strathclyde Country Park couldn’t be easier as it is very accessible lying just off junction 5 on the M74 motorway in the Clyde Valley close to Hamilton and Motherwell. Between April and September, a regular bus service operates from Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow.

Diving has been a worldwide craze. This activity allows a person to closely commune with Mother Nature. Some professional photographers enroll in diving lessons to learn how to go underwater and take photos of the magnificent ecosystem thriving beneath the waters. Diving is one of the many things you can enjoy during your holidays in Pembrokeshire.Seated at the southeastern edge of Wales, Pembrokeshire boasts a wealthy underwater life. Its location is very inviting for diving sessions and other water sports and leisure. To help you organize your next holidays in Pembrokeshire, here is a list of water activities you and your friends can try.DivingPembrokeshire is a treasure chest-sanctuary of a rich marine life and a very lively ecosystem. Different sorts of fish and sea creatures are thriving here. Not only that, there are over 350 ship wreck sites that are famous around the world. While engaging in the usual diving session, you may be privileged to witness porpoise, dolphins and seal play around in their natural habitat. Known diving spots in Pembrokeshire are the following: Needle Rocks, Leysian, Szent Istvan, Graffoe, Green Scar, Stack Rocks, Hen and Chicks, Nabs Head, High Point, The Lucy, North Wall, Deadeye Wreck, Molesley, Faraday, Dakotion, Behar, Garland Stone, Thor, Highland Home, Mid Channel Rocks and Iotonia. It is also interesting to note that divers are also discovering ship wrecks as they explore the life underneath. In 2002, a group discovered a Greek ship wreck and an unexploded mine in Dakotian wreck in 2005.SailingHolidays in Pembrokeshire is never complete without trying sailing. The coast of this county boasts a huge potential as a great area for cruising, both for local or chartered yachts. Sailing and yachting facilities within Pembrokeshire can be found within Milford Haven Waterway-it is a whopping 22 mile long natural deep water harbor. This Haven is perfect for quiet and easy sailing. Pembrokeshire is a good starting point if you plan to cruise along Lundy Island, the northern coast of Devon or Cornwall, the Scilly Isles or Ireland.KayakingPembrokeshire has three surrounding coastlines making it one of the most active regions when it comes to water sports such as kayaking. This activity is perhaps the most excellent way to explore the county’s crystal clear waters, pristine coastal areas and even wildlife. Due to sudden rise in popularity of this sport, it is now being regulated by Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group.