It might seem to be a bit of a cliché to talk about going on a ‘team bonding' weekend - something that participants would normally look forward to like a trip to the dentist, but times have changed. The activities available at Ashcombe in Devon sound like the run-of-the-mill mud-splattered fare but you need to look closer at what is on offer.

Clay Shooting - normally these activities are along the lines of one clay trap and an ineffective instructor saying "nearly got that one" 10 times in a row. At Ashcombe the instructor is Tony Staples, the boss of the centre, and he retrains top game shots when they lose their mojo. You will learn to shoot really well over a huge variety of the traps available from beginner to 150ft high towers and Skeet. It is fun.

Quad Biking - generally restricted to the point of being no fun at all - at Ashcombe the instructors take a clients on high-powered modern quads through a five mile quad-bike safari down ravines, woods and tracks. Is it muddy? Yes.

Stop for a seminar in the Stagger Inn bar and restaurant or in the quiet out of the way rooms and then crack into some Archery and the low rope assault course followed by the record 200 meter hyper-slide zip-wire before the final battle....

Paintball - it's not what grown-ups do is it? Wrong! Even ‘conscientious objectors' have been witnessed succumbing to charging off into the woods loaded with paint grenades and brandishing a semi-automatic paint-gun. The fun of the Ashcombe site is that it has been developed over nearly 20 years.

Who else has a downed Cessna light aircraft hanging from the trees to make it more realistic? There are forts and tunnels plus different styles of games. Most people underestimate the attraction and benefits of being a competitive 12 year old again for an afternoon - forgetting the pressures of work and modern life.

After all of these exertions you don't want to be heading to a cramped bedroom in a motel and public lounge so Ashcombe has lots of great cottages to choose from so you can continue your private trip. Nut Tree Farm completed in 2010 sleeps up to 27 people in fantastic comfort. It has a private outdoor heated pool and games barn. Endeavour, Columbia and Rainbow cottages sleep up to 15 people each and have a shared indoor heated pool while The Cider Barn sleeps up to 16 in excellent four star accommodation, also with a small outdoor pool. A top chef (with a waitress) can be booked for supper within whichever property. It is also highly recommended that everyone brings their spouses on the trip as it would seem a shame to not make the most of it.

And the next day, to cure a hangover, take the Ashcombe Challenge! Enter your team in the half day scored contest of archery, quad bikes and the low-rope course to see where you have come in the annual competition which runs from September 2010.

So why go team-building? Is it just a pointless exercise, and excuse to waste time and money in these straightened times? Perhaps it is... but no one can argue with the positive results which cannot always be tangibly measured. Improvements in moral and working relationships are massively important - but when attempting to carry out this type of exercise be sure you don't make matters worse by choosing the wrong venue. Having some patronising instructor moaning on about ‘elf and safety' and being forced to stay in an uncomfortable room and mingle in a dingy bar is not a good way to promote well-being and team spirit - spend the same money but do it properly and professionally.

For more information please visit www.ashcombecottages.co.uk