Live life Adventurously At Go Ape
It was a bright but cold day when my colleague Sarah and I we’re let loose out of the office to embark on a tree top quest at no other than Go Ape – to say we were excited about swinging through the trees on a Tuesday morning was a bit of an understatement.
Go Ape at Whinlatter is England’s only true Mountain Forest and is home to breathtaking views, fantastic walks, exhilarating mountain biking, rare wildlife and adventure play. Rising 1000ft above sea level, the forest and visitor centre provides a whole range of outdoor activities for the whole family.
February half term was well upon us when we arrived for our 10am session at the highest Go Ape Tree Top Adventure in the country. Already brimming with families, Sarah and I made our way over to the reception area where we were greeted by instructor Meg who explained all the safety dos and don’ts.
After clambering into our harnesses, our group, which consisted of around 10 other people, were given demonstrations on how to use the equipment safely. For those who have never been, following the training session, you are on your own and free to leap as you wish through the tree tops. The number one rule we all had to remember if we wanted to see the ground alive was ‘Always Stay Attached’. This meant clipping ourselves on to the ropes provided before climbing the ladders, to each treetop platform, and again before tackling each obstacle.
Safety briefing over, we were ready to ‘unleash our inner Tarzan’ and begin our tree top adventure, although before fully embarking on the trail, Meg gave us all a practice run on a much smaller version of what we were about to be faced with; a gentle introduction I would call it.
Strapped in, and clued up we took to the first obstacle. On average it takes around 2 hours to complete, ‘depending on how quick you are’ said Meg. I wasn’t too hopeful at getting around that quickly, it wasn’t a race after all. I’ve never been afraid of heights, but then again, I’ve never been 14m up a tree with only myself to rely on for safety– a daunting thought. However, each staff member is so friendly and they really give you the confidence and encouragement to get on with it.
The course is made up of various obstacle trails each ending with a zip wire, the longest being 89 metres. The highest platform to be faced with measures 14 meters while the longest crossing you will come across is 24 meters long.
There are Tarzan swings, rope ladders, hoops and stirrups, tunnels, rail tracks and so much more all surrounded by the breathtaking Cumbrian scenery. Some of the obstacles are a real test of your physical and mental ability and completing each one adds to the feeling of accomplishment.
Each obstacle is a great way to test your stamina and one of the nicest elements is the encouragement you receive from your fellow teammates. Often you can be waiting a few minutes while the person before you makes their way to the platform, so it’s also a nice way to get chatting with other members in your group, as well as offering each other moral support.
Whinlatter Forest couldn’t be a better location for such an outdoors activity. The forest, which was planted in the 1920s, has made way for hundreds of other trees giving the course a truly authentic feeling, especially when hurtling through the trees at quite some speed.
Now, if keeping your feet firmly on the ground seems a lot more appealing, there are plenty of other options on the site to keep everyone happy. Those who aren’t too keen on the idea of swinging through the forest on a wire can enjoy a freshly ground coffee and a bite to eat in the onsite café, while the smallest monkeys in your party can make a run for the kids play area which includes a number of exciting and educational features. There are also a number of walking and cycle routes making the perfect venue for an impressive family day out.
It’s always great fun to get out and about and try out all the fantastic activities our county has to offer, and Go Ape truly has everything needed for an energy fuelled family outing that everyone is sure to enjoy.
Whinlatter Pass, Keswick CA12 5TW
https://goape.co.uk/days-out/whinlatter
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