Adventures in the Trees: High Ropes, Zip Lines and Forest Trails
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Adventures in the Trees: High Ropes, Zip Lines and Forest Trails
If you’re looking for a fun way to get outdoors, challenge yourself and see the forest from a completely different perspective, treetop adventures are hard to beat. Combining rope bridges, zip lines, climbing challenges and plenty of adrenaline-fuelled moments, these aerial courses have become one of our favourite family activities. Over the years we’ve visited a variety of treetop attractions, from high ropes courses deep in woodland to thrilling zip line experiences, and in this guide we’ll share our experiences, practical tips and reviews to help you decide which adventure is right for you.
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Go Ape Grizedale Forest Review
Although our son is old enough for us to tackle Go Ape Grizedale as a family, this particular visit was actually a rare adults-only day out! We’d originally been given tickets for our birthdays, but just a week before we were due to visit, I managed to fall down the stairs and tear the ligaments in my ankle. By the time I was recovered enough to try again, winter had arrived and the thought of swinging through the trees in the snow wasn’t particularly appealing! Thankfully, Go Ape were brilliant and allowed us to cancel free of charge, keeping the balance on our account until we were ready to rebook.
Fast forward a few months and we finally found ourselves heading to Grizedale Forest to take on the Tree Top Adventure…
The centre was easy to find using the directions on the website, though apparently sat navs and Grizedale don’t always see eye to eye. Check-in was quick and hassle-free before we were fitted with harnesses and given a comprehensive safety briefing.
💡 Top Tip: Free lockers are available, but they’re fairly small. They’re perfect for valuables, phones and spare layers, but don’t expect to fit a giant backpack inside.
I’ll admit I was slightly nervous when I realised that, once up in the trees, you’re largely left to make your own way around the course. Fortunately, the safety system is incredibly straightforward. The golden rule is simple: always stay attached. The briefing explains everything clearly, there are reminder signs before each obstacle, and staff are always nearby if you need help or reassurance.
The course was split into six separate sections, each accessed using a keypad code. I had assumed we’d climb into the trees and stay there until the end, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that each section was linked by short woodland walks. It gave us a chance to catch our breath, take in the scenery and prepare ourselves for the next challenge.
Each section featured a variety of crossings, from wobbly bridges and wire traverses to some fantastic zip lines. The zip lines were definitely my favourite part of the experience, although judging by the amount of bark down my trousers by the end of the day, my landings could have used a little work! Even some of the obstacles that looked simple from the ground were enough to get the butterflies going once you were balancing several metres above the forest floor.
The biggest adrenaline rush came from the leap of faith into a giant cargo net. Stepping off the platform took a bit of courage, but it was easily one of the highlights of the whole course. Given the chance, I’d happily have queued up and done it all over again.
We spent a wonderful afternoon in glorious sunshine and left already talking about when we’d come back. It’s the perfect way to break away from the usual routine, get outdoors and challenge yourself a little. We’re even tempted to give the Segways a try next time.
💡 Top Tip: We spent around two hours on the course itself, not including the induction and safety briefing. If you’re paying for parking at Grizedale, make sure you allow plenty of time.
If your little monkeys are old enough, Go Ape makes a fantastic family day out. With adventures designed for children and adults alike, plus forest Segway experiences for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, there’s something for everyone. With locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales, chances are there’s a Go Ape not too far away.
For more information or to find your nearest location, visit the Go Ape website.
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The Wander Station work with affiliate advertising programs to provide income for our site. This article may contain affiliate links. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
