Actually flying and not just dreaming about it
So you like flying at high-speed through the air with a bit of thick rope wedged up your bottom, getting smacked in the face by branches? If that’s you, then you’ll love Go Ape’s new Zip Trekking Adventure in Cumbria, Lake District. Just kidding, it’s nothing like that. But it is amazing!
Since the age of about three, my night-time visions have been filled with dreams of flying. Flying over fields and rivers and mountains. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. And now I had the chance. So I grabbed my photographer friend LJ and friendly Lake District expert, Kate, packed the car with camping essentials and bombed it up the M6 to Grizedale Forest in Cumbria.
This was my first Go Ape experience, and I must say, I was very impressed. Incredibly friendly staff were the cherry on top of an already exciting experience in stunning surroundings. So to give you a little glimpse into the experience, I’ve set out a bit of a Q & A below for you. Feel free to send me a comment if there’s anything else you’d like to know.
At this point I was still oblivious to the huge ground drop I was about to witness
Q & A
Is it scary? Depends what your scare-factor is. My two friends and I all like varying levels of danger. Kate loves dangling off rock faces, I only partially like hanging off rock faces, while LJ prefers to opt for gentle strolls over rolling hills — but we all absolutely loved the experience.
Is it safe? Absolutely. You’re accompanied by two qualified instructors the whole way — they make sure you do everything safely, so there’s no chance of falling off. And as with other Go Ape adventures, you’re always attached by two safety lines.
Getting our safety briefing
Do you get an adrenaline rush? Sure do. The first zip wire is nice and short to help ease you into the experience. But the second one is easily one of the longest. About halfway along Zip 2, the land suddenly drops away, amplifying the exposed feeling. Zip 7 is by far the most adrenaline-inducing ride. But on all zips you get an absolutely amazing view over Grizedale Forest.
How fast do you go? Our instructor told us his fastest speed was 42mph on Zip 7. This is the longest and fastest zip and of course the most fun. I’m pretty sure I reached at least 40mph – pretty exhilarating!
The breathtaking view from Zip 2
Is it expensive? While other Go Ape activities are generally priced around £30-35, this one is £45. I did initially think this was quite steep, but I think the additional cost must be to cover the cost of the Land Rovers that drive you to the start and the instructors that accompany you on the course. I do still think it’s pricey, but completely worth it. A brilliant activity for a hen do or birthday bash.
How long is the experience? Our adventure was a little over two hours and although you’re actually only on the zips for around 10 minutes, it feels much longer. There are eight zips varying between 200-500m, so on average you’re flying through the air for about a minute at a time. Also, the groups are relatively small, as they don’t want to keep people waiting too long.
But is 10 minutes air time really long enough? You know when you go on holiday and you reach that point where you’re happy with the time you’ve had away, but equally happy to go home? That’s how I felt at the end of the adventure — contented.
Tips for going faster… If you want even more of an adrenaline rush, you could try:
- Going backwards — this is kinda hard, cause soon as you’re flying you do turn quite a lot. If you hold higher up the rope you can stop yourself from turning, but Go Ape discourages this, as you could get your fingers stuck. That would be kinda nasty.
- Be heavier — not a whole lot you can do about this, but you could try eating a bigger breakfast!
- Tuck into a small ball — the smaller you are the faster you’ll fly. Aerodynamics darling!
- Don’t flail — the more you try spinning round to face the front or the back, the slower you’ll fly. Go with the flow.
A couple of lush pit stops in Ambleside for a bit of tea and cake post zip trekking
Would I do it again? Absolutely! If you love flying through the air as much as I do, you’ll be wanting all your friends to celebrate their birthdays, hen do’s and graduations in Grizedale Forest.
Want a bigger rush? If this is a bit tame for you, you could always try Zip World Titan at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Flying at over 100mph for over a mile, it’s the longest and fastest zip wire in the world!
I hope you found this review helpful. If there are any other adventures you’d like to hear about, just let me know.
All images courtesy of LJM Photography
dare to move 