Just when you thought Dalkeith Country Park had done all they could with its services to parents (all hail the mighty Fort Douglas), they’ve taken it to the next level with the first Go Ape in Edinburgh, a journey through the treetops, crossing wobbly bridges, whizzing down zip lines and experiencing fear and joy simultaneously.
Go Ape have nailed the treetop adventure market- they know what they’re doing and do it very well. As a family experience it’s a brilliant and fun way of hanging out (literally) with your children, or if you prefer an adult experience go with some pals. There are three levels of courses
- Adventure for children over 1 metre tall and more than six years-old
- Adventure Plus for children over 1.2metres tall with a SOLO zip
- Challenge is the most adventurous for those over 1.4 metres tall and suits adult groups as well as older children.
I was pretty relieved that I couldn’t do the hardest course, Challenge – as my 8 year old son was only allowed up to the Adventure plus. This still included the piece de resistance of the whole course- the Zip line across a river.
We were harnessed up and given a brief safety instruction and then we were off. I happily followed Luca through the treetops, shouting encouragements of ‘Come on you can do it’ as we both clambered, crawled and teetered across obstacles and bridges. There was just enough jeopardy to thrill us both and we really enjoyed the course. “This is the big one Mummy” my son announced as we reached the river Zip line. He jumped off the platform waving and cheering and I stood there revelling in his joy for a few minutes.
‘My turn,’ I thought until I clocked that my legs weren’t listening… Interesting….. I froze on the spot and told the nearby instructor that I couldn’t do it. He calmed me down and told me to sit into the harness and just step off- a few minutes of battling my inner voice later and I was whizzing above the river whooping with joy.
It’s not often that I get to stare down the barrel of a physical challenge and overcome it. The course finished too soon for my son who would have happily done it all over again whilst I gave myself a little high five for facing a fear and doing it anyway. Our verdict… we loved it. Just maybe for different reasons. Book now and have the time of your (kid’s) life.
