loopyloulaura

This week Matthew has been away on a residential trip. I was a little worried about him trying all of the activities while he was away because he is just like me and has many fears! I jumped at the chance to visit our local Go Ape in Bracknell. It is an experience none of us have ever tried before and I knew that for me and Matthew it would prove a big challenge.

There was A LOT of excitement in the car on the way there! We arrived and parked in the specially designated car park for the Tree Top Junior Adventure. Zach is too little for the course until he reaches 1 metre tall so he was safely at home with my parents. We signed in and received wrist bands then headed over to be fitted with the safety harness by an instructor.

Once fully kitted up, we were given safety advice and instructed how to use the trollies around the course on a low section before climbing the wooden staircase up to the main route.

This was the first time that nerves were evident: Matthew has trouble with staircases and we have had issues before at castles and the Look Out tower. But the anticipation of the course overcame his worries and he kept going all the way to the top.

The Junior Tree Top Adventure has 2 loops, the second being more challenging. We began with the easier course. Matthew was in the lead the whole time and was brilliant. Anya was her usual fearless self and threw herself into the course wholeheartedly!

The final challenge of the loop is a zip wire. I was totally surprised when Matt just launched himself off the platform. Confession time: I was petrified! Taking that step was a huge hurdle for me to overcome and I did it! I laughed all the way down but the harness was a bit uncomfortable in the groin area and my landing wasn’t the most elegant! Anya and Chris then followed too 🙂

Next we went around the more difficult route. Matthew was a perfect height for all parts while I felt that Anya was a little too short and Chris and I were too tall for some parts so it was a bit more tricky for us. The loop ended with another zip wire and there were no nerves this time!

We had enough time to go around again but due to the current heatwave we are ‘enjoying’, we decided to finish our tree top adventure, collect our certificates, and head for an ice lolly.

Go Ape offers an adult course as well as forest segway which Chris and I are keen to try. Next time we visit the junior course I think Matthew and Anya will be confident enough to go around the course on their own with supervision from us on the ground.

It was a brilliant experience for all of us and the children didn’t want to leave! It also gave Matthew the confidence boost he needed for his residential trip. Proud Mummy!:)

*We received free entry to Go Ape. All thoughts and photos are our own.