Go Ape activity centre, Margam Country Park near Swansea
www.goape.co.uk
FOR those of you who are afraid of heights - and more importantly, exercise - be prepared to have your fears challenged. Go Ape is an outdoor activity centre which has more in common with the ‘Avatar’ world of the Naavi than with your standard climbing frame and tyre swing.
There are branches all over the UK, but the one at Margam Park benefits from being set in some stunning scenery and is just over an hour’s drive from Llandrindod Wells, for example. The staff were very professional and helpful, even for those who are a bit inept in the outdoors (by which I mean, me). The premise is, you get kitted out with a harness attached to a couple of ropes and carabinas, you have a quick go at some low-level rope-based activities and then you’re off on your own, swinging through the treetops.
There are Tarzan swings, huge cargo nets, swinging steps, treetop tunnels and 50-foot zip wires (with the hard task of landing gracefully). Some sections are pretty difficult and your muscles will get a proper stretching but the course is suitable for all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities, with the best bit (in my opinion) being the giant zipwires which take you between the different areas of the course.
The course took us around one hour 40 minutes to complete, going at a reasonable pace. You can take a medium sized group of friends or just two - in fact, the centre is ideal for a first date, as long as you don’t mind making a bit of a prat out of yourselves.
For those who don’t want to take part, you can walk around the course and watch (or perhaps laugh) at those having a go. You get a nifty certificate for completing the course, and at Margam Park, you can go and get an ice cream afterwards.