This is a review of Go Ape Tree Top Junior Wyre Forest and Vimto Squeezy
Both my husband and I don’t like heights. This is a bit of a problem when all our boys are thrill seekers. You may recall that last year my husband stepped up and went up in the trees with the boys at Go Ape in Moors Valley Country Park. I stayed on the ground and took photos but they weren’t all that good from that angle. When Vimto Squeezy invited us to try their new concentrated drinks to accompany a day at Go Ape I decided to face my fear and go up too. The really good news is that there is now a Treetop Junior course at Kidderminster’s Wyre Forest (which is MUCH closer to us than Moors Valley Country Park). What I did not know is that it is also one of the highest! I looked up and was like – “that’s the adult one right?” In fact I was really wrong as when we later saw the adult one – omg it is high!
We were able to put our valuables in a special bag and got a numbered band, so that they wouldn’t fall out of our pockets. Feeling sick with nerves I was fitted into a safety harness. You could tell that they take safety really importantly there, and I was checked and double checked that it was on tight enough. I was warned before it was pulled so tight, and it was even explained to the children why this was so important. I tried to listen to the instructions and not think about the fact that a trolley was pretty much all that was going to keep me safe! We had read and talked about the instructions before the harnesses went on, but we were reminded again before our trolleys were attached to the line.
We were also told some extra instructions. Then up the stairs we went.
The first crossing was not too bad but it was firm, did not wobble and surrounded by netting.
Then we came to the second. Gone were any thoughts of getting decent pictures and selfies. I was so scared that I shall admit I cried. Two people are allowed on the crossing at once: I told my 6 year old to please wait so I could cross it on my own. Trembling. I felt awful that I could not assist him, if he needed help. Luckily he was absolutely fine and didn’t need my help.
Under 6s who are over 1m can go on with an adult – so my husband was looking after our 5 year old (who, of course, was also okay).
When we reached the first zip wire I was asked if I was ok. They told my son to give me a hug. I was like no please don’t touch me, as I was worried I may be knocked off the platform! They were really nice and let me get off and go down the stairs. There was no way I could just step off and go down the zip wire. Again all my kids just jumped off no problem. Al the staff were great and really supportive (with a special thanks to Sophie). As I couldn’t face the zip wire though it did mean that I had to go down the stairs after loop 2, as the only way out of loop 3 was down the zip.
There was a great variety of crossings on the course to really help improve the children’s balance, thinking skills and fear (probably a lot of other things too).
Some were more difficult than others, and some felt safer than others (although all were actually really safe).
I thought that the net would feel less frightening as there was less chance you could fall, but actually it didn’t feel as solid as the wood and I was nervous that it could snap at any point (again honestly there was absolutely no chance of this happening, and the appearance was not that way at all, just pure fear).
I did get discuss this fact with my 6 year old. My boys were running across it all, like monkeys!
Go Ape and Vimto Squeezy
After we all received our certificates we sat down and eat a much-needed picnic. It is important to keep hydrated, especially as it was a sunny day and we had been active. As much as I try to get the children to drink plain water the younger ones really don’t like it. We took with us the 3 bottles of Vimto Squeezy so that we could try all of the flavours, and some plain water (well we could hope).To me it tasted of Vimto – there was no other way of describing it. That was all 3 flavours – yes the cherry and strawberry had a hint of their own flavour but there was that unique Vimto taste (luckily I am a fan). Everyone drank them ok, but think the Original flavour was the most popular. The Vimto Squeezy bottles were really handy as didn’t take up a lot of room in our bag. I was worried about was them leaking – but there was no concerns there either. I did like the fact that there was no added sugar too.
Nature Misses You and The Gruffalo
The National Trust has a #naturemissesyou campaign this year – with the main aim to connect children with nature. So far this summer we have explored a cave, looked in rock pools, danced in the rain and rolled down a hill. It seemed fitting to go on the Gruffalo trail, exploring in the forest. We nearly missed out on completing it as my son fell badly in some stinging nettles. However, we found some dock leaves and convinced him to carry on. We had fun following the signs, finding dens, and acting out the cues from the Gruffalo. We found characters from one of our favourite books as we went around. We even got to tick off another of our #50things when prompted to make art from nature.
This year the Gruffalo turned 15 and you can find out more about what the Forestry Commission is doing to celebrate near you. We are also going to a special Sensory screening of The Gruffalo Live in Birmingham in a few weeks. It really was magically to see such a life-size statue of The Gruffalo(I’m just glad he was asleep and didn’t want to eat me!!!) and really help sparked passion to hear the story again. If you can’t make the dates why not make your own trail as per my favourite Gruffalo Hunt post.
Posts about making these Gruffalos can be found at:
HPMCQ, Me and My Shadow, Cookie Jar Life, and Mummy Never Sleeps.
Wyre Forest
Parking at Wyre Forest is only £3 all day and can be paid over the phone. This meant we did not have to hurry and took a nice long walk around exploring. In doing so we saw the adult Go Ape trail and omg that is much higher. The course seems much more difficult too. In fact my daring 11 year old actually said he wanted to wait until he was older before trying it!
We went to Go Ape courtesy of Vimto Squeezy in return for an honest review. All words and opinions are my own.
I think I’d be quite happy on the Gruffalo trail rather than climbing up trees as I’m not a fan of heights (I’m short for a reason}
I know my eight year old daughter would love this but I think my son at three is still a bit young. I’m not keen on zipwires myself because of the jolt at the end but I don’t mind climbing – not that I do it very often!
Good lord that is brave. I just couldn’t get up there in a million years. Give me The Gruffalo trail any day!
It looks like great fun, although I’m sure my children would be much braver than me!
I got an unexpected chance to try it out yesterday. My kids were indeed very brave but I finished the course and had a great time.
Oh well done 🙂
My two loved this
As much as I love my baby being small, sometimes I wish he’d grown up already so we can do fun stuff like this! I’m not a big fan of heights but I’d love to challenge myself and ‘go apes’! 😉
There is a Go Ape near me, never been but it looks fun!
Eekkk I remember going to our local go ape! Scared was not the word. I couldn’t even complete it lol.
oh my good lord how on earth did you do that?! not in a millions year would i be able to do it, your picture make me feel queezy!. so very well done you, that’s incredibly brave of you x
so happy that someone has found the gruffalo that we painted, isn’t he a cutie?
I remember visiting a place like this when I was young, it was soo much fun, however I could never do the zipwire and still to this day couldn’t do it so well done on doing that and being able to take pictures at the same time! x
My boys loved go Ape Junior and it looks like your kids did to.
Great pictures, they look they they had a fab time, There is no way I could walk across those bridges! yikes! x
Go Ape looks fun but I’m not good with heights i’m afraid.
Go Ape looks such fun – we have one near us but Kitty and Oz are both a bit too little to go jus tyet – and I am afraid of heights – I know, what a wimp!
You are sooooooo brave! We have a Go Ape! about an hour from us, eldest wants to try it but needs an over 18 with him – and I’m NOT volunteering lol!
It was so brave of you to try it, even if you didn’t manage to do it all – I’m sure your boys were really proud of you.
I’m not scared of heights but I’m very limited in what I can do, physically, I worry about when my son wants to do things that I just can’t keep up with. Thankfully we have lots of very energetic, able bodied family and my son has 6 Uncles ranging from 15 to 28 so I’m sure we’ll be able to find ways for him to join in with their activities with their little ones (or just ones of their own haha)
Oh you are so brave. I watched from the bottom when my OH and eldest did this at Center Parcs. My Hubby was terrified, but found it amazingly thrilling. Well done!
OMG that would be my idea of hell! You are so brave for even doing the bits you done! Wouldn’t have got me anywhere near!! Well done!! My daughter would LOVE to do that!! xx
Ooooh, you are brave. My little boy loves GoApe, but I’ve not been brave enough to try it with him yet. x
i think my husband and my girls would really enjoy go ape although the girls are quite little. me…i am too afraid of heights i am 🙁
I’d just like to congratulate you and say well done, because I could not of got as far as you did at all! Before I had Spud, I was such a thrill seeker, my dad a keen walker and hiker would take me and my brother out walking with him every Sunday and heights we’re not something I feared. I was scared of cliffs, drops and getting too close to the edge but heights never did bother me. We was lucky to have annual passes to Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chesington and all the other attractions included in the annual pass, I have photographs of me on rollercoasters with my hands thrown up in the air!
After having Spud, I thought about issue’s I never feared before, what if the ride safety bar broke and I fell out and was seriously injured or worse, who would look after Spud? I’ve not been to a theme park for a good few years, and as for heights they terrify me! We’ve been asked a number of times to review Go Ape, and even though I think Spud may enjoy it, I just can’t accept the review!
Well done again because I wouldn’t of got to the stairs, I would of been on the ground the whole time! xx
Isaac is desperate to try Go Ape and is finally tall enough so going to take him to Moors Valley during the holidays – looks like you had great fun and quite fancy a vimto now!
We went to the Sherwood Pines one which is the adult one as part of a review which fell on his 10th birthday! Looks like a fab day
My little boys are too young for this, but they have no fear so I am sure when they are older they would love it
Oh my goodness. There is no way I could do that. I did laugh when you said you cried and had to leave your 6 year old…but I was only laughing as I totally knew that would be me!!! Aaaaaagh!
wow Go Ape does look fun, i think i would liuke to give it a go but as i get older my dare devil ness is lessening! I know my boys would love it but i think they are still too young yet to have a go
thank you for mentioning my Gruffalo Hunt lovely lady x x
I don’t think I could do that but it looks amazing! well done! x
My legs are literally trembling reading this! There’s no way I could do it so well done you, absolutely amazing!
the Gruffalo and Go Ape all in one place! Outdoor fun at it’s best. I am like you and find it terrifying, but it doesn’t stop me joining in and showing the kids I’m not yet too old, well done you for doing the same. Thanks for sharing with me on Country Kids
Oh, you are so much braver than me, I really don’t think I could up there! I would cry too. Interesting to see the squeezy bottles of concentrate. I hadn’t seen them until I moved to the US and it’s all we can get, there’s no Robinsons equivalent! Some of them are pretty good, and sugar free 🙂 #CountryKids
Sounds like so much fun! Glad you all had a brilliant time…finding a Gruffalo too, how fab 🙂 #CountryKids
I’ve always wanted a go on the Go Ape ! I’m impressed with your children as my six year old would really really struggle with it – or it could be the making of him and help his fear and lack of confidence? Well done you too! #countrykids 🙂
Omg, you are so much braver than me, we went for the press day. Both me and Jackson were so terrified after the 1st loop and zip wire exit, they let us up to do just the zip wire but then we didn’t do loop 2 or loop 3 and I didn’t take a single photo, we both cried all the way around even though I knew it was safe!
Well done! For facing your fears
Thank you a Joy, we’re heading to Wyre Forest this week and I was wondering about the Go. Ape but think it would be too tricky to manage a 3.5 year old who would be desperate to give it a try! We’ll definitely hunt for the Gruffalo again though-it looks fab and we enjoyed our last hunt so much x
I think you’re very brave, I’m not sure if this is something I could do but at the same time I think it is something I would like to try with Ethan. When he is order of course! #CountryKids
we are going to go ape next week at Moors valley, and I am hoping to be brave enough to have a go at the high ropes, my eight year old is gutted he cant go till he’s ten and climbs the junior course like it was a mole hill. Looks like you all had fun, and fingers crossed the weather stays dry for us next week 🙂
Well done you for facing your fears and managing to do it – I’m not sure I would be able to! Great photos and looks like your little ones had a fun time 🙂
Well done for doing some of the Go Ape course. I often think I would love to do this, but fear that my anxiety issues would get the better of me- and I’m not a fan of heights either. Luckily my two are not yet interested in these kinds of antics (well, Little dude would probs love it but he’s far too young!).
Loving The Gruffalo Trial. This one looks fab, our local one has had fairly poor reviews so we haven’t bothered. A great shame as both of mine love the Gruffalo. #CountryKids 🙂 x
Well done for being so brave. My daughters did this course last year and were big enough (luckily) to go alone. It was terrifying watching them from below!!
Wow are a braver woman than me! Well done for getting up there and giving it a go. It’s great that your kids are in to that kind of thing, my and my two are all afraid of heights! It’s never something that has bothered me too much, but I’ve noticed myself getting more scared as I get older!
Love the look of these squeezy bottles of juice, so hand for a day out. I love vimto too x
It’s amazing that both you and your husband were able to face your fears and give it a go. And such great pics too!
You are so very brave. I hate heights. Well done!
Looks like great fun for all the family (especially if you are OK with heights) I know my eldest used to love doing stuff like this. Like the idea of bringing your own toys as well!
I love go ape and I am so looking forward to when the kiddies are big enough to do this 🙂