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Original poster

Go Ape - Have I badly misjudged this?

100 replies

edwinbear · 07/04/2022 12:45

I have a week off work next week and was idly looking for something to do with DC (10 & 12). Managed to book a fabulous looking (and discounted) glamping tent at Leeds Castle - marvellous. Had a look at what else is available to do there and stumbled across Go Ape. I've never been, DC are fit and active, so in a moment of sheer madness, I checked DC's ages and heights are allowed, showed them the pictures of the massive looking, hardest, most terrifying 'Treetop Challenge' course and booked us all on.

And then I looked at the detail and read the Tripadvisor reviews. On the 'Challenge' course, you're not permanently clipped onto the safety wires, we're all responsible for unclipping and clipping ourselves between obstacles, before hurling ourselves off platforms 13m off the ground and praying we've done it correctly. This seems like a recipe for disaster to me. I'm sure DC will have a grand old time, but surely all I have to look forward to is 3hrs of gut wrenching panic, being responsible for constantly trusting they've clipped themselves on correctly and double checking it - I mean there is zero margin for error on this.

Has anyone done this? How difficult would it actually be for me, or more importantly DC, to mess up the clips and die?

OP posts:

DockOTheBay · 07/04/2022 14:49

It’s great fun and impossible to mess up
A few people have said this but it is not true. I did a course in the south east a few years ago and there was a man there with his 2 kids ages about 9 and 11 I would guess. On more than one occasion, the kids were completely unclipped because the man wasn't paying attention and helping them. I reported this to one of the instructors, which resulted in an instructor watching them for about 3 minutes and, not seeing them unclip themselves during that time, disappeared again.

Shortly after, the younger child was unclipped yet again and was 2 obstacles ahead of his Dad, so was essentially unsupervised.

Later on, at the highest point of the course, I saw the adult man with one clip in each hand, completely unclipped. I was at the bottom of the ladder and he was at the top about to clip on to the big zip wire. If he had slipped it would have been nasty.

I wondered later whether he had poor language skills and didn't understand the instructions, or was just incredibly stupid, but it was lucky that none of them got hurt.

stimpyyouidiot · 07/04/2022 14:49

I've done that course op and I'm a massive wuss. They'll be fine. You're double clipped on and only one is moved at a time. They are very clear about how to be safe at the beginning.

It'll be great fun!

B0J0ker · 07/04/2022 14:51

As others have said, it's 2 clips and you only ever unclip/reclip one. Most times there's a member of staff on the more difficult platforms to help.

You'll have an absolutely amazing time, it's quite addictive! The kids will love it, you might be a bit scared the whole time 😂 and relieved at the end! It's a great family activity.

Forevergold2838 · 07/04/2022 14:51

I also did it with a hen do. That was better as I was only responsible for myself but being responsible for myself and my own DC and then the incidents with our friends child, I turned to jelly by the end of it all!

I think the question is whether your nerves can handle it!

Candleabra · 07/04/2022 14:53

It’s very safe IF you use the equipment correctly.
You have two clip and in theory only ever remove one at a time so you’re always attached.
Last time I went we caught up with a big group and one of the kids was standing on the platform completely unclipped. I noticed and helped her to sort it out but I have sweaty palms just typing this.

If your kids are sensible and you’re vigilant then you should be fine.
It is a fun afternoon, challenging, and you’ll be very proud of yourself afterwards.

AnneElliott · 07/04/2022 15:02

I've done it before so there but the clips are hard to do. And the 10 year old might be a bit short even though they meet the height requirements. DS wasn't able to do it on his own and got stuck at the top of a pole for a while!

But they'll let the kids change to the kids one and refund the difference (they did with us anyway) if they can't do the big one.

Sn0tnose · 07/04/2022 15:15

Absolutely nothing to do with Go Ape, (I freeze on the second step of a ladder) but just in case you’re not local to Kent and haven’t seen the news about motorway traffic and travel disruption, give yourself plenty of time because the M20 is a massive car park at the moment and it is predicted to continue for another few weeks.

MrsPear · 07/04/2022 16:34

We did - but only adventure plus we had a 9 year old and a hard of hearing 11 year old so both me and h went up. Each in charge of one. We managed. Although I’m never doing it again. Now we know the boys can manage they can do it by themselves next time.

megletthesecond · 07/04/2022 16:36

Put it this way, I've refused to do it with both dcs together. My nerves can only handle one at a time on the adult course.

Original poster

edwinbear · 07/04/2022 17:22

Thanks so much for all your input everyone, it's really appreciated. Hearing those of you who have confirmed it is technically possible to end up completely unclipped, I think we'll look to switch to the Adventure Plus. We're only an hour away (in theory, @Sn0tnose thanks for the heads up re M20, will check that before we leave), so if we take to it, we can always return for the bigger course.

OP posts:

rwalker · 07/04/2022 17:29

Done it with our brilliant it's really no hardship to watch them there 2 clips so one is always connect when you are moving to another line.

It's really simple always check 1 is attached before you unclip 1 there isn't a vast amount of clipping and unclipping .

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/04/2022 17:47

I think it's a good idea to make all people accept they are responsible for their own safety (in theory at least). Better than passively accepting somebody else on NMW has the job.

But I understand your worries.

VioletCharlotte · 07/04/2022 17:56

I did Go Ape with my DS and his friend when they were 10. They were absolutely fine. The instructors are very good about showing you how to clip yourself on safely and drum it into you that you only ever have one clip off at a time. So long as you're all ok with heights, you'll be fine. I found it exhausting though!

Funkyslippers · 07/04/2022 18:10

We did it last year, DD(12) loved it and was much braver than me! The one thing I was annoyed with is that it was v busy so we didn't get to complete it in time but they sent us a voucher for another free session! I agree it is possible to f*ck it up.as I realised at one point I'd undone both clips at the same time. But that was just me not concentrating properly.....! I lived to tell the tale

TobyWhatsit · 07/04/2022 19:16

The only thing is, I don't think kids that age can do it without an adult - are you booked on too?

Original poster

edwinbear · 07/04/2022 20:01

Yes, I’m booked on too. The website says 1 adult can supervise a maximum of 2 kids on the Challenge course.

OP posts:

hels71 · 07/04/2022 20:10

DD and I did one last year. The clipping and including was fine. Getting me up the cargo net however was less fine! Luckily the instructor rescued me!

Camomila · 07/04/2022 20:53

How tall is your 10 year old? If they are only just tall enough they might find it pretty tricky.
I did something similar to Go Ape on holiday and was only 1cm over the minimum height (It was 160cm to do the adult course and I'm 161cm) and I constantly had to stretch and found it really hard work.,

Original poster

edwinbear · 07/04/2022 21:02

She’s 145cm vs their requirement of 140cm so definitely over it, but not by that much. In all honesty, if we get there and they deem her too short and point us in the direction of the ‘medium’ course, I’d be very relieved as the decision would be out of my hands!

OP posts:

TobyWhatsit · 08/04/2022 07:31

'We' (my dc and dh) have been doing Go Ape type activities for years in uk and abroad and my experience is you cannot be completely unattached - you can only remove one carabiner clip at a time and need to clip the first one back on before you can remove the second one.

Ricardothesnowman · 09/04/2022 18:39

@edwinbear
Just got back from my Go Ape adventure.
It was fantastic, no where near as scary as I imagined, and my ds managed really well.
It's quite easy to do the clips, and simpler than I thought it would be.

I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Original poster

edwinbear · 09/04/2022 18:54

Thank you @Ricardothesnowman! So pleased you had a great time and I’m relieved to hear the clips are OK!

OP posts:

Original poster

edwinbear · 13/04/2022 23:19

Just updating to say we went this morning - nobody died in fact we had a brilliant time! Treetop challenge, yes, it is technically possible to become unclipped, but the instruction was brilliant and as all PP’s said, it’s not complicated. It was second nature to clip back onto the tree at each platform before un clipping from each ‘obstacle’.

Followed up with an evening glamping at Leeds Castle which is also fantastic, really lovely couple of days. Thank you to all of you for your guidance, advice and encouragement, DC and I have had so much fun

OP posts:

Ricardothesnowman · 14/04/2022 06:23

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it.

Saltyquiche · 14/04/2022 06:33

It will be fine. The trainer at the start will ensure they have the technique correct

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