Mr K is always very keen on outdoor activities like rock climbing and football. I am so glad that Cannock Chase Go Ape have newly open the Tree Top Junior adventure earlier this year. I had only briefly read about them on their website but had no clue what to expect or if Mr K would like it or not. So it was a bit of a gamble.
Cannock Chase Go Ape is located at Birches Valley Forest Centre (not Cannock Chase Visitors Centre). Birches Valley Forest Centre is just 2 miles from Rugeley, where Birches Valley road meets Penkridge Bank road. There are two car parks at Cannock Chase forest but if you drive a bit further, you can see Go Ape is right on the end of the car park. The parking charge is £3 for the whole day.
Once we reached the ticket office, we were given a safety guide to read before we proceed to the Tree Top Junior adventure. The Tree Top Junior course is aimed at adventurers aged 6 – 12 years or at least 1 metre tall (adult accompaniment required).
Mr K and Mr C had a briefing while putting on their harnesses. Then they were lead to the entrance while Ms C and I watched them from the ground. There are two courses: easy and difficult. Once they had completed either course, they finish by going down the zip wire. Mr K had no fear at all that he even gave us a wave before flying right down to the end of the zip wire. At the end of the zip wire, there are wood chips to cushion their landing. They managed to get wood chips everywhere even inside their shoes and pockets.
They then made their way back to the tree top where they chose the more different course. On this course, they walked through a log pole, ladder rope, jumping across the platforms etc. They both totally loved it that within an hour, they completed each course twice.
The course has a good level of difficulty but Mr K managed to overcome it. He did fall through the gap but obviously the harness is there to ensure your safety and he was able to pick himself back up using the safety rope attached to him.
Considering this was the junior course, Mr C really enjoyed it too and had a hard time keeping up with Mr K at times. There is obviously an element of fear being in the tree tops but you always felt safe with the harness. This course is challenging enough that grown-ups will not get bored.
My tips for the adventure are:
- Arrive early to prepare yourself.
- Have a wee before starting your adventure.
- Wear suitable comfy clothing with gloves and suitable footwear. If it rains the day before, you might like to wear a waterproof jacket.
At the end of the session, Mr K received a certificate and a badge. He loves his little achievement and can’t wait to take it into school for show and tell! Mr K hasn’t been able to stop talking about it since and wants to go again but they closed from mid-December to January due to maintenance of course. I think it is very reasonable to pay £16 for an hour adventure as long as your children is not afraid of heights. It is a great outdoor experience and will give your children a real sense of achievement and it is also great physical exercise. There are 29 locations of Go Ape but only 7 locations have the Tree Top Junior adventure. Check out their website for more information.
Disclosure: We have received a compliment tickets for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.