Fun and exhilaration at Go Ape Battersea

KimT's London for Kids Blog

“Live life adventurously” is how the new Go Ape tree top adventure at Battersea Park advertises itself. So if you are an outdoors type with action-oriented small people this could be the answer to your prayers. When I booked a trip for myself and my daughter to celebrate her 18th birthday I was excited. As the date drew near I became more hesitant.

Go Ape is a 15 minute walk from Queenstown Road or Battersea Park train stations although there is ample parking at the park. It’s a pleasant walk too – through the park and alongside the lake there. We chatted to a number of people out walking their dogs – we met a lady with four cute Pekinese. And more than one puppy.

Getting into our gear

The entrance to Go Ape is surrounded by other attractions such as a playground and a novelty golf facility. And overhead are various levels of rope bridges and climbs – some looked rather high. We checked in at reception, signed various papers, put our phones in clear plastic holders around our necks, put our stuff in the lockers and waited for our safety briefing.

Chris, our instruction, was young and quietly confident which put us at our ease. Then we – with two other couples and a mum with two younger daughters – tried to put on our harnesses. Not an elegant manoeuvre. Chris tightened our harnesses and walked us over to the training area.

Safety briefing and practice run

Then we had a safety briefing (no more than three on a platform, only one person on each crossing, emergency whistle for, well, emergencies etc). He explained the two important ropes attached to us – one a runner/trolley which attaches to the wire and never comes off and the other a carabiner which you attach to each section of the climb as you go.

Then we went on a low platform to check we understood how to move our trolley across the junctions and attach and de-attach the carabiner. Chris explained that the end of each route ended with a zip line and how to land safely. Yeah right.

The easy circuit

And then we were shown the first tower where an instructor attached our rig to the safety steel wire and we started to climb up the steps. It’s not too high – but high enough. We got to grips with the carabiner attach and de-attach routine quickly.

The first couple of runs are relatively easy – suspended wooden panels with ropes either side to hold on to. Although everyone held on for dear life to their pulleys as instructed. It wasn’t too wobbly and we quickly learned that swift, confident steps minimised the wobbling – and the fear. “Look straight ahead” had been the advice and we barely glanced at the distance below us.

There were a net bridge to cross which was interesting. And more suspended wooden panels – slightly further apart. Then we were faced with the Fisherman’s Trap – a sort of net enclosing a series of platforms that you had to climb up like a chimney. Again, not very elegant but I made it to the top. And of course we were at a higher level now.

There were a few more straightforward crossings and then a really tricky one with a plank on one side and a bare wire on the other. At this stage I could feel the muscles in my arms twinging a bit – probably because I was holding on so tight to my pulley. But I managed to make it across. At each platform, we stopped to admire the view and assess the difficulty of the next crossing (cue much nervous laughter).

A few more crossings and we were faced with a suspended enclosed net that we had to crawl through. I admit that my language wasn’t suitable for small people here. The final crossing stopped me in my tracks. A single narrow log along which I had to walk. My daughter made reassuring noises and encouraged me to go across. I signed with relief when I reached the tower on the other side.

I felt I had had enough excitement at this stage and asked the instructor to de-attach me. He cheerfully explained that I had to zip line across to another tower before I could do so. So my daughter slid gracefully off and did the running landing as instructed far away on the other side. I’m proud to say that I didn’t scream as I whizzed across but my landing was slightly cumbersome as I landed on the soft bark backwards and on my bottom. If I’d known how safe you were hanging from the wire in your harness I would have been much less fearful going round the circuit.

I was amazed to see that an hour had passed since we arrived. Others in our group went on to do the intermediate and the advanced circuits – the total experience is supposed to last two hours - which looked exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. The highest obstacle crossings are double the height of most Go Ape courses and twice as long. Eeek.

Daughter’s reaction

My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the experience and declared that it felt safer than the Go Ape courses she had attempted when younger. She was particularly impressed that the trolley/runner attachment stayed attached the entire course whereas in the past it had to be attached and unattached at the start of each crossing. She said the platforms were slightly larger too.

And, yes, she said it was a brilliant thing to do as part of her birthday celebrations – not least witnessing her mum cuss and curse as she attempted some of the more challenging crossings. And we had laughed a lot too. And as the staff knew it was her birthday they made a special fuss of her and embellished her certificate of completion with lots of cakes and candles. That was a really nice and genuine touch.

Prices

The main tree top experience that we did is for those who are 10 years or older and over 1.4m tall. Under 13s must be supervised by a participating adult who can supervise up to four under 13s. Adults can supervise eight 13-15 year olds – and there are options for adults to supervise from the ground. But, hey, if I can do it then so can you! 16 and 17 year olds can be unsupervised.

Gorillas (16 years plus) tickets are £33 and baboons (10-15 years) are £25.

Small people

Tree Top Junior is a separate Go Ape course below the main one and is designed for mini-Tarzans of six to 12 years of age (over 1m). Whether from the ground or the course, one adult can supervise up to eight juniors.

Under sixes must be accompanied in the trees with one:one supervision on the first trip. The cost is £18 per person.

So. Mums and Dads. If I can do then so can you. So get your little ones booked on a tree top adventure and Go Ape.

Posted Date
Dec 18, 2015 in KimT's London for Kids Blog by KimT