If you’re up for a bit of exercise combined with excitement this autumn, then Gloucestershire is definitely the place to come. From treetop trails to river canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, caving and gorge walking – it’s all happening in or around the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley. Then again, if raft building or forest yoga is more your thing, well, we’ve got you sorted there too.
For instance, here are some top ideas to get you started right now:
Treetop trails and mazes
Treetop adventure in the form of wobbly bridges, a 120m zip wire and high-up platforms, Go Ape at Beechenhurst is a dream for those who love swinging around and don’t mind heights. For kids who are at least 1.2m tall – there’s an aerial course with great views and plenty of thrills.
Afterwards, there are three giant maize mazes to find your way around, a steam train to help you explore the forest and the ancient woodland Puzzlewood to enjoy. You’ll discover Beechenhurst in the Forest of Dean, sandwiched between both the River Severn and the River Wye.
Rope swinging and Segway
Looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush? Then pop over to Mallard’s Pike and the Go Ape Treetop Challenge. Set 15 meters above ground, the course involves ropes in many forms, the most difficult of which is The Stirrups and Mallards Ladder. The Tank Trap and The Shuffle are two more particularly blood-pumping options. You know you want to.
If you prefer keeping your feet firmly on the ground, there’s still lots to enjoy, especially when you hire an all-terrain electric Segway. See how many different wildlife – such as wild boar and deer – you can spot in the forest.
Water and Gorge walking
Adventure is this family-run company’s middle name, and they’re happy to supply a handful of activities to get your adrenaline pumping. Canoe and kayak along the River Wye under instruction at Way2Go or learn how to stand up on a paddleboard (it’s definitely not as easy as it looks). You might even fancy doing a bit of gorge walking or scrambling. If you don’t fancy any of the pastimes we have already mentioned, and prefer a more cerebral activity, how about raft building? For something a bit more relaxed, how about a little forest yoga?
Caving and Climbing
Caving is a fascinating pastime that definitely has its share of heart-stopping moments. Pop on your hard hat, switch on the head torch and go underground. It’s also a great exercise as you’ll climb, crawl and wade through puddles of water. You can even go overnight caving, where you’ll get a sleeping bag and spend the night underground.
If you’d rather enjoy an adventure above ground, then climbing and abseiling are also on offer with Forest Adventure. Routes are 10 metres high for beginners and vary in difficulty depending on how experienced you are. You can abseil and climb from the well-known beauty spot Symonds Yat Rock. Those who don’t mind heights can descend from drops of up to 100 feet.
