The brand-new treetop adventure attraction that’s opened in a 600-year-old forest – with high ropes and zip lines
A NEW adventure attraction opened in the UK last month, and it’s located in the heart of a 600-year-old forest.
Earlier this year, outdoor adventure company Go Ape opened its 37th site in a forest in Northamptonshire.
The Sun’s travel expert Lisa Minot will be taking part in a Live Q&A with readers at midday on Tuesday (April 23) to answer your holiday dilemmas – ask her anything.
Whatever the travel question – big or small – make sure to send over all your questions to Lisa in the form here, and she’ll answer them in the live Q&A.
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, Go Ape Salcey Forest opened to the public.
The new adventure park features two treetop rope courses, including Treetop Adventure – an hour-long course with a series of obstacles.
Visitors will need to cross three loops and wooden paths before reaching a zip wire at the end of the course.
This treetop challenge is suitable for anyone who is taller than one metre.
At Go Ape Salcey Forest there’s also Treetop Adventure Plus, which the website describes as featuring, “more speed, more air, more freedom, more height and more thrills.”
Visitors will need to be older than six and taller than 1.2m to take on Treetop Adventure Plus.
Go Ape’s latest offering is located in Salcey Forest – a former medieval hunting forest.
The forest is home to 600-year-old ancient oak trees, walking trails and cycling routes.
Inside the forest there’s also a children’s play area with an outdoor climbing frame, a Forest Cafe play kitchen and a slide.
Go Ape Salcey Forest Site Manager, Callum O’Connell, said: “We’re thrilled to extend a warm welcome to adventurers as they explore the treetops at Go Ape Salcey Forest.
“Designed to challenge and inspire thrill-seekers, our new high ropes experiences are great fun and will help adventurers young and older to live even more adventurously.
“Situated within the expansive Salcey Forest, this new location is a fantastic day out for the family, with loads of walking trails, family cycling paths, adventure play areas and a cosy café to refuel.”
Tickets to Go Ape Salcey Forest start from £21 per person for an hour.
Salcey Forest is a 16-minute drive from Northampton, and it’s a 22-minute drive from Milton Keynes.
The brand-new outdoor adventure is also only a 34-minute drive from Kettering – a market town that’s slated to be this year’s must-visit destination.
Kettering featured as part of the backdrop for the smash-hit film Saltburn, with searches for the town soaring in recent months.
Boughton House, also known as the English Versailles, was used to film the huge Saltburn estate.
The house is open to the public and often holds events like an Open Air Cinema and Choir Concerts.
Kettering is also home to the second oldest theme park in the UK.
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has been visiting Kettering for the last 40 years – and she’s revealed the best things to do in the market town.
Three other adventure attractions in the UK
There are plenty of other adventure attractions hoping to open in the UK over the next few years.
- Rhydycar West, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, could soon be home to a lavish £300million holiday resort. The “world class leisure resort” would have a waterpark, an Olympic ski slope, adventure zones and outdoor lodges among its many offerings. No set opening date has been revealed.
- Wildfox Resorts, Afan Valley, Wales, will be a £250million holiday park with 570 lodges as well as 130 apartments and rooms. There will also be plenty of out activities on the site too, including wild swimming, mountain biking, hiking, canyoning and bouldering. It is slated to open in 2027.
- Therme Manchester hopes to open in 2025. The huge new £250million water resort will be home to swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms
There are plenty of other outdoor adventure attractions in the UK, including North Yorkshire Water Park, which recently expanded its offering.
Meanwhile, a seaside town in the north of England could soon have a brand-new attraction after plans were approved last week.