Skills – Strength: 4, Balance: 6, Flexibility: 5, Agility: 3, Coordination: 5
Time needed: travelling time + 1 hour, Cost to try: £free

Sometimes starting out in a sport can seem a little daunting; is it for you? What equipment do I need? What you really need is some sound advice. If you’re interested in getting into sailing then here are a few top tips about getting started from what kind of sailing you want to do and where to do it, to how much it costs and what courses are available.

What kind of sailing do you want to do?

Before you get started you’ll need to have a think about what kind of sailing you want to do; dinghy or yacht sailing.

Dinghies are open boats which are suitable for day sailing in a variety of areas both inland and on the open sea. They are fun and exciting whilst bringing you closer to nature.

They provide an exciting and cost effective way of getting afloat to experience the thrills of sailing. You could go cruising somewhere like the Lake District or hire a dinghy off the beach for your summer holiday; participate in high octane and fast performance sail racing or just sail on your own for fun.

The great thing about dinghy sailing is that it provides one of the cheapest ways to get afloat. It is also the quickest and easiest way to learn to sail as dinghies are easy to rig, anyone can handle them and they are very responsive, providing limitless entertainment for everyone. But remember with dinghy sailing you will get wet, especially when you are learning the ropes!

Yacht sailing is extremely diverse and there are opportunities for everyone to participate. The boats are bigger and come equipped with more of your home comforts such as toilets and kitchens and place for you to stay onboard and sleep. It’s a great way to get out on the water in warm climates with the family, explore far flung remote places with friends or you might even try your hand at racing.

Yacht sailing is about adventure, exploration, teamwork and fun. It’s relaxing and an enjoyable way to discover new places.

What Sailing Lessons and Courses are Available?

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) offers a whole host of courses from complete beginner right through to professional qualifications. Run through the RYA’s network of some 2,500 recognised training centres both in the UK and abroad, you should be able to find a course to suit you.

To get you started many RYA Training Centres, sailing clubs and charter companies throughout the UK and abroad run taster sessions/days providing an ideal opportunity to get out on the water for the first time and help you decide if sailing is for you and if you wish to go ahead and sign up for a course.

If you decide that yachting is for you then the RYA’s Start Sailing and Competent Crew courses are the perfect way to learn the basic principles of sailing whilst meeting like-minded people and exploring new locations.

The Start Sailing course is designed especially for the complete beginner. During this two day course you’ll get a real hands-on experience and start learning how to steer a yacht, sail handling, rope work and be aware of safety on board.

The RYA Competent Crew course is a five day course, usually over three weekend or three days and one weekend, but if you have your Start Sailing certificate it reduces to three days or two weekends. You’ll experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered.

By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You should also have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday.

If you decide on dinghy sailing is more your style then the RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme, for under 16’s and National Sailing Scheme for adults offer the Stage one and Level one courses respectively, and are perfect for beginners.

The Youth Sailing Scheme is a series of courses to develop your skills with instructors signing off each skill as it’s complete it and, once completed, the certificates can be of use in other areas of study or activities such as PE at school, or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Stage one is a day two course and provides a basic understanding of how a boat sails, with some experience of steering and handling the boat

The National Sailing scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats and multihulls.

It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you. Level one starts by introducing you to sailing with all you need to know to get afloat under supervision. During the course you’ll learn how to sail in all directions and have an awareness of launching and recovery.

Where can I learn?

Whether you decide to take a course as part of your holiday or take a course at your local sailing club, there are plenty of locations to choose from.

Visit the RYA’s ‘Where’s my nearest’ to find a training centre near you – . Here you can also find details of RYA Training Centres overseas if you fancy doing your course in the sunshine!

Is sailing an expensive sport to take up? How much does it cost?

Sailing has always been seen as an expensive sport to get in to, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to be. You can buy a small dinghy to get on the water with for as little as £600 and a wetsuit will cost you from around £70 to buy.

Like any sport it costs a lot to compete at the very top but thousands take to the water each year for less than it costs to play golf or tennis and for a lot less than a gym membership in many parts of the country. As a family you can join a sailing club for as little as £150 a year and have free or very cheap access to their fleet of club boats.

The cost of training courses vary depending on where you live and what course you decide to do. An RYA level one course for sailing starts at about £200 per person. It is always best to go to an RYA recognised centre where a national curriculum is taught. This means that if you move you can still follow the different levels all the way through and the RYA certificate is internationally recognised. RYA recognition also means the centre will run the course to the RYA’s syllabus with safe, well maintained boats and equipment.

Sailing really is for everyone

The beauty of sailing is that is really is for everyone, young or old, able bodied or disabled.

Especially for youngsters is the RYA’s OnBoard programme which provides children with the opportunity to learn to sail as part of the school sports curriculum or through youth groups. Find out more at www.ruob.co.uk

There are also racing programmes for youth and junior sailors and windsurfers wanting to sail competitively both at home and abroad. Many of our current Olympic sailors have come up through these programmes.

Sailing is also one of most accessible sports for disabled people to participate in and is also one of the only sports where people with disabilities can participate on equal terms with able bodied people.

RYA Sailability is the charity of the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) which offers people who think they can’t even get on a boat, let alone sail it, the chance to have a go. There are over 200 sites for disabled sailing throughout the UK encouraging and supporting thousands of people with disabilities to take up sailing, with a proportion, over 40%, having learning disabilities. Find out more about RYA Sailability at www.rya.org.uk/programmes/ryasailability

Where can I find out more information about getting into sailing?

Visit the RYA website www.rya.org.uk. As national governing body for all forms of recreational and competitive boating, it represents dinghy and yacht sailing, as well as motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal watercraft. The RYA can advise you on how best to get started with any of the above activities as well as answering any questions you have.

If you want to get yourself some gear to go sailing, sailing clothing and gear is available from Amazon.

The post Learning Sailing Skills appeared first on Active Outdoors.

What is Go Ape?

Go Ape is the award winning tree top forest adventure where you can swing in the treetops and speed down thrilling zip wires.  Established in 2002, Go Ape is still growing UK-wide and you can also Go Ape in the US.

Go Ape has over 30 locations in the UK where they have tree-top high wires, tricky crossings (using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire) and wind-in-your-face zip wires.  Apart from Go Ape London, all of the locations are in natural settings of lush, green forest with a healthy dollop of breathtaking scenery.

The Go Ape experience gets the adrenaline pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones and above all it’s just great fun.

In this guide you can find out what Go Ape is like, use the Go Ape course comparison to see which are the best Go Ape locations, how to book, buy Go Ape gift vouchers and subscribe for Go Ape offers and deals.

How Long Does Go Ape Last?

Go Ape lasts for up to three hours of tree top adventure, depending on how quick you are at completing the crossings.

Go Ape Opening Times

Go Ape is open daily from April to October (and weekends in February and November!).  Every year Go Ape opens for the February half term week, then on every weekend until April. From April, Go Ape is open every day until the end of October.

Go Ape opens at 930am, and the last session is at 430pm.

You can get early bird sessions from 8am, with the last Go Ape session at 4pm. During the summer, there are more sessions available due to the longer daylight hours.

It is best to book Go Ape online before you go. You can just turn up and book on the day if there are spaces available.  It’s best to check the Go Ape website for details (or call the booking line on 0845 643 9215, please note there will be a £1.50 booking fee.)

How much does Go Ape cost?

Go Ape prices
Gorillas (18yrs+) – From £30.00 *
Baboons (10-17yrs) – From £20.00 *

Restrictions

Minimum age 10 years, minimum height 1.4m (4ft 7in) and maximum weight of 20.5 stone. Under 18yr olds must be supervised by a participating adult. One participating adult can supervise EITHER two under 18 year olds (where one or both children are 10-15 years old) OR up to five 16-17 year olds.

Go Ape Vouchers

If you are ever having problems finding a gift for someone, get them a Go Ape gift voucher and you will definitely give them a gift they will remember. It is easy to do. Select how much the voucher is for, pay online, then email or print out your gift voucher.

Buy Go Ape gift vouchers directly from Go Ape.

Current Go Ape Discounts and Offers

You can currently save 15%on a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure/Forest Segway adventure by showing your course completion certificate when booking again.

How will I know what to do at Go Ape?

When you turn up at Go Ape, you are provided with a climbing harness, and helped with fitting it. When everyone is ready for your session, your instructor shows you exactly how the safety system works. You get to try it for yourself at ground level. The instructor then takes you to the practice area, where a low level crossing and zip wire is demonstrated. Everyone gets to have a go and the instructor makes sure that you know how to attach yourself to the safety system and stay attached. After that, you head off on your own. Instructors walk around the entire course at ground level, so if you ever get stuck, all you have to do is shout for help and someone will be there within a minute.

Each of the Go Ape locations is split into 5 or 6 separate zones. Up in the canopy, there is an assortment of spectacular rope bridges and Tarzan swings. An exhilarating zip wire brings you back down to the forest floor at the end of every section, usually ending up with the bark chips from the landing zone going down your pants!

Go Ape is for anyone who likes to live life adventurously – you don’t have to be a seasoned explorer to have a Go Ape experience! There’s no greater thrill than the great outdoors, so whether your tribe is looking for stag do ideas, birthday party, corporate team building event or simply a day out with the kids, Go Ape make their courses as fun and as accessible as possible. Every Go Ape location has a cafe or restaurant so that you can get food and drink before or after your treetop experience. It is also useful for those who are just going to watch.

Which is the Best Go Ape Location?

To make things easy for you, here is my Go Ape course comparison that lists all of the Go Ape locations on one page so you can see which is the best. You can see stats like height, distance and number of zip wires.

How high is Go Ape?

The highest Go Ape course is at Glentrees and is 48 metres above ground at its highest point. Typically, Go Ape courses are about 12 metres high, but the highest Go Ape platform is 18m above ground at Go Ape in Grizedale Forest. This is my favourite place to Go Ape.

So, with over 29 Go Ape locations to choose from in the UK alone, which one is the best? It all depends on whether you want height, long zip wires, or challenging obstacles.

The best Go Ape location depends on what you are looking for:

• Best Go Ape location for scenery – Grizedale;
• Longest Go Ape zip line in the UK – Aberfoyle 420m;
• Highest Go Ape rope crossing – Glentrees 48m;
• Biggest Go Ape rope swing – Swinley Forest has a double rope swing;
• Longest Go Ape course – Cannock Forest 1465m.

The difficulty of all the Go Ape courses is similar, as they are designed for you to be able to get across, albeit with some difficulty. But each Go Ape location has its own unique character.

Below is a list of all of the Go Ape courses in the UK, with key details of features that will help you to decide which is the best Go Ape location.

1. David Marshall Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, nr Aberfoyle, Stirling

   Longest Zip Line. Go Ape Aberfoyle opened on the 26^thMay 2007 and is situated in southeast Perthshire on the upper reaches of the River Forth. It is a key centre in both The Trossachs and the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and as such has become a tourism centre. Go Ape in Aberfoyle has two of Britain’s longest zip wires, each stretching over 400m long, flying customers 150 feet above the ground and over a 90 foot waterfall!

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 426 metres
   Longest Crossing – 11.5 metres
   Total Length – 1,171 metres
   Number of Crossings – 35
   Highest Point – 14 metres

2. Alice Holt Woodland Park, Surrey

   Go Ape is set within the ancient forest of Alice Holt, famous for its oak trees which once supplied timber for navy ships. Recently Alice Holt oak has been used to build a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London. Whether you have come to walk, cycle, picnic, or see the wildlife, there is something at Alice Holt for everyone who loves the countryside.

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 126 metres
   Longest Crossing – 20 metres
   Total Length – 664 metres
   Number of Crossings – 41
   Highest Point – 14 metres

3. Go Ape London in Battersea Park

   If you want to try Go Ape London, there is a unique high wire tree top adventure in Battersea Park in the centre of London. This is the first Go Ape location in the centre of any UK city. There is another Go Ape course in London but further away from the city centre, located at Cockfosters.

   The highest obstacle crossings are double the height of most Go Ape courses, and many are twice as long as usual, making them extra wobbly and challenging.  It also has zip wire bark chipping landing zones up in the air on platforms instead of the bark chipping pile on the ground.

   Number of sections – 3
   Longest Zip Wire – 50 metres
   Longest Crossing – 11.5 metres
   Total Length – 730 metres
   Number of Crossings – 43
   Highest Point – 12 metres

4. Bedgebury Forest, Kent

   Bedgebury is located in Kent and is incredibly popular with people of all ages. Walkers, runners and cyclists all enjoy this tranquil forest and kids of all abilities can spend time having fun in the adventure play area. Bedgebury’s National Pinetum allows for scenic views throughout the whole year.

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 170 metres
   Longest Crossing – 20 metres
   Total Length – 812 metres
   Number of Crossings – 36
   Highest Point – 13 metres

5. Black Park

   Set in 530 acres of beautiful woodland with a centre-piece lake. Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham, Buckinghamshire,
   SL3 6DS

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 140 metres
   Longest Crossing – 24 metres
   Total Length – 787 metres
   Number of Crossings – 37
   Highest Point – 10 metres

6. Swinley Forest, Bracknell, Berkshire

   Biggest Rope Swing. This Go Ape location has the first Double Tarzan Swing on any of the Go Ape courses. Set in Swinley Forest, Bracknell, a great place to let off steam in the great outdoors. Take in a variety of plants and animals and explore a fabulous science discovery centre and free adventure play area. Popular for mountain biking and a hit with corporate teams.

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 160 metres
   Longest Crossing – 12 metres
   Total Length – 704 metres
   Number of Crossings – 35
   Highest Point – 13 metres

7. Poole’s Cavern, Buxton, Derbyshire

   One of the highest Go Ape locations above sea level, close to a 2 million year old natural limestone cave. Buxton is a spa town at the heart of the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire. It has been a popular holiday resort for centuries and blessed with stunning scenery.

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 159 metres
   Longest Crossing – 19 metres
   Total Length – 733 metres
   Number of Crossings – 32
   Highest Point – 11.4 metres

8. Cannock Forest, Staffordshire

   Longest Go Ape Course. With the longest Go Ape location and only a short drive from Birmingham, Cannock Forest sits on Cannock Chase, the smallest area of outstanding natural beauty on mainland Britain.

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 260 metres
   Longest Crossing – 16 metres
   Total Length – 1,465 metres
   Number of Crossings – 38
   Highest Point – 14 metres

9. Coed-Y-Brenin

   This is a lovely tree top adventure based in the heart of Coed-y-Brenin Forest, North Wales. Coed-Y-Brenin, Dolgellau, Gwyrew, Wales, LL40 2HZ

   Number of sections – 5
   Longest Zip Wire – 140 metres
   Longest Crossing – 20 metres
   Total Length – 679 metres
   Number of Crossings – 31
   Highest Point – 13 metres

10. Crathes Castle

    Set in the grounds of the historic Crathes Castle, this Go Ape course has skateboard zip wires.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 125 metres
    Longest Crossing – 92 metres
    Total Length – 592 metres
    Number of Crossings – 28
    Highest Point – 8.6 metres

11. Crawley, Tilgate Park, Sussex

    This was NEW for 2013. The Go Ape adventure in Sussex can be enjoyed by all. Not only can the over 10’s enjoy the classic Tree Top Adventure, but anyone over 1 metre can get off the ground and up in the trees with Tree Top Junior.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 142m
    Longest Crossing – 14.3m
    Total Length – 737m
    Number of Crossings – 34
    Highest Point – Unknown

12. Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire

    The Go Ape at Dalby Forest has hilltop-to-hilltop zip wires and a plunging valley below. Dalby Forest is situated on the southern slopes of the North York Moors National Park. The southern part of the forest is divided by a number of valleys creating a “Rigg and Dale” landscape whilst to the north the forest sits on the upland plateau. Enjoy great walks around Staindale Lake and Haygate with views over the valley. A network of forest roads including the 9-mile Dalby Forest Drive provides access to this outstanding landscape.

    Number of sections – 6
    Longest Zip Wire – 250 metres
    Longest Crossing – 15 metres
    Total Length – 888 metres
    Number of Crossings – 37
    Highest Point – 35 metres (over Zip 4)

13. Delamere Forest, Cheshire

    The course in Delamere has the second longest zip wire of any Go Ape site, stretching 200m. The facility is located adjacent to the Linmere Bridge with views of Blakemere Lake.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 212 metres
    Longest Crossing – 14 metres
    Total Length – 760 metres
    Number of Crossings – 42
    Highest Point – 12 metres

14. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

    Set in one of the most distinctive forest settings in Britain with a seductive charm all of its own, this new Go Ape adventure course is one of the most exciting of the seven sites around the UK. The circuit boasts crisscrossing zip wires in a forest that covers some 35 square miles with picturesque views of the lakes.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 180 metres
    Longest Crossing – 18 metres
    Total Length – 806 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 15 metres

15. Glentrees Forest, Peebles

    Longest and Highest Rope Crossing. Built on the hillside within the beautiful Glentress Forest, the Peebles adventure makes good use of the valley for some jaw dropping exposure, and features the highest Go Ape! zip wire over the reservoirs in the valley.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 325 metres
    Longest Crossing – 13.5m
    Total Length – 933m
    Number of Crossings – 36
    Highest Point – 48m

16. Grizedale Forest, Cumbria

    Highest Go Ape Platform. Grizedale has the highest Go Ape platform at 18 metres. Newest obstacles are the Parrot Ladder and the Victoria Falls Crossing. Grizedale is a stunning location particularly great for families – take in the wash of bluebells in June! You can even go on a 200m zip wire that goes across the road leading up to Go Ape, waving at the cars driving to Grizedale Forest.

    New in 2014, Go Ape has introduced Zip Trekking. If you love Go Ape zip wires then this is for you. A set of 7 tandem zip wires where you can race a friend through the fir trees for 3km!

    Number of sections – 6
    Longest Zip Wire – 275 metres
    Longest Crossing – 22.5 metres
    Total Length – 908 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 19 metres

17. Haldon Forest Park, Devon

    Go Ape’s first foray in the South West! Just 15 minutes from Exeter, Go Ape at Haldon and experience two incredible 230m zip slides flying you from hilltop to hilltop!

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 230 metres
    Longest Crossing – 16 metres
    Total Length – 775 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 14 metres

18. Leeds Castle, Kent

    Take to the trees and speed down zip slides high above the Kentish hilltops. Featuring zip slides 250 metres in length, adrenalin is guaranteed! Take in the stunning views of Leeds Castle and its grounds – representing over 900 years of history, beauty and change. For a great day out in Kent, make a day of it by Going Ape and exploring the castle.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 250 metres
    Longest Crossing – 25 metres
    Total Length – 775 metres
    Number of Crossings – 38
    Highest Point – 12 metres

19. Margam Country Park, South Wales

    In the springtime we’ll be opening our very first Welsh course, located in Margam Country Park (near Port Talbot), which boasts splendid landscapes and the largest deer herd in Wales.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 167 metres
    Longest Crossing – 18.5 metres
    Total Length – 744 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 13 metres

20. Matfen Hall Hotel

    Matfen has 300 acres of historic parkland to enjoy a great day out near Newcastle.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 160 metres
    Longest Crossing – 16 metres
    Total Length – 755 metres
    Number of Crossings – 38
    Highest Point – 11 metres

21. Moors Valley Country Park, Dorset, Hampshire

    A challenging trail with some 35 hanging bridges, scramble nets and zip wires at heights of up to 30 feet off the forest floor. Enjoy the meadows, small woodlands and Crane Lake. An adventure play area is perfect for younger children and a special castle and sand area ideal for toddlers. Witness the picturesque Moors Lake or take a ride on the narrow-gauge steam railway – the perfect end to a Go Ape day out.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 166 metres
    Longest Crossing – 25 metres
    Total Length – 1,000 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 11 metres

22. Rivington, Lancashire

    With its rugged hills, picturesque reservoirs and woodland Rivington is hailed as Chorley’s mini Lake District… the perfect location for enjoying a 200 metre long Zip Wire over the Edge of the Rivington Reservoir.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 198 metres
    Longest Crossing – 17.5 metres
    Total Length – 924 metres
    Number of Crossings – 35
    Highest Point – 10 metres

23. Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Nottinghamshire

    Set within Sherwood Pines Forest Park, changes for 2006 include an expanded course of seven sites. New additions include Stepping Stones, a new Balance Beam and a great new cabin. Sherwood is famed as the only Go Ape location in the UK with treetop-to-treetop zip wires! Set deep in the heart of the Nottinghamshire countryside, Sherwood Forest boasts beautiful woodland and is probably the most famous forest in the world. The forest is a great place to walk, cycle, or horse ride (Keep your eyes open for the merry men!)

    Number of sections – 6
    Longest Zip Wire – 140 metres
    Longest Crossing – 64 metres
    Total Length – 909 metres
    Number of Crossings – 41
    Highest Point – 8 metres

24. Southampton, Itchen Valley

    Tucked away in 440 acres of beautiful woodland and meadows close to the River Itchen

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 193 metres
    Longest Crossing – 21 metres
    Total Length – 927 metres
    Number of Crossings – 40
    Highest Point – 14 metres

25. Thetford Forest, Suffolk

    Newest obstacles are the Tank Trap crossing and Turtle Crossing, the first of their kind to be developed on any Go Ape course. Two sites have been merged to form a new supersite now compromising of 16 obstacles. All zip wires have been extended by 50%.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 140 metres
    Longest Crossing – 26 metres
    Total Length – 739 metres
    Number of Crossings – 36
    Highest Point – 12 metres

26. Trent Park, Near Cockfosters in London

    With one of the higher Go Ape courses at 16 metres above the ground, at last, you can take to the trees in London. If you want to know where there is a Go Ape in London, go to Trent Park.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 120m
    Longest Crossing – 32m
    Total Length – 662.7m
    Number of Crossings – 40
    Highest Point – 16m

27. Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire

    Set high up on the crest of the Chiltern Hills; enjoy the spectacular views and wild landscape across Aylesbury Vale from high up in the trees. Jon & Amy run a great café in the woods; pop in and indulge in one of their homemade cakes.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 140 metres
    Longest Crossing – 20 metres
    Total Length – 685 metres
    Number of Crossings – 40
    Highest Point – 11.5 metres

28. Whinlatter Forest Park, Cumbria

    Set in the North of the picturesque Lake District; the home of outdoor adventure. Whinlatter is the highest course above sea level, (rising to 790 metres), making it a real high altitude experience. Soak up the spectacular views across the Lake District and into Scotland.

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 89 metres
    Longest Crossing – 24 metres
    Total Length – 601 metres
    Number of Crossings – 39
    Highest Point – 14 metres

29. Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire

    In March 2009 we’re opening a brand new course at Woburn Safari Park… we can’t wait! So why not join us, and combine the excitement and thrill of Go Ape with the fun of Britain’s largest drive through and Foot Safari…

    Number of sections – 6
    Longest Zip Wire – 156 metres
    Longest Crossing – 15.5 metres
    Total Length – 804 metres
    Number of Crossings – 37
    Highest Point – 8 metres

30. Wyre Forest, Worcestershire

    Wyre Forest, home to some of the most ecologically significant woodlands in England. So why not Go Ape in one of Britain’s largest remaining ancient woodlands…

    Number of sections – 5
    Longest Zip Wire – 160 metres
    Longest Crossing – 17 metres
    Total Length – 567 metres
    Number of Crossings – 40
    Highest Point – 14 metres

Groups

Get in touch with our Go Ape Events Team to get your tribe in the trees – from Aberdeen to Wyre, 10 to 280 people, for adults and children – We can tailor a day that you and your gang will never forget.

Team Building Groups and Events at Go Ape!

Go Ape Tree Top Junior

Under 10s were complaining about not being able to Go Ape, so there is now a growing tribe of Junior Go Ape treetop experiences being built across the country. A fun filled hour of canopy exploring, trail blazing and obstacles for all to enjoy. You’ll take on 20 crossings over 3 trails and finish with one awesome zip wire. Go Ape Junior is for all abilities so explorers can uncover the forest canopy from 4 years (over 1m) to 104.

Forest Segway With Go Ape!

If you don’t fancy swinging through the trees, you can test your balancing skills by riding on the two wheeled Segways. The forest segway experience is at 10 Go Ape locations in the UK. Get off-road and explore the forest on all-terrain segways. It’s a totally unique way to tackle the trails in the forest.

Segway at Go Ape.

Go Ape Zip Trekking

If you love the zip wires but can’t be bothered with all the obstacles to get to them, then you really need to visit the Go Ape Zip Trekking experience in Grizedale Forest in the Lake District.

Find Out More About Go Ape

For the ideal gift, you can get Go Ape vouchers. Occasionally, Go Ape do have discounts and offers. If you have been to one of the best Go Ape locations in the UK, your certificate you get at the end gives a 15% voucher off your next Go Ape adventure.  This applies to any Go Ape location.

So whatever your confidence and ability, if you love the outdoors and fancy taking on zip wires, Tarzan swings, rope ladders, high wire crossings and more, grab your tribe and head to the best Go Ape location near you for up to three hours of tree top fun and adventure. No two Go Ape experiences are the same.

Visit GoApe.co.uk to start your adventure.

The post The Best Go Ape Locations appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Slacklining is a dynamic balance sport, which involves walking, balancing, bouncing and even flipping on a stretchy line tensioned between two trees or anchor points. Walking across a slackline is like bouncing across a very thin trampoline.

Skills – Strength: 5, Balance: 10, Flexibility: 6, Agility: 7, Coordination: 10
Time needed: travelling time +12 hours, Cost to try: £free’, ‘

The sport originates from Yosemite Valley, California in the late 1970s, where climbers practiced balancing and surfing on chains around car parks. When the climbers progressed to rigging up climbing webbing and walking across it, the slackline was born.

What sort of skills does it involve and how will these boost fitness levels?

Slacklining is a continuous balance discipline and great for improving core strength, co-ordination, flexibility and focus.

While Slacklining, you use your core muscles to uphold your centre of balance and your arms and legs as a counterbalance. As your muscles are constantly working to keep you on the line, your body is getting a continuous workout.

The stronger you become in your core, the less you need to do with your arms. Although, once you can stay up for a while, just holding your arms up in the air with constant minor adjustments will get your shoulders burning!

Once balancing has been mastered, slackliners can tackle freestyle moves such as jumps and flips. A way of training on a slackline that is very beneficial to general fitness involves stillness, for example holding yoga positions on the line. Suddenly seemingly simple stretches become an intense training exercise in strength and flexibility.

What kind of person does it suit? What qualities does that person need?

We have found slacklining to have a very universal appeal. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy balancing and walking on the lines. You may find it easier to master the line if you have previous experience of other balance sports, such as gymnastics or surfing, but after a bit of practise everyone can learn to walk the line.

On a scale of 1-10, how difficult is it?

When you first step onto a slackline, it can feel as difficult as a seven or eight, which makes it all the more rewarding when you do make it across the line. Once you have conquered this, it’s up to the slackliner how hard you want to push it regarding the tricks you’d like to learn.

What is the best thing about slacklining?

One of the best things about Slacklining is that it is a very social sport. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up and get a session going with friends on the park, at the beach or in your garden.

Be warned, it is also highly addictive. Every time a beginner loses their balance and comes off the line, they get straight back up to see if they can get that little bit further along. This is why we always have very long queues at events as people are desperate to have another go.

It also has very good meditative qualities – once you step onto the line, all other thoughts leave your head – it really is just you and the line.

Where can readers go for more information?

For further information and to join Maverick Slacklining Clubs across the UK, visit www.facebook.com/maverickslacklines.

Public Slackline Centres

• Ashdown Leisure Centre (Poole) Fortnightly sessions from 6pm – 8pm
• Selston Leisure Centre (Nottingham) Thursdays from 8pm – 10pm
• Lammas leisure centre (Nottingham) Thursdays from 6pm-8pm
• Hucknall leisure centre (Nottingham) Thursdays from 6pm-8pm
• For Brighton meet ups go to www.facebook.com/MaverickBrighton
• For London meet ups go to www.facebook.com/MaverickLondon

Videos

• CBBC Friday Download
• Live and Deadly
• Maverick Slacklining on Simon Cowell”s Red or Black
• BBC News Slacklining
• Maverick | Brighton Slackline Club

How much does it cost?

Slacklines cost around £45 for a decent one, but you can get an entry level slackline for around £20 which are available to buy online.
Slacklines available from Amazon.co.uk

The post How Slacklining Boosts Balance, Flexibility and Long Term Health appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Skills – Strength: 4, Balance: 5, Flexibility: 3, Agility: 1, Coordination: 5
Time needed: 2 hours, Cost to try: £50.

Whitewater rafting is a very thrilling way to go down a river. There are three types of river that you can go rafting on. These are:

1. a man-made whitewater river, like the London 2012 Olympic whitewater river at Lee Valley. This river is controlled and is used for canoeing competitions. A man-made river is ideal for spectators to see the entire stretch of water.
2. Dam release rivers such as Canolfan Tryweryn – The National Whitewater Centre in Bala, Wales. Dam release rivers use the periodical release from dams to create the whitewater. The advantage of this type of river is that you can use it for whitewater rafting when other rivers have dried up during hot weather.
3. A natural river such as the River Dee or Colorado. This whitewater river is not dependant on Dam releases as other Welsh venues are, which makes us truly the only year round White Water Rafting in Wales.

The rafts used are not the old fashioned set of logs tied together as made when you are in Scouts. They are inflatable boats that are resistant to the buffeting that is experienced when whitewater rafting down a wild river. Whitewater rafting can be a dangerous sport, so there are various safety precautions that must be taken. Depending on the area
, legislated safety measures now exist for rafting operators. These range from certification of outfitters, rafts, and raft leaders, to more stringent regulations about equipment and procedures. It is generally advisable to discuss safety measures with a rafting operator before signing on for a trip. The equipment used and the qualifications of the company and raft guides are essential information to be considered.

With paddle in one hand and helping to carry the raft in the other hand, you set off onto a calm piece of water at the head of the river. Then you all head off over the first weir. The advantage of the manmade river is that the instructor will guide the team in the raft to the calm eddies at the side of each weir to brief them on how to tackle the next weir. The instructor explains what to do and then you experience how the raft behaves as you cross from one side of the water to the other. If you should happen to fall out, all you do is just lay back and float. The remainder of your team in the raft have to paddle to reach you and then pull you into the raft. The downside of the manmade river is that it is shoprt compared with a natural river, and when you reach the bottom you all have to get out and carry the raft back to the head of the river for another whitewater run. If you are on a natural river, you just go down once, but the distance is much further.

Find Out More About Whitewater Rafting

There are several great places to go whitewater rafting in the UK.

• Holme Pierrepoint at the National Watersports Centre in Nottingham
• Canolfan Tryweryn, the National Whitewater based near Bala, North Wales
• Whitewater Active. JJ Canoeing and Rafting is one of the Uk’s leading White Water Rafting and Canoeing Centre based in Llangollen, in North Wales.
• Lee Valley, near London. This is the London 2012 Olympic whitewater rafting venue. One of the cool things about this venue is that it has a lift to take your raft back up to the top. No carrying it all the way back up the river!

Some of the best places to go white water rafting are all in the Americas. Canada, Idaho and Ecuador feature, with other locations including Australia, Italy, Nepal and the Zambezi. I want to try whitewater rafting on the wild waters of the Noce River in Italy. The Noce flows through the Val di Sole in the Dolomites of northern Italy. It has some of the most exciting whitewater rafting in Europe, with an amazing set of Class V rapids as it roars through the gorges of Mostizzolo. You have got to try whitewater rafting in the Dolomites.
If you prefer something a bit more sedate, you could always try raft building.

The post Whitewater Rafting Trips appeared first on Active Outdoors.

From family activity holidays to activity holidays for groups, here are some of the fantastic ways you can find some fun in the Alps.

Paragliding

Paragliding, or as the French say, parapenting is one of the most exciting yet peaceful activities to try. The initial adrenaline rush of running off a mountain is soon replaced with a relaxed sensation as you gently glide above the trees and take in the stunning landscapes.

Be sure to pick a warm day to try paragliding, as the hot thermals will increase the amount of time you will be airborne for.

Blobbing

The relatively new water activity of blobbing features a massive inflatable air bag and needs at least two people. One person sits on the end of the blob and is launched into the air when the other person jumps onto the airbag. Blobbing has almost become an extreme sport where tricks and flips can be performed.

Horse Riding

The beautiful and picturesque scenery of the French Alps is best explored on horseback. You can find horse riding schools situated at most of the ski resorts.  If you want to spend most of your holiday in the saddle, you will want to know about these great horse riding holidays.

Mountain Biking

Possibly not the most outrageous activity on our list but mountain biking in the French Alps is a must. A great day out on any family activity holiday that everyone can enjoy, explore the beautiful landscapes that the French Alps offer. From single-track to downhill trails and bike parks the amount of biking available is almost endless and is certainly accessible for all abilities and ages.
The Portes du Soleil is a very highly regarded mountain biking area which has a great sellout MTB event every year. …an 80km MTB ride featuring 15 chair lifts, 6000m of descent for only 1000m of climbing, 8 food stops and scenery to take your breath away either side of the French-Swiss border.

Rock Climbing

Whether it’s your first time rock climbing or a seasoned mountaineer the Alps provides 1000’s of routes across all grades. Chamonix is often referred to as the ‘capital of world climbing’ due to the range of climbing available. There are few better places to learn the ropes and your instructor will guide you through the first steps to becoming a safe and efficient climber.

The Fantasticable Zip Line

A one-of-a-kind experience, The Fantasticable is not for the faint hearted. Attached to a metal wire with a harness, you fly at over 100km per hour between mountain tops.

Summer Skiing in the French Alps

Not many people know that the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes sits on a glacier at 3600m above sea level. This means that there is snow on the top of the mountain all year round! So, if you still seek a snowsport fix, you can combine skiing in the morning with some mountain biking or trail running in the afternoon.

White Water Rafting in France

The French Alps have some excellent rivers for white water rafting. Run time is approx 2 ½ to 3 hours and the rafting centre will brief you on kit use and safety before you go off to the rapids with your instructor. You can either join one big raft for eight to ten people or take a smaller two-man raft. Small waterfalls and swirling currents will add excitement to your journey downstream!

Activities to do In the French Alps in Summer

If you think those ideas are cool, here is a sample of some of the other awesome activities that Alpine Elements provides on their summer family activity holidays in Europe.

• Walking and Hiking
• White Water Rafting
• Canyoning
• Via Ferrata
• Quad Biking
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Biking
• Road Cycling
• Pony Trekking
• Devil Karts
• High Ropes Adventures and Zip Lines
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Dinghy Sailing
• Kayaking
• Fly Boarding
• Blobbing
• Tow Surf
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Helicopter Flights
• Sightseeing Flights by light aircraft
• Dirt Biking
• 4×4 Driving
• Mountain Boarding
• Hydro Speeding
• Skiing
• Snowboarding

Where to find out more about summer family activity Holidays in the French Alps

To find out more about family activity holidays in Morzine and other locations in the French Alps, and to look at accommodation, Alpine Elements provides great value in alpine activity holidays for singles, couples, groups and families.

The post Summer Activity Holidays in the French Alps appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Morzine and the Portes du Soleil has some of the best downhill mountain biking available in Europe if not the world. Morzine is the center point of the French Alps and from here you can reach other mtb resorts including Avoriaz, Morgins, Châtel, Les Gets all by chairlift and cable car. The resorts of Pila, Verbier and Les Arcs are also within easy reach with a car which gives you access to more than enough places to go mountain biking in the French alps. Day trips by minibus are also bookable via local companies at very reasonable costs.

Picture credit – Guy Bowden

Morzine offers mountain biking for all styles of riding and mountain biking holiday companies cater for all abilities, from gentle cross country mountain biking to full on downhill adrenalin pumping mtb rides on some of the best mountain bike trails in the French Alps.

The mountain biking trails in Morzine are generally single track and with varying levels of course and trail available from steep, rooty and technical to the fast open downhill tracks. There are also a small amount of Northshore available in the Chatel Bike Park area.

Morzine Lift Passes and MTB Trail Guides

Mountain biking in the Portes du Soleil area is among the best in the world. Chairlifts carry you and your bike up the mountain. Then all you need to do is choose which of the many downhill or cross-country routes to ride. Ride into Switzerland and back one day, and play around on the Morzine DH courses the next!

A single lift pass can be purchased to cover the whole of the Portes du Soleil area and are much cheaper than during the winter months and with plenty of accommodation available and again much cheaper than during the winter makes Morzine an excellent summer activity holiday venue.

Most lifts run from around 9am to 5pm. There are a mixture of gondolas and chairlifts, all equipped with hooks to carry your bike. A one day lift pass is 20 euros and 6 days is 80 euros.

The trails are graded from Green (easy) to black (very difficult). Before you head out it’s worth finding out a little more about what you’re going to ride. There’s a trail map available at the lift station but it doesn’t cover all the trails, or tell you much about them. Stay with an MTB specialist such as flowmtb and you’ll get route guides to follow, plus a personal explanation of the trails and personal help to choose something that’s the right level for you. This is invaluable to help you get the right level and length trails.

You can also book guides to show you the best of the trails and help you with skills improvement on some of the trickier stuff. They will lead you on some of the best mountain bike trails in Morzine that cater for your tastes and mountain biking skills.

Accommodation in Morzine

There are loads of accommodation options in Morzine from self catered apartments to MTB specialist chalets, such as flowmtb, where breakfast, dinner and route advice is available. Make sure that your accommodation comes with bike storage, as not all of the apartments do. Flowmtb have secure storage, plus a workshop for any repairs you may need to do. Your accommodation provider should also be able to book transfers from Geneva airport for you. These are usually around 70 euros for the return trip.

You can choose from a budget B&B chalet (evening meals optional) or a more luxury catered option with ensuite rooms. FlowMTB has two town centre chalets so you’re close to the lifts and the bars and shops. Use of the bike workshop and route advice is included as standard to make your trip run more smoothly.

Mountain Safety When Mountain Biking in Morzine

If you’re heading out without a guide make sure you take a mobile phone and that someone knows where you’re going. You’re never far from a restaurant or lift station in the Portes du Soleil so when things go wrong getting help is easier than in many other places, but make sure you’re prepared. Always carry basic tools to fix punctures etc, a first aid kit and waterproofs in case of late afternoon storms. It is also a good idea to leave details of where you are going at your accomodation.

Mountain Bike Hire in Morzine

You don’t even have to take your own mountain bike to Morzine. You can bring your own bike with you, but make sure it’s in good shape and well serviced before coming out, the trails are tough on your bike! You are going to do some serious riding all week, equivalent to a years worth of mountain biking if you were back home.

We recommend front suspension and disc brakes. Get yourself a decent flight box for your mountain bike, pack it carefully for the plane, and make sure it’s booked on in advance. Alternatively hire is available in town. Look at shops such as Francois Baud Freeride, Morz`Na Sport and Alpine Sports Warehouse or you can hire from your holiday provider such as Flowmtb or Alpine Elements.

Planning Your MTB Holiday in Morzine

The mountain bike season starts on the 6th June, with the full area being open from the 26th June. The Pass’Portes weekend on the 27th and 28th is always really popular, and a great event to take part in. Some lifts close again on the 29th August, and the Morzine and Les Gets lifts close on the 6th September.

If you want some days off the bike there are tons of other summer activities to do in the French Alps. There’s a large outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, skate park, whitewater rafting, adventure park (high ropes), canyoning, horseriding and hiking.

Morzine is a bustling town with lots of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Hit Bar Robinsons after riding for beers on the terrace with all the other bikers. And for late night entertainment choose between L’Opera and Le Paradis nightclubs which are both open until 5am!

Where to find out more about Mountain Biking Holidays in Morzine

To find out more about mountain biking holidays in Morzine and other locations in the French Alps, and to look at accommodation, Alpine Elements provides great value in alpine activity holidays for singles, couples, groups and families.

The post Mountain Biking in Morzine appeared first on Active Outdoors.

My guide to the top theme parks and rollercoasters will help you get the best from your theme park visit.

What to expect at a Theme Park

If you have never been to a theme park before, you are in for a great time. There are all sorts of rollercoasters and rides, so you should at least find one that makes you grin.

Type of Rollercoasters and Theme Park Rides

There are a range of different rollercoasters that you will find at theme parks all over the world. There are two main categories – steelies and woodies. Woodies were the first types of rollercoasters that were designed. These are still some of the best rollercoasters to ride as you feel all of the bumps and jolts.

Steelies are steel built rollercoasters and this enables the rollercoasters to be built higher and faster. Steelies also allow you to hang the cars from under the track (such as the Vampire at Chessington), or run them above the track, or even suspend them from either side. There are also the rides where your legs dangle free, such as the Batman ride at Alton Towers, or Nemesis at Thorpe Park. You can also roll, rotate and loop. Serious adrenalin rushes to be had.

The Best Rollercoasters

1. Millennium Force – Cedar Point
2. Lethiathan – Canada’s Wonderland
3. King Da Ka – Six Flags Great Adventure
4. Top Thril Dragster – Cedar Point
5. X-Flight – Six Flags Great America
6. The Incredible Hulk, the Ride – Universal Island of Adventures
7. Manta – Seaworld
8. Colossus – Thorpe Park
9. Kraken – Seaworld
10. Sheikra – Busch Gardens

Do your Homework

Before you go, it is best to do some research into what theme park you want to visit, what rollercoasters are there, and how to plan your day. It may be that there is a particular ride you want to go on, such as the newly opened Saw at Thorpe Park. You will want to find out what other rollercoasters you can ride whilst you are there.

Get reviews of the theme parks and rides. Theme Park Critic Theme Park and rollercoaster reviews is a community driven review of America’s theme parks. Ask your mates for what they think of the rides if they have been on them. Your friends will give you an honest opinion, but bear in mind that everyone has their own preferences. Some people prefer fast rollercoasters, some love big drops, some want lots of twists and turns, whilst others want a rollercoaster with loops.

Check out what rides and facilities are there at the theme park. Is there something for everyone? What other things are there to do as well as the rides?

Have a look at a theme park map on the theme park’s website. You will get an idea of the layout and can plan the order you want to go on the rides and rollercoasters. It is often best to get there early and work from the back of the park. Most people tend to work from the front, whereas seasoned rollercoaster riders go from the back.

Look out for any height restrictions. You don’t want to get yourself into a two hour queue only to find that they won’t let you on the rollercoaster because you are too short.

Most theme parks will provide storage lockers for your bags. This means that you don’t have to lug your stuff around with you all day. You will have to plan when to go and get your bag, especially if it has your lunch in it.

Queues at theme parks

During the school holidays, you will find that there will be massive queues for the best rides. Some friends recently went to Disney in Florida just before the Easter break. The most they queued was about fifteen minutes. The following week in the school break the queue time increased to typically two hours. Dire!

So, what can you do to minimise your time spent queueing for your favourite rides at a theme park?

The single rider pass is an unpublicised way of getting striaght to the front of the queue. Theme parks like Thorpe Park want to get the most people on the rides as possible in the shortest time. Most of the theme park rides sit two people next to each other. Where there are three people, one person ends up on their own with an empty seat. This seat can be filled with a single rider. Go to the theme park reception when you arrive and ask for a snigle rider pass. If you want to go on a ride and your mates don’t, you can bypass the queue by finding the single rider entrance (which isn’t always obvious). Typically you will only have to queue for about ten to fifteen mintues. You just take pot whether you end up sitting next to a screamer on the ride.

The fast pass is a system used at the Disney Theme Parks. When you enter the theme park, you will be given some fast passes. If there is a ride you want to go on, you scan you fast pass and it gives you a time when you can go on the ride. You then come back at that time and scan the pass at the fast pass queue. You still have to queue for the ride, but not as long. You may find that in the first few hours of the theme park being open that all of the fast pass bokkings for the entire day have been taken.

An unexpected way of getting on rides quickly is to ride during lunch times. there is sometimes a lull which you will have to watch for. Also, I have found that some of the more scary rollercoaster rides have shorter queues. Disney’s Tower of Terror often has a short queue.

Food and Drink

Plan ahead and take your own lunch. You won’t have to queue for it!

Theme Park Tickets, Discounts, Vouchers and Coupons

Theme Park Vouchers provide a nice way to get into theme parks at a discount or even to get free entry to theme parks. You can get theme park tickets online at the theme parks website. Look around for theme park discount vouchers in magazines, newspapers and on cereal boxes.

You should be able to find theme park tickets and discounts for:

• Thorpe Park Vouchers
• Alton Towers Vouchers
• Drayton Manor Vouchers
• Disney Theme Park Tickets
• Universal Studios Theme Park

List of the best theme parks in the World

List of the best theme parks in the USA

• Indiana Beach
• Story Land
• Astroland
• Knoebels
• Sea-World Florida
• Sea-World San Antonio
• Islands of Adventure
• Six Flags Over Texas
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• Dollywood
• Kennywood
• Busch Gardens Williams
• Six Flags Over Georgia
• Holiday World
• Disney-MGM Studios
• Disneyland Park
• California Adventure
• Funtown Splashtown U.S
• Knotts Berry Farm
• Cedar Point
• Silver Dollar City
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• Six Flags Magic Mountain

List of the best amusement and theme parks in the UK

• Alton Towers
• Adventure Island – Southend
• Barry Island Pleasure Park
• Blackgang Chine
• Brighton Pier
• Chessington World of Adventures
• Crealy
• Drayton Manor
• Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
• Oakwood Theme Park
• Paulton’s Park
• Pleasure Beach Blackpool
• Thorpe Park

There are plenty of theme park ticket offers available, so have a look around before you go.

I have only been to ones in the Uk at the moment, and my favourite is Alton Towers. I love rollercoasters! What theme park or ride do you recommend?

The post Rollercoasters and Theme Parks appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Skills – Strength: 4, Balance: 1, Flexibility: 3, Agility: 1, Coordination: 4
Time needed: travelling time + 1 hour, Cost to try: £34

Basically, you put on some protective gear, sit on a go kart a few centimetres above the ground and then tear around a go kart race track at speeds of up to 160 miles per hour!

Go Karting is an exciting motor sport to test your driving skills

Go Karts

Go Karts are small four wheeled vehicles used go racing around go kart circuits. Go Karting is often thought of as a steeping stone towards competitive motor sports such as Formula One. Both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton raced Go Karts at go kart race tracks such as Buckmore Park go kart circuit in Kent.

The go kart chassis is made of steel tube. There is no suspension on the go kart, which means that the go kart chassis has to be flexible enough to work as suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn.

Open go karts are quite literally open. Some go karts have a roll cage. Go karts with roll cages tend to be used for off road go kart racing. Go karts do not have a differential to distribute power to the wheels when cornering. The lack of a differential means that one rear tire on the go kart must slide while cornering. This is achieved by designing the go kart chassis so that the inside rear tire lifts up slightly when the go kart turns the corner. This allows the tire to lose some of its grip and slide or lift off the ground completely.

Go Kart Racing

Go kart racing is the most economic form of motorsport available. As a recreational activity, go karting can be done by almost anybody, and as a motorsport in itself, go karting is one of the sports regulated by FIA permitting licensed go kart racing for anyone from the age of 8 onward.

There are three main types of go kart circuits or go kart tracks. The go kart sprint circuit has various bends, curves and straights. The idea is to race around the go kart track as quickly as possible for a limited number of laps. Endurance go kart racing is a much longer race that involves changes of driver, pit stops, and fuel strategies. The third type of go kart race is a speedway track. This is an oval go kart track and up to twenty laps are completed.

Where to go Go Karting in the UK

There are plenty of places to go go karting in the UK and around the world. When you are choosing a go kart track to race on, consider some of the following things. Is it an indoor or outdoor go kart track? What is the track layout? What is the track surface like? What sort of go karts are provided? What sort of speeds do the go kart reach? What protective gear such as helmets are provided? How do we get there? How big a group of mates can they accomodate? How much does the go karting cost and how many laps does that cover?

Here are a few go karting venues in the UK you might like to try:

• The Surbiton Raceway Go Kart Track

  The surbiton raceway on the outskirts of London has an outdoor tarmac go karting race track. It has pro go karts that can reach up to 70mph. When you are only a few inches off the deck, this will appear very fast!

• Go Karting at Buckmore Park

  Buckmore Park has allegedly the busiest go karting track in the UK. Based in Kent, this go kart track was where both Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button learned their early Formula One driving skills.

• Lakeside Go Karting Raceway

  At the Lakeside Go Karting raceway in Thurrock Essex, you can book in advance or just turn up and drive.

• Go karting Cardiff

  Team Sport has several go kart tracks throughout South England and Wales. They have a great indoor go karting track in Cardiff. They also have go karting tracks in London.

• Go Karting in the North East

  If you live in the North East and want to go karting, try Pole Position Indoor Karting.

• Go Karting Midlands

  The Raceway go karting track in Birmingham is a ground breaking, new style of venue. It has the largest elevated go karting track section in the country, bigger than most “normal” tracks, with a lap time of in excess of 1 minute!!! The circuit is by far the largest, longest, fastest and most impressive venue in the Midlands if not the whole of the UK!

The British Schools Karting Championship

The British Schools Karting Championship is an arrive-and-drive national karting championship for students aged 13 – 18. There is no need to own a kart to compete, all karts, suits and helmets are provided. You simply turn up and drive.
The championship is a team based knock out competition for teams of 3 students.

The British schools karting championship website has lots of details about go karting, and if you go to their Circuits webpage, it shows all of the go karting circuits used in the UK, and even has onboard video of what it is like to race around the track in a go kart.

Great Places to go Karting in the US

Located just across the street from the beach in Venture, California, Jim Hall Track Time is an outdoor track that has high and low-speed sections. You can often find celebrities racing around in go karts here.

Fastimes in Indianapolis, Indiana, is indoor and two-tiered with karts reaching speeds of up to 45 mph for people 52″ and taller.

Kart Kountry (Sheperdsvile, Kentucky): Home to the largest go-kart track in the country, five sizes of karts whiz around five different outdoor racing courses. Kids ages 5 and up are allowed to drive on age-appropriate tracks. There’s also miniature golf, batting cages, bumper boats, and more at this attraction just south of Louisville.

6. Kart2Kart (Sterling Heights, Michigan): Drive the fastest karts in Michigan to speeds of up to 35 mph. Pro Karts are for those with valid drivers licenses while junior karts are for kids 4’6″ and taller. This Detroit area attraction has a 1/5 mile long indoor track with a 200 ft. straightaway and 6 turns. Young kids can ride with parents in the two-seater karts.

7. Speed Zone (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee): A popular attraction in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area, these karts go up to 40 mph. Boasting two of the best twister tracks anywhere, there are eight tracks with one especially for the kids.

8. Orlando Cart Center (Orlando, Florida): Just 15 minutes away from the Orlando airport are karts that go up to 45 mph around an outdoor track with bumps and curbs. If you’re 5′ tall, you can drive regardless of age.

9. The Track (Branson, Missouri): With 14 different go-kart tracks, there is a racing course fit for every level of driver, even kids 4 years old and up. Navigate a 4-story track, wooden tracks and spiral tracks at one of the most popular Branson attractions.

10. Andretti Indoor Karting and Games (Atlanta, Georgia): Recognize the name? With fancy superkarts and a professional-looking indoor track, this location will satisfy your need for speed. There’s even a fully-stocked Sky Bar with views of the track for after your race, of course. Junior racers need to be 8 years old and 4’2″ tall. There’s video games, a ropes course and even a comedy club inside. This attraction made our list of 10 best family activities in Atlanta.

So, get yourself together with your mates and Go Karting

The post Go Karting appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Hot air ballooning provides a whole new view of the world. You can book hot air balloon rides for a huge selection of countryside locations across the UK, providing you with the most spectacular views and scenery. It makes the perfect gift for couples and occasions.

Top places for Hot Air Balloon Rides Around the World

If you are travelling the world for business or on holiday, you will find opportunities to take a hot air balloon ride at most of the top tourist locations. Why see the Grand Canyon or the Wonders of the World from the ground when you can take to the air.

• See the Pyramids in Egypt
• Watch wildlife on safari in South Africa or Cape Town
• Fly over the wilds of Scotland and Ireland
• Soar over Sydney and Melbourne in Australia
• Experience America flying a hot air balloon over San Diego, California, Colorado or Florida

What makes a hot air balloon rise?

A hot air balloon works by filling an enclosed balloon like canopy with air that is at a higher temperature than the air on the outside of the hot air balloon. For those of you who paid attention in your physics class, hot air rises because it is less dense than cold air, which is why a hot air balloon goes up. The greater the temperature difference between the air inside the hot air balloon and the ambient air outside the hot air balloon, the greater the lift given.

A hot air balloon does not work that well during the middle of a hot day, as it is more difficult to get a good air temperature difference. So, hot air balloon rides usually take place in the calmer air conditions that are found just after sunrise and as dusk falls. Hot air balloon rides take place throughout the year, with the best times of the year to go hot air ballooning being between April and October.

What Happens on the day?

My wife bought me my hot air balloon ride as a gift from Red Letter Days. The hot air balloon flight went from the Paddock Wood Hop Farm in Kent. On the day of your hot air balloon flight, you are given a phone number to call to confirm whether the flight is going ahead. Weather conditions have to be just right. If all is ok, then you turn up and may get involved whilst the ground crew inflate the hot air balloon.

You get a safety brief, get into the balloon basket and then take off. After taking lots of photos and trying to work out where in the world you are flying over, you land somewhere like a farmer’s field where the ground crew will be waiting with a champagne picnic.

I had the most wonderful time and felt very safe and secure in the hands of the qualified hot air balloon pilot and his team.

How is the Hot Air Balloon Launched?

Everyone from your party can get involved in launching the hot air balloon. Once the team have unpacked the balloon, you will get shown the basket and given instruction on where to stand, safety, and what happens when you land. The basket is laid on its side, and the balloon itself is initially inflated using huge fans to blow air inside. This inflates the canopy enough space so that the burners won’t be blowing the hot air onto the sides of the balloon. My nephew got collared to hold up the opening of the canopy for the fans to blow in because he is over 6 foot tall. He was well chuffed to take part.

Once the balloon is partially inflated, the gas burners are then ignited and the balloon canopy will begin to rise upright. Once it is upright, you can board ready for take off. With a few blasts of hot air from the gas burners, you gently take off.

The hot air balloon flight

The hot air balloon flight will usually take an hour or so, depending on the weather. You will fly at heights of between 500 and 3000 feet. As the balloon takes off, you will feel yourself gently rising. The ground falls away from you and you are off, whichever way the wind takes you. When the burners are not firing, it is amazingly peaceful and quiet up in the balloon. There is no wind blowing you, as you are in fact travelling at the same speed as the wind. You can hear all of the noises from the ground below; dogs barking, people chatting. It is great to see into everyone’s back gardens and see who has a swimming pool!

The views from a hot air balloon are stunning. Choose your location carefully, as this will enhance your hot air balloon experience immensely. To go on a hot air balloon ride over a game reserve in South Africa is truly amazing.

The Landing

The landing can be quite graceful, or a bit bumpy. This depends on the wind speed at the landing site. Your qualified pilot will tell you what you need to do. Basically, the basket has compartments for each person to stand in. For landing, you lean with your back against the side of the compartment that is in the direction you are going. If the basket should tip over on landing, then you are safely leant against that side already.

After you have landed, a team from the launch party will arrive. They will have been tracking the balloon flight so they can be there when it lands. Often, you celebrate your successful hot air balloon flight with a glass of champagne.

I highly recommend the experience of a hot air balloon ride. You will always remember your experience.

The Best Places for Hot Air Balloon Rides

If you want to go for a hot air balloon ride, you should choose somewhere that will have an amazing view from up in the sky. The most highly recommended places to go hot air ballooning are Scotland, Sydney, South Africa, Melbourne, Australia, Cape Town, Ireland, San Diego, Florida, France, California and Colorado.

You can buy hot air ballooning gifts from Red Letter Days.

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