First look at £12m Viking-themed world now open at UK theme park

Valgard is Paultons Park’s biggest investment yet as the £12m attraction opens - (Paultons Park)

A £12m Viking attraction has opened at Paultons Park just in time for summer, including two new major thrill rides.

The Hampshire-based family theme park announced last week that it has opened its new attraction “Valgard: Realm of the Vikings”, aimed at older children and teenagers.

The new section features Paultons Park’s first inverting rollercoaster, “Drakon”, which features a hair-raising vertical lift hill and two upside-down twists.

Valgard opened for the first time for superfans on 16 May (Paultons Park)

Another new thrill ride named “Vild Swing” has also debuted, which swings riders 12 metres in the air.

In addition to the new rides, family favourite “Cobra” has been transformed into a bobsled adventure, renamed “Raven”.

A Nordic-themed, high-capacity restaurant named Feasting Hall has also opened in Valgard, complete with a life-size Viking longship, iron chandeliers and Viking shields.

Fans take on Drakon for the first time (Paultons Park)

The menu includes items such as burgers, couscous bowls, fried chicken, fries and ice cream with toppings.

A playground called “The Orchard” has also been opened at Valgard for young children, including slides, climbing frames and a net swing.

Valgard is Paulton Park’s largest investment to date and will only continue to expand with a water-based ride also set to be added to the immersive world by 2027.

The area has opened adjacent to the Lost Kingdom section of Paultons Park.

The Cobra rollercoaster has been transformed into Raven (Paultons Park)

James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, said: “We are thrilled to have opened the gates to “Valgard: Realm of the Vikings” today.

“The launch of this attraction and reveal of our most thrilling rollercoaster to date marks the start of an exciting new era for Paultons Park.

“We are committed to continuing to offer a memorable experience for young guests, while also growing and becoming more adventurous alongside our fans.

Drakon has a vertical lift hill (Paultons Park)

Paultons Park, near the New Forest in Hampshire, has been owned and operated by the Mancey family since 1983.

Since Valgard has opened, Paultons Park now holds a collection of 80 family-friendly rides and attractions across its six themed worlds, including the popular Peppa Pig World.

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