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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Kathryn Williams

First look at Zip World Tower and the 70mph world's fastest zipline

There are just six days to go before the the ziplines of Zip World's first South Wales site at Tower Colliery are open to the public.

With the opening comes the world's fastest seated zipline which can get up to speeds of 70mph over the Llyn reservoir, which is nestled at the foot of the Rhigos mountain.

Riders will also be able to whip across the forestry at the Tower site at a second, smaller four-person zipline which lands you back at the base of the park near the welcome centre and Cegin Glo, the 176-seater restaurant that also has an outdoor area for 100 people. The patio at Cegin Glo is made with slate from near Zip World's original site at Penrhyn.

Also on the site is the Tower Coaster which will be ready to ride when it opens next month.

Looking down over Wales from Zip World Tower (Zip World)
The top of Bravo zip line at Zip World - looking out towards the Brecon Beacons (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Reception building where you check in and get all your gear on (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The view from the main zip ride on the site (ob Browne)

The Tower Colliery is an important part of Rhondda Cynon Taf's history, closing finally in 2008, 14 years after the miners themselves paid £8,000 each and took ownership of it after previous owners claimed it was 'unviable'.

And for the past decade or so the colliery site has been in a sad condition, which stung those who knew the story of how those miners believed in themselves and their pit.

But in 2019 plans were approved for the site to become an adrenaline junkie's dream with Zip World, which has regenerated former slate mining areas of north Wales since opening in 2012. It would feature the fasted seated zip line taking adventurers from the top of the Rhigos down to the base of Tower, where the pit head remains.

Tony Shott, a former Tower miner, who went down the zip line (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Wayne Thomas, also a former miner, who loved his zip experience (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
The old pit head at Tower, the board hopes to regenerate these buildings, too, in the future (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Miners Tony Shott and Wayne Thomas were there with us on the day, and were well up for testing out the line with us.

Sean Taylor, the founder of Zip World in Wales, said he drove past the Tower site in 2017 when looking for another site and that's where Zip World Tower's story began.

"I thought what an amazing back drop that would be (for a Zip World), and then I learned about the history," said Sean.

"They appreciate what we're going to do with the legacy here. There's a huge community engagement here, it's really caught their imagination and 95% of our staff will be local. It's hugely, hugely exciting. When you get to the top there and look over to the Brecon Beacons it's a phenomenal sight."

Sean Taylor, owner of Zip World (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

So what's it like riding the Phoenix zip wire?

The view from the top of the Zip World site is obviously incredible. Even on a hazy Tuesday you could see the Brecon Beacons in the distance and imagine what it would be like on a crystal clear day.

Riders get bussed from the base where reception and Cegin Glo is, then togged up with all their goggles, helmets and harnesses.

Tony getting his harness on (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

There's no denying it: your legs are a bit like jelly as you wait around for your turn and, as you are about to hurl yourself off at 280ft up the Rhigos, it's no wonder.

Staff have a thorough safety check of all the clasps and carabiners and then you have to be the one to make yourself exit the platform. No pushes, no staff-operated release, it's down to you.

Our reporter Kathryn also had a go (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

But I'm so glad I did it. A reservoir, a view, a landscape I'd loved and looked at all my life, I was suddenly flying above it. It was bit windy but it felt completely serene.

The little less than 1km journey goes so fast, though, it was over in a flash (around 45 seconds) so I'd definitely try and savour it more if I did it again.

Tony agreed saying: "It was absolutely awesome, I'm still trying to breathe, my eyes were locked open. It's better than the one in north Wales."

Hell of a view from the Zip World base on the Rhigos Mountain (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Wayne added: "When they were setting us up I thought 'What am I doing?' but as you went over the top, the views over the lake were fabulous, I'd recommend it to anyone. It's a culmination of feelings, a dream come true, working in the depths is one thing, coming off that height is another thing."

Zip World Tower opens on Monday, April 26. Find out more here.

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