I've always been scared of heights but my 10-year-old son Edward is fearless, so when he suggested a trip to Go Ape my heart sank. He'd heard about it from his friends. "Tarzan swings, treetop walks – it sounds wicked," he told me. To me, it sounded terrifying.
We went to Black Park country park near Slough, one of the newest courses in the country. It's in the middle of a huge forest – the perfect place for a picnic, but there was no time for that. We put on our safety harnesses and after a brief but comprehensive safety course, we were high above the ground. Edward was ecstatic. I was trying to stay calm.
The big surprise about Go Ape is that once you're up there, you're on your own. Instructors keep an eye on you from down below, but they don't go up with you. At first this feels disconcerting, but it soon becomes exhilarating. You find your own way around the course, and the sense of achievement is immense. Much to my surprise I soon forgot my vertigo. There's far too much to do to worry about looking down.
Going Ape with kids adds an extra dimension to the challenge. You have to keep checking they're strapped in properly, but I was amazed how quickly Edward picked it up. It felt like he was guiding me, rather than the other way around. The zip wires are great fun, but the biggest thrill is overcoming obstacles you never dreamed you'd have the guts to tackle. "That was awesome," said Edward afterwards. "When can we go again?"
There are 26 Go Ape courses across the UK, each one set in beautiful British woodland and no two are exactly the same. Until 5 September Go Ape is offering you the chance to get your gang together for less. Book for four and the fifth participant goes free. You can also enter a competition to win one of 10 family tickets, worth £100.
Enter the competition here.
