North Could Be in for Swinging Time

A dramatic new way for visitors to enjoy forests could be on its way to the North-East.

The Go Ape! aerial assault course involves more than half a mile of ladders, bridges, Tarzan swings and other obstacles up to 60ft up in the trees of forests.

The system is in operation at five forests in England, including Grizedale in the Lake District.

Today it will be announced that the Grizedale Go Ape! circuit has won the Best Tourism Experience category in Cumbria Tourist Board’s annual awards competition. Judges described it as an “outstanding visitor experience”.

Participants are clipped to a safety wire during the course, which takes around two and a half hours to complete, and helpers are on hand if individuals freeze or get into any difficulties.

Go Ape! is the brainchild of former soldier Tristram Mayhew and his wife Rebecca, who run Suffolk-based Adventure Forest.

The company has visited Kielder Forest in Northumberland and Hamsterley Forest in County Durham and Tristram said: “Go Ape! is a challenging eco-adventure. We are installing another four systems this winter and we fully expect to be in the North-East in the next 12 months.”

Around 30,000 people tackled the Grizedale circuit last year.

Other Cumbrian awards today see English Lakes Hotels win the Small Hotel of the Year category for the Waterhead Hotel at the head of Windermere and the Large Hotel of the Year for its Low Wood Hotel on the shores of Windermere. Other winners: Large Visitor Attraction ( South Lakes Wild Animal Park; Small Visitor Attraction ( Blackwell Arts and Crafts House at Bowness; Self Catering Holiday of the Year ( Crag Head Cottage, at Rydal Road, Clappersgate, Ambleside; Best Camping and Caravan Park ( Castlerigg Hall, Keswick; Taste of England category ( Greystone House Farm Shop and Tea Room at Stainton, Penrith; Best Website ( Langdale Chase Hotel, Windermere.