Go Ape at Bedgebury and Leeds Castle offer thrills and challenges for all ages

High in the trees of Kent’s stunning Bedgebury Pinetum, some 13 metres off the ground, thrill-seekers can get the adrenalin pumping or perhaps even conquer their fears with Kent’s newest Go Ape site.

Opened in 2021, it is home to an exhilarating 170-metre zipline and will have visitors navigating through a tunnel of greenery.

“We’re a high-ropes adventurous outdoor activity for families or all ages,” says Sam Barker, commercial site manager at Go Ape Bedgebury. “We’ve also got a big double Tarzan swing at the site. We love to encourage anybody that wants to be outside and do something fun with the family.”

The Bedgebury Go Ape is perfect for youngsters (experiences available from one-metre tall) and those with a few nerves as it also offers a continuous belay – so once you’re hooked on, that’s it for the duration.

“The main thing for us is that we’ll encourage anybody to give it a go. I think to put it subtly, there is one way up and one way down. But if you can do that one section of up and down, then that’s an accomplishment in itself. You’ve gone outside of your comfort zone and we want to encourage that.”

In the grounds of the picturesque, 900-year-old Leeds Castle, Kent’s first Go Ape, sees couples and more adult groups take on the Treetop Challenge – a goliath of a high-ropes course that boasts five of the best zip-wires in Kent – two of which are more than 250m long (minimum height 1.4m and 10 years old).

“At both Bedgebury and Leeds Castle, we have Treetop Adventure, which is our lowest of high ropes and it’s for anyone over a metre tall,” explains Georgie Luck, commercial site manager at Go Ape Leeds Castle. There’s no age restriction, but we do have supervision for anyone under six – they need an adult to go with them. We both also have Treetop Adventure Plus, which is anyone over 1.2m and six years old. So, people start off on the lower ropes and then they can go a bit higher and a bit harder when they’re ready.

“But completely separate to both of those is our Treetop Challenge courses where Leeds Castle is self-belay, so we teach them to clip on and off.”

While it remains open to all age groups, Leeds Castle tends to see more adult groups, which Go Ape caters for with team games, as well as offering barbecues and shelter hire so guests can have meetings.

“I think the one thing to get across is that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re four or 84,” says Georgie. “I mean, I had an older guy turn up the other day. He’s 82 and he wants to give it a go. Do I think he can? Absolutely. Why not give it a go, see how you get on! It really is high-ropes courses for all ages.”

Course options include one-, two- and three-hour options and prices start at £20.

INFO: Goape.co.uk

INSTA: @goapeleedscastle / @goapebedgebury