It was 45 seconds of pure joy
Everyone knows the Eden Project right? Beautiful, sedate, a place of calm.
It is of course, all these things (and more). But for those looking for something a little more… exciting, it’s got you covered too.
For those thrillseekers there’s the chance to hurtle at 60mph, head first across the top of the famous biomes.
And that’s what we were at Hangloose Adventure to do – take on England’s longest and fastest zipwire.
Now I love a zipwire, but my experience up to this point was limited to enthusiastically pushing my children along one at a play area when they were little (then having a few goes myself when they’d had enough).
This was a different prospect altogether. It is massive.
As we stood getting togged up in the safety gear, it took more than a moment to realise that very distant, high up, apparent treehouse would be where we’d be setting off from.
While this filled my children with joy, it left me a little dry of mouth.
But there was no turning back. We were kitted out in what felt somewhere between a dress made of binbags and an ankle-length rucksack.
Then the vital lids, complete with an inward-facing camera to capture the moment of horror/joy for posterity (see the video above for the frankly mixed emotions captured on my descent).
Into the minibus and two minutes later we were there, the base of the once-distant tower, now right in front of us.
Here’s where the magic happened. Our cumbersome gear became a horizontal ‘flight suit’, with every click and link checked and double safety checked by the team at the top.
Then it was go time – arms out – and enjoy the flight!
It was about 50 seconds – for me it happened in phases. A little fear as I left the tower and looked down, then semi-comfort, comfort, before unbridled joy (then the brakes). In short, I loved it.
Incredible views across the Eden Project site and plenty of time to wave at those below.
Two riders go at at a time so you can race your significant other/child. I lost.
But it was exhilarating and not quite like anything I’ve done before – time and money permitting, I’d’ve been straight back to the top for another go.
The only people who enjoyed it more were my children (12 and 15) who gave it full marks, no notes.
After we headed round the corner to the Aerial Trek course – a high rope obstacle course. The semi-circular route dod not appear testing, but looks were deceptive and there was more than one moment of doubt as I worked my way round it.
The children whipped round quick smart, but I reckon it’s about a 15-20-minute route, just challenging enough in parts to be fun.
And there’s a great old-school zipwire at the end to finish (although I did lose my favourite hat into the pond below – unexpectedly quick!).
So while the Eden Project itself may be a picture of calm, for visiting families looking for a bit of an adrenalin rush, there’s plenty to go at.
What: Hangloose Adventure
Where: Eden Project, near St Austell, Cornwall.
Prices: Range around peak and off-peak times but for a family of four, the zipwire is from £109-£154. Packages are available including the Aerial Trek and Giant Swing, which can bring further savings.
