Awaken your senses at Go Ape

Wherever you are, close your eyes, take a deep breath and listen. What can you sense? The bustle of everyday traffic, the taste of your daily coffee? How about the sound of birdsong in the forest or the smell of sunshine and flowers in the air instead?

Whoever we are, we’re all working longer and (it feels like) harder than ever before. Home has become a place of work and sometimes it’s difficult to escape that essay, report or chore that’ll just take ten minutes longer.

It’s time for a real escape now. Time to leave the sights, sounds (and smells) of the city behind and relax with a Forest Holiday full of fun and adventure. And what better to do that than with a Go Ape Adventure?

Here are just some of the senses waiting for you out in the forest at Go Ape!

SEE

Drink in the views of towering treetops, vast moorlands and sky-scraping mountains as you conquer the treetops or forest floors. There are 35 Go Ape locations nationwide and every one of them will take your breath away.

When you’re on a Go Ape adventure it can be tempting to photograph or video every moment on your phone for future memories but remember to appreciate the moment. Look around you and notice the little things. Look to the trees and appreciate the new leaves growing. Or peer down at the forest floor to the bluebells and wildflowers peeking through the earth.

Depending on where you are, you may even be treated to the sight of rare birds, deer or red squirrels scampering through the trees.

HEAR

Speaking of animals, don’t forget to keep your ears open for the sounds of the forest. There’ll definitely be laughter and shouts of glee as people step off zip wires as well as a couple of Tarzan calls but what else can you hear?

Take a moment to distinguish the difference between bird calls and maybe even see if you can mimic one. Recognise the absence of the daily hum of traffic or construction… then zoom through the trees on the zipline and add your own whoop to the forest chorus.

SMELL

The difference between the smell of a bustling city and the fresh scent of a forest can be so significant. In cities there is the mishmash of foods, fuel… and fouler odours but in the forest you can separate scents. There’s the heady smell of overturned earth and flowers and, let’s face it often the sweet tang of rain.

There’s the healthy smell of sweat as you push yourself to exercise whilst having an adventure. And, of course, there’s the smells from the nearby cafés of the treats waiting for you at the end of your adventure.

TOUCH

Remember when you’re parents told you to keep away from the muddy puddles? We want you to ignore that! Dare to get dirty at Go Ape, no matter how old you are. Don’t worry if you don’t get that perfect zip landing and instead slide bum first into the wood chip – honestly this way can be more fun!

Enjoy it as the mud sprays up around you on our Forest Segways. And don’t bother yourself if the rain, leaves and twigs tangle in your hair. Just think of it as your forest crown!

TASTE

Have you ever felt that strange sensation, when you’ve sucked a breath of fresh air through your teeth, and you feel like you can taste the air around you? When you’re high in the treetops everything can just feel that bit more magical and sometimes you can taste crackling in the excitement in the air around you. Also, there’s the sweet scents from the café to remind you of your next meal!

ADVENTURE

We know this isn’t technically one of the Five Senses but we hope that you have the good sense to jam pack your break with as much adventure as possible. Try your hand at as many Go Ape adventures as you dare but also go one step further. Research the local area to see what else is out there whether that is hiking, coasteering, wild swimming or many more. Even the sky isn’t the limit.

Escape the everyday and, as a Forest Holidays guest, get 10% off your Go Ape adventure.