Tree Climbing in the sunshine with Goodleaf Tree Climbing

This magnificent tree in Appley Park hosted our climbing activity

A couple of years ago, we went on a high ropes course at a Center Parcs in Belgium. It cost about a third of the price of the Center Parcs UK equivalent so I enthusiastically agreed to take part myself, rather than just bellowing at the children from below.

I'd never had much of a problem with heights and raced around the first level without too much bother. 

The upper level was a different matter and had me clinging tightly on to wooden posts. Having gained more life experience I began to ask what would happen if the cable suddenly snapped.

After a nervy lap round on the top layer I made my excuses and left the course.

Meanwhile, child one volunteered to repeat the top layer with a blindfold on. I watched with disbelief from below as she waved her leg around whilst trying to find a foothold high in the sky. 

It's fair to say then that she doesn't have a problem with heights, so I took her along to Goodleaf Tree Climbing in Ryde.

---

Getting the harness on

Goodleaf Tree Climbing has been getting outstanding reviews for years, so I was keen to tick it off the very small list of Isle of Wight attractions and activities that we haven't done.

We booked on a perfect sunny day in Spring when the temperature was pleasant and there was zero wind.

When we arrived, we realised we were the only two attendees on this session. From what I can tell, they don't usually run unless they have a group of four as it's a big job to set everything up each day. However, a group of seven had been in attendance in the morning, so the equipment was already in the tree.

We were given our safety talk by Matt and were sent off to climb the tree.

---

Tree climbing with ropes

Child one made it to the top of a 14m rope

My first observation was that Goodleaf Tree Climbing is a much more traditional style of tree climbing than I was expecting. What I had envisaged was that we would be walking along branches, with some kind of automatic harness to catch up if we slipped (the kind they use at Clip 'n Climb).

Instead, we were offered a series of ropes that were hanging from different branches. The idea is that you clip yourself on and then pull yourself up the rope with the help of another rope that you stick your foot into. 

On the way up, you pass hammocks and branches that you can stop off at but you are mostly floating through the tree rather than climbing up it.

I was pleased to find that it's a lot easier than climbing a rope in a PE class at school (which I could never do). Strength in your legs is more important than strength in your arms.

The whole thing is held together with knots. In our case, the red ropes pulled you up and you could lower yourself down by loosening a blue rope. We were also asked to tie a knot every metre or so, which presumably was an added safety technique.

We spent a happy couple of hours climbing up and down the ropes. The highlight for me was making it up to a hammock where I breathed a sigh of relief and stared up through the tree at the blue sky.

At one stage, Goodleaf offered camping in treetop hammocks where you slept in a harness, just in case you rolled over during the night. I probably could have dozed off in the hammock but was aware that I'd paid £35 for two hours and like to get my money's worth.

After some time in the hammock, my brain adjusted a little to the idea of being up high and I kept climbing to the top of the rope I had chosen. I would estimate that it was about 10 metres high. My mum later claimed that it was the same height as her conservatory, which caused me great offence.

Needless to say, child one climbed much higher than me. She got to the top of the second-highest rope (from memory), which was around 14m high.

We returned to the ground where we were offered a piece of flapjack.

We greatly enjoyed our time at Goodleaf tree climbing. Obviously, it won't be for you if you're scared of heights but as a quirky activity I can see why it gets such impressive reviews. I'd also recommend it for teenagers or if you're organising a civilised stag do (i.e. the outdoorsy and wholesome sort, rather than three days of binging in an eastern European city). 

Significantly higher than my mum's conservatory