When my daughter, Katie May invited me to join her on a trip to Brockhole, I immediately said ‘yes’, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth.
I love this Arts & Crafts house, with its beautiful grounds and spectacular views over the waters of Windermere. What a lovely way to spend the day. However, I was extremely surprised when she said the invitation was to go on the Treetop Trek.
We have joked about doing one of these tree high rope walks, as both of us are frightened of heights – I can still hear the screams in my ears the last time I tried to persuade her to walk on the pier at Blackpool where she hates being able to see the sand and sea below in-between the wooden walkway!
Safety instructions & attention to detail
The safety instructions and attention paid to setting you in your harness is reassuring, and I perhaps got a little too gung-ho. The team at Treetop Treks are so reassuring and you know they are there if you need them at any time around the trek. However, while the rational part of my brain understood the harness would hold me if I slipped, the adrenalin-fuelled monkey brain just wouldn’t accept it. The first step off the platform for each challenge was the hardest.
I imagined the challenge of Treetop Trek would be mental – however, it was a good test of my upper body strength, as I was determined to make it across each crossing without a fall. I held onto the harness which was attached to the cable going all the way around the trek as if my life depended on it.
I was so amazed at how I focused on the walk between the starting point and the first tree. I will not lie, my heart was banging so hard it almost knocked me off balance, and the adrenaline pumping through my body made my ears ring, but I did it. I did it without a scream. I did it without falling. My confidence was up.
For the next challenge I couldn’t work out how to put my first foot forward, however, the guides were watching all the time and gave me the direction to move and the confidence I could make it across. From wooden slats to tight rope, I battled my way across, and on the final zip after almost an hour I landed on firm ground. I thought this was the end, and it was for the short course, however, we were only one-third around the trek.
There was the opportunity to stop there and enjoy the long end zip-wire three times – or carry on. I looked at my daughter’s face and was amazed to see she was keen to carry on. I couldn’t let her down. We had completed the first section without a fall. And were told that the next section was the same just longer and higher in points.
There were more fun mini-zip wires, which I really enjoyed. I don’t know why I believed in the harness for the zip – yet held on for dear life to the same harness as I walked across a tight rope!
First & only fall of the day
I did take my first and only fall halfway around. As I stepped across the plants to reach the final two I needed to stretch just a little further and didn’t quite make it. Sat in my harness between the two stepping plates, I was hung out like a sad piece of laundry. However, my pathetic call for help was quickly answered as the guide made her way like Tinkerbell flying through the air. How easy she made it look. She helped guide me to the next platform and we were off again.
Skateboard crossings
The skateboard crossings were an unusual challenge, that certainly got me across from tree to tree quicker than my cautious walks over.
The final zip wire down towards Windermere is spectacular, and we did it in tandem. It’s a spectacular way to end the three hours we had spent in the treetops.
We faced our fears and were triumphant. However the next week I was a little stiff in the upper body. It was a good wake-up call, which made me realise I do need to go back to yoga and swimming as I wasn’t quite as fit as I thought – but not bad for someone who was just 14 days away from my 58th birthday.
- Thank you to Treetop Treks at Brockhole for inviting us to take the challenge.
- Mini Treetop Trek adults (16+) £25, children (7-15) £21 – Full treetop trek we completed, adults (16+) £36 children (7-15) £28
- For more information about Treetop Trek at Windermere and to book a session visit their website http://www.treetoptrek.co.uk/windermere
