Go Ape Peebles, Glentress Forest

What it’s like

A 325-metre zip wire 160ft up and bouncy nets in the treetops, in a forest an hour south of Edinburgh.

The zip wire's the headline here, 325 metres across the valley and 160ft up, and it's the sort of thing you save for last because everything before it feels like a warm-up. Before that you're traversing between trees over open water and mountain bike trails, working through the Treetop Challenge course, and bouncing about on giant nets slung 30 feet up between the trunks. It's aimed at a proper spread of ages, from 1 up to 99, though the higher courses and the zip wire will suit the older, braver kids more than a toddler.

The course is built into a steep hill, which is great for the views and the drama but means it's not wheelchair accessible, and pushchairs will struggle on the uneven ground. Parking is right next to the cabin, up the hill from the main forest car park, and there's a bus from Edinburgh that stops a 15-minute walk away if you're not driving. Bring as little as possible, because storage at the cabin isn't secure and anything you leave is at your own risk.

There are two cafés in the forest if hunger strikes, though neither is exactly next door. The Peel Café is a 15-minute walk back down the hill, and the Forest Holidays Retreat is a 10-minute drive up the other way, so plan your snacks accordingly. Dogs are welcome throughout the forest and at both cafés, which is a nice touch if the whole day out is a family plus dog situation.

Booking ahead online is recommended, but walk-ups at the cabin are possible if you fancy chancing it. Parties can book the activity online and add party bags for £5.95 each, and there's a forest shelter you can hire from £30 an hour by calling ahead, useful if you want somewhere for cake that isn't a tree stump.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

1 to 99, though the zip wire suits the braver older kids most

Booking

Ahead recommended online

Parking

Go Ape car park next to cabin, paid parking available

Food

Two cafés within the forest. Peel Café 15-minute walk down the hill, Forest Holidays Retreat 10-minute drive up

Pushchairs

Can access some of course but steep and uneven terrain makes it challenging

Wheelchairs

Course is not wheelchair accessible due to steep hill

Dogs

Allowed throughout forest and both cafés are dog-friendly

Getting there by bus or train

X62 bus from Edinburgh to Galashiels stops 15 minutes walk away

Parties

Book activity online. Add party bags (£5.95 each)

• Storage at the cabin isn't secure, so travel light and leave valuables at home
• Parking fees aren't included in birthday party bookings
• A party booking runs 1 to 2 hours depending on which course you pick
• The forest shelter for parties is booked separately by phone, not online

Plan your visit

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