Goodleaf Tree Climbing
BEST FOR
Ages 8+
ENTRY
from £21.99
WHERE
Ryde
What it’s like
You climb an actual oak tree on a rope and harness, up to about 15 metres, then sit in a hammock in the canopy.
This isn't a high ropes course with platforms and zip wires. It's one tree, a rope, a harness and a technique that uses your legs to walk you up into the branches. Once you're up there you can perch on a sturdy branch, take in the view over Appley Park, and finish off in a hammock strung between the leaves. The tree itself is around 21 metres tall and you'll get up to about 15 metres of it, which the site likes to point out is roughly three giraffes stacked on top of each other.
It's for age 8 and up, and that's a firm line rather than a suggestion, since younger children struggle with the technique and get less out of it. You don't need to be strong or sporty, just reasonably fit and willing to give it a go, and the site is clear that bigger climbers manage it fine too. A session runs for two hours, and pricing drops the more of you there are: £35 solo or as a pair, down to £30 for a group of seven to nine. There's also a private climb for up to six at £220, which works out cheaper than booking individually if you've got a full group.
Wear long sleeves and trousers, because oak bark is scratchy, and proper shoes that won't slip off mid-climb. It only runs Easter to the end of October half term, so this is very much a spring-to-autumn plan rather than a wet-Tuesday-in-February one. There's no centre or building, just the tree in the park, with public toilets a five-minute walk off and plenty of cafes nearby for anyone not climbing to wait it out with an ice cream.
Worth knowing if you're planning around Cowes Week: there are hourly climbing slots that Sunday, running 11am to 6pm, at £21.99 and booked online ahead since spaces are limited.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 8 and up; younger children aren't able to join in
- Parking
- Pay-and-display car park a short walk away
- How long to allow
- Two hours
- Dogs
- Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- Easily accessible by public transport
- Worth knowing
- 5% discount for car-free travel
- Closed over winter, it only runs Easter to end of October half term
- Don't trust Sat-Nav to find it, look for the oak tree in Appley Park
- Dogs on leads are welcome to come along
- Public toilets are a five-minute walk away
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£35 solo or for a pair, dropping to £33 for three or four people and £30 for seven to nine. A private climb for up to six is £220.
How old do you have to be?
Eight and up. The site says younger children find the climbing technique much harder to pick up.
How long does a session last?
Two hours.
Is this a high ropes course?
No, it's a single tree climbed on rope and harness in small groups, which the site describes as a more personal experience than a standard high ropes setup.
Do you need to be strong or experienced to climb?
Experience is needed and the technique relies on your legs rather than upper body strength. The team gives all the instruction, harnesses and ropes on the day.
What should we wear?
Long sleeves and long trousers, since oak bark is scratchy, plus shoes that will stay on while you climb.
Is there parking?
There's a pay-and-display car park a short walk from the tree, and the site is easy to reach by public transport too, with a 5% discount if you travel car-free.
Is there anywhere to eat or wait nearby?
The tree stands in Appley Park with a grassy area around it, and there are cafes, a sandy beach and a play park within easy walking distance for anyone not climbing.
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