High Lodge "Go Ape" Thetford

To finish off this half term we had the a really awesome day at High Lodge near Brandon in Thetford Forest. We went with Auntie Chris, Uncle Steve and Layla and enjoyed a really nice picnic (outdoors in February) and also we booked on to the Go Ape high ropes course. There are loads of stunning trails throughout High Lodge that extend out in to some beautiful parts of Thetford Forest. There is also an amazing kids play area, pony rides, archery and so much more to do whilst you are there.

The Go Ape rope course really didn't look that high from on the ground, but it was a different story when you got up there. As Holly was under 7 I had to stay with her at all times and I think she was supporting me as much as I was supporting her. There were parts of the course which were challenging enough on your own without have to use one of your hands to hold and balance a 5 year old. There was 2 or 3 sections where Holly really didn't like it and wanted to get down, but overall she did absolutely amazing and was very brave up in the trees. The reward at the end of the course is a really cool zip wire across the play area which you are allowed to go on multiple times once you have completed the main course. I think it total it took us about 40 mins to do the tree top rope course and then we squeezed in 3 goes on the zip wire.

Anyway enough writing, loads of pictures from yesterday to follow.

You don't need to tell Brandon twice to "Go Ape".

Joshua launches Holly off of the zip wire in the play area.

And she's off.

Uncle Steve helping Holly back to the top.

Joshua on the zip wire.

Action shot of Brandon zipping through the trees.

And then coming to an end.

Holly seeing how high she can climb up the rope pyramid.

Josh, Brandon, Layla and Holly playing on the rope pyramid.

They had some amazing tunnel slides in the park which started about 30ft in the air.

Brandon whizzing down a slide.

But Holly used them the most, she loved the slides.

Playing on the giant see-saw.

All running one way to tip it up.

Then legging it back down the other end.

The "Go Ape" monkey carved out of a tree trunk.

Lovely picture of my little Princess.

The two boys at the top of the rope pyramid.

Getting our harnesses on ready to hit the high ropes at Go Ape.

Joshua looking like a proper action man with his camo shirt.

Brandon was fearless on the high rope course.

Me and Holly all set to head off up in to the trees.

Josh and Brandon tackling one of the wooden crossings. Very wobbly.

Me staying close to Holly, she lost her footings once and fell off being saved by the harness. But it didn't phase her and she went on to complete the course.

Brandon, Josh and Layla on a zig-zag crossing.

Big steps for Holly's little legs, even more so when you are 25ft up in the air.

The two boys just hopping across as if its nothing.

Holly didn't like this bridge as you had to look down to find your foot placing and she also slipped.

Brandon showing good balance.

Swinging platforms.

Anyone for a game of naughts and crosses?

All 6 of us up in the trees whilst Tina and Auntie Chris look on from below.

Looking down at the floor as we prepare for the zip wire to the finish. The faces say it all.

Layla, Josh and Brandon nearly at the end of the course.

I head down the zip wire first to make sure I can catch Holly at the finish.

Ready for a crash landing and a load of wood bark u my shirt.

Down comes super brave Holly whizzing down the zip line.

And safely landing on the opposite ramp.

Brandon on the zip wire finish.

And then Joshua following up behind.

After an hour up in the trees we settle down at a picnic table for a nice lunch in the sunshine.

After lunch we went in to the woods to explore some of the other activities in High Lodge.

A little den building.

This feature had a very loud bell sounds which echoed through the forest when you clanged it.

And then a rather large piano key instrument.

Layla teaching Holly to make some music.

Another pre-built den we found in the forest..

Holly found the fox from the Grufallo trail.

This may pole doesn't look much but it had a crazy whip speed and bounced up really high as the chains twisted around the pole.

I was worried Holly was going to go flying off of the may pole.

Joshua goes to her rescue to slow it down a bit.

But she was happy and held on tightly.

Is it a bird, is it a plane, no its a Hollybird.

Anyone seen the kiddies???

Loved this tree carving.

Hadleigh Olympic Cycle Park on the Boys New Mountain Bikes

You wouldn't believe this time last year we were experiencing the extreme weather conditions as a consequence of the "Beast from the East". Move forward one year and we are basking in double digit temperatures that feel like mid spring rather than mid-February. With such gorgeous weather we decided to spend a day at Hadleigh Olympic Cycling Park to get the kids outdoors and for Brandon and Joshua to both try their new mountain bikes on the course. To date they have only ridden them around the block and out with friends, but not on the Hadleigh tracks.

Joshua loved his biked and found the front suspension really good when going off of rocks. As usual he was a bit more daring than Brandon and had a fairly nasty fall off of one ramp resulting in grazed knees and hands. Brandon's bike is still just a fraction big for him and as such he was far more cautious and only came off once during the tight downhill tunnel 360 loop.

I didn't take a bike this time as I was pushing Holly around using the balance buddy and her stabilisers. She did do quite a bit of pedaling but also needed a lot of pushing on the big hills and some of the rougher surfaces. This is definitely the year when I need to get her riding a bike on 2 wheels so that I nt longer have to run around with her. I am sure the boys were both riding on 2 wheels at the age of 5.

After a good mess around on the various bike tracks we also took a nice cycle over to Hadleigh Castle with some spectacular views over to Old Leigh and Southend.

I don't think Holly will be on this bike much longer, I lifted the seat for her to make it a bit more comfortable, but I think she needs to move to one of her bigger bikes in the garage.

Joshua testing out his suspension dropping down some rockery.

Brandon being very sensible and cautious.

This is the year that we get that balance buddy off of the back of Holly's bike.

Joshua tackling another part of the rockery.

Such a lovely day to get out on the bikes.

Brandon did really well considering this was his first time at Hadleigh on his new big bike.

Joshua found the front suspension worked really well on drop offs like this one.

Joshua tackling the BMX stunt track. It was on this track that he had his fall of the day.

Looking good on the raised corners.

On our way over to Hadleigh Castle we stopped off for some exercise!

Me and Brandon also had a balance off on these starting from the smallest and seeing who could walk across each one, getting higher and higher.

Exploring a 13th century kitchen.

Holly being a bit Sassy for the camera.

My boys.

Holly exploring other parts of the castle.

I think this is a great picture of the 3 kiddies.

Holly is starting to look so grown up, where is our little baby gone?

Stunning views over the castle and looking down on Old Leigh and Southend. 

Brandon was very interested in using the phones to learn some of the history of the castle.

Joshua was first to complete the tunnel loop on the main mountain bike course.

Brandon tried this but was too slow and cautious.

Holding a leg out for balance, but sometimes you are better off just taking a brave pill and going for it.

Shortly after this picture he came off before making it in to the tunnel.

But to his credit he didn't let the fall phase him and got right back on the trail.

And eventually out the other side.

Another great days exercise on the excellent mountain biking facility at Hadleigh.