Earlier this year we joined a group of friends (and their younger siblings) for a week in a lodge park in Bethesda, Snowdonia. We had two adjacent lodges, one sleeping six, one sleeping four. Ogwen Bank is a lovely, peaceful site for private static caravans and wooden lodges. All are nestled amongst mature trees and more recent azalea and rhododendron plantings, with the River Ogden babbling by. The lodges were very comfortable and well knitted out, and from our terrace we could see the main reason for our trip – the end of the longest zip wire in the Northern Hemisphere, Zipworld Velocity! My mad friends and husband had all booked to ‘fly’ (booking is essential, you can’t just turn up) at over 100mph from the top of a mountain, attached to a harness/sling contraption. I nobly volunteered to hold their coats! We were transported up to the top in an army all terrain truck, it was very, very steep, but the views on the day we went were magnificent, all the way to Anglesey. I was absolutely petrified, I do NOT do heights, and I was nowhere near the edge. The safety procedures in place were second to none, no short cuts, the staff were excellent and inspired confidence. My friends were all down the mile long zip in less than a minute, while I had to endure a horrendously bumpy and scary ride back down in the truck, clinging on and bracing myself for dear life! They ALL loved the experience and would have gone again in a flash if it was possible. This is not a cheap thrill, £60 each, and the photos/fridge magnets/coasters were outrageously expensive but we raised over £2500 in sponsorship between us. Be warned, your flight can be cancelled at short notice if the wind gets up or visibility is reduced, you can rebook at no extra charge though.
