Number 5 - Experience the longest Zip wire in the UK!

I have just descended the longest zip wire in the UK!

Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre, overlooking Fleet Bay by Mossyard, Gatehouse, proudly hold the crown of housing the 820-metre long wire, which apparently can reach speeds of 50mph.  We had originally booked the experience for a day in June but we were informed the day before that it wasn't open due to safety issues so we had to re-book.  The Zip wire eventually had its official opening on Monday 2nd July 2012, so by the time we went on Sunday 15th July the "safety issues" that had delayed the original opening had been well and truly put to the test by others!

My Husband David, and friends Jo and Mark were joining me on my adventure! We left Kendal in sunshine on Sunday 15th July 2012 at 8am to head up North to Bonny Scotland. The drive was uneventful and took us just over 2 hours on very quiet roads. When we arrived at the Centre we were dismayed to hear that they did not have a booking in our name! However, luckily for us they could still fit us in.

Jo and I on the launch platform!
Before being allowed to participate in this activity we had to fill out a health questionnaire, sign on the dotted line and be weighed!  Uh Oh, we had a problem!  Mark was heavier than the maximum weight allowed so was unable to join us.  We were annoyed that we had not been told about this restriction when we booked and it does not (or didn't!) state anything on the website! Mark became our official photographer!

We were kitted up with a very tight safety harness and helmet and clambered into a jeep for the journey up the hill to the start! I wouldn't describe it as a road leading up the hill, but a very rough, bumpy and twisty track, making it quite an exhilarating experience in itself!  At the top of the hill there was breathtaking views out to sea, and we could see both The Isle Of Man and The Lake District in the distance. The only problem was it was very exposed up there, and even on a July day it was freezing cold and extremely windy and there was no shelter to hide in whilst we waited our turn! It took a long time for the zip-wire to be "reloaded" between turns and even once it was our turn it took a long time for each of us to be secured in, and all the safety checks carried out. The double line zip allows 2 people to 'zip' at the same time next to each other, so I went down alongside Jo after being given all the necessary descent instructions.  I felt ever so slightly panicky when I was given instructions how to "abseil" down from the wire at the end!  EEEKKKK I didn't know that was part of the deal! 

Eventually I was ready to go and was launched off the platform hurtling downhill 30 metres above the ground. The acceleration initially was quite exhilarating and you passed closely over a dug out area of rock (excavated to prevent people slamming into the rock which we discovered later was the initial safety problem!) , but once past this section the ride slowed right down and the rest of the descent was fairly slow and relatively boring! Once at the end I was greeted by another member of staff and I was reminded again on how to abseil down and managed to lower myself without a problem!All-in-all I found it a disappointing experience and although it was long, it was too slow to be the exhilarating ride  it is claimed to be. 

I have been on shorter but faster and far more exciting zip-wires! I will not be repeating this experience and wouldn't recommend it either!




Abseiling down!
Feet safely on the ground!

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